The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-11
JOAN OF AR,'s HOUSE.
II Is in Domremy, and h Now Used as
Museum.


Museum.
Springfield Republican.
Among the many places of interest in
AlSace-LOTraine. few are more worthy of
Orleans. Many of my readers are probably
not aware that the house in which Jeanne
was horn still exists. and, thanks TO French
patriotism. Is in an excellent state of pres
ervatiOn. being classed among the state
monuments. In the house is Il little mu-
scum containing several articles belonging
u Jeanne or her family. The room in
which Jeanne was born and the room OF
her parents are 10 be seen. aud the place
Is in charge OF polite and intelligent guar
dian. DOmremy Il of easy access from
TOUl. whence Il little railroad runs along
the banks of the Meuse. and one ahghts
az little station just opposite Domremy
Any one who may be travelling in that part
OF France will find the trip well worth the
trouble.
Domremy as everybody knows is a little
village in the department of the Nosges,
situated on the banks of the Mouse, about
three miles from NeufchatCau and near the
frontiers of the requirements OF the
Meurthe and the Haute-Marne. If the place
did not possess historic interest, no tray
eler would turn aside from his route TO yis-
il it, for in itself it is nothing remarkable
but there i'm 1410 Jeanne Are was born
The house is situated near the parish
church. which is dedicated to- St. Remy. In
this church. in which Jeanne was baptized,
are still to be seen two stone figures of an
gels bearing shield with the arms OF the
du Lys. These figures which stand one on
each side of the high altar, though very
roughly carved, bear witness to
the respect of her compatriots for
the memory of Jeanne. Montague
who passed through Domremy about
IT saw the front of the little cottage in
which Jeanne d Arc was born. painted sVer
with her deeds, but time had much defaced
only little cottage but those into whose
possession ii came after the family IL Arc,
added to il at various epOchS.
y very interesting fact connected with
the house itself was the discovery of a
statue which was built in and almost con-
cealed by the wall. above the entrance.
This statue. discovered in 1756. Is sculp-
tIred in the same kind of stone of which
the house is built. It represents Jeanne
kneelng bare headed and clad in armor.
Strange to say. she is represented with
long hair, on which one can still see some
traces of gliding; this would lead one TO
imagine that she had long. fair hair, did
not all the historians agree in saying that
she had beautiful black hair, which she
wore short in order to be more at ease In
the combat. This statue, which Is not badly
carved. is perhaps the only existing au-
thentic representation OF the features OF
the maid unfortunately il has been
much damaged, the tip OF the nose Is gone,
the fc.ft corner of the mouth has suffered
the right arm is broken of at the shoulder.
which latter was perhaps the reason that
the statue remained so long unnoticed.
Above the entrance door there is an Orna-
Slent composed of two stones with Gothic
sculptures representing coats OF arms, and
bearing short inscriptions. These sculp-
lures were originally painted, as Montaigne
observes: perhaps there were other paint
ilgs. but now one sees but faint traces
Cf color. The Sheaf or corn. the words
''Vive labeur." and the shield bearing three
plOwShares allude of course to the Occupa-
ton of Jeannes parents. The shield bear
ing the arms of France, the date, which
appears TO be 1881, and the words ''Nive
lie roy Logs, give reason TO believe that
these sculptures were executed during the
reign of Louis XII. perhaps by his order.
The shield on the right-hand side repre-
sents the blazon accorded to Jeanne ana
her family by Charles VII Through mod
esty the maid always refused to place on
her shield the arms which recalled the
was in December. 1920. after the siege of
Orleans. that the gentle dauphin, as she
I'm her naive language called Charles VII.
issued an edict declaring that she, her
family and descendants to perpetuity Were
ennobled and rendered capable of acquir-
ing and possessing any noble fief The date
Of the edict which prescribed the arms of
the family is not known. The family took
the name of du Lys. The arms are on a
blue ground. drawn sword. silver and
gold. sustaining on its point the closed
crown OF France. supported by two golden
heurs de lis The family du Lys became
extinct in the direct line in the percon of
" Henri-FrancOis du Lys. canon OF cham
peau% ana prior OF CoutraI; there are
claim 70 be descendants of the maid OF
Il was at the epoch of the second inva-
sion I'm 1915 that people began TO think
about the house OF Jeanne d Arc. The Off
GERS OF the allied armies visited II with
the greatest interest. each or them. before
leaving the village securing some splinterS
from the beams or floor TO preserve as pre-
ciOus relics. The princess of the house of
Austria came. also. TO gaze upon the simple
dwelling of the woman who. four centuries
before. had driven the enemy from that
land OF France which all Europe was now
invading y Prussian nObleman offered the
proprietor NJ. GirddiIs. 5000 francs for the
house. but NJ. Giradin declined the offer.
This coming TO the ears OF the French gov
eminent il Immediately proposed to pur-
chase the house. NJ. Giradin. retired sol
der contented himself with the modest
sum OF $500 francs Louis XVIII hearing
OF this disintereSted act sent NJ. GiraQin
the cross Of the Legion of Honor and ac-
corded a sum OF 20000 francs TO the pre-
rounding n school for young girls and to
erect monument to the memory of Jeanne
Are The General Council of the depart
ment decided on the erection OF fountain
II Jeanne. which Louis XVII had also pre-
scented 10 Domremy.
The first stone of this foundation was
laid July -. $50. and on Sept 10 all was
ready for the Inauguration ceremony.
some arrangements We're made in the in
terror OF the cottage; in the room in which
Jeanne Is said TO have been born hearth
was replaced. which had been removed 10
an adjoining room by former proprietor.
the windows We're filled with glass painted
IN the hfteenth century style and bars were
iXed 10 the windows in places where marks
II the wall shows that such had formerly
existed \ marble tablet was fixed I'm the
wall bearing the Inscription recording the
dare and the reasons for the work done 20
perpetuate the memory OF Jeanne dare,
and finally marble bust OF Louis XVIII
was placed over the chimneypiece and 10
the right of this the flag which had been
used at the fete celebration In Domremy
monument. tx is said that over twenty
thousand people fiocked into the place on
this occasion 10 do honor to the memory
OF the mail or Orleans