The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-05-28
,ER, MINNESOTA. THURSDAY, MAY %, 1903

M1N NIOO4A, 1hOhODA1
dwell on the rejoicings and celebrations
made by the English over the downfall
of this poor girl. Every insult that could
be offered her was offered, and she was
tried for sorcery; but at the last mo-
ment was purchased by the Bishop of
Beauvais, who gave ten thousand
francs for her.
The bishop and his coterie of church
men examined, re-examined and cross
examined this poor girl, and finally
when they had badgered her into
state of utter desperation, she agreed
to recant and signed declaration to
the effect that her former assertions
were untrue and that her voices came
not from God but from the devil. She
was condemned to prison for life on
the "bread of sorrow and the water of
afflictlon." What she had undergone
undoubtedly aggravated her malady,
and it was only a short time before her
voices returned and were more insist
ent than they had ever been before.
Probably with the idea of entrapping
her, suit of mems clothing had been
left in her cage. Some authorities say
that while she slept her own
clothes were taken from her and that
to cover her nakedness she had to put
on male attire. But be this as it may,
she was discovered dressed in this suit
of clothes, was tried again for witchcraft
and burned alive in the market place
at Rouen.
From the time of her capture until
the time of her death, neither the king
nor any of his court came near the
"Maid of Orleans" Surely this was
one case where the law was no respect
er of persons. And yet this girl had
seen-had grasped what no one else had
been able to grasp-the tremendous
Importance attached to the crowning
of the Dauphin. There was then-and
there is nova great difference in
the mind of the common people
between the king and heir apparent
to the throne. One is pos
sibility, the other has been anointed
by God, and to turn against him
is not only crime against the state
but against God. This was what j oan
of Arc realized from the first. Her
intuition told her that France would
never be united until its king was
crowned, and amidst all the frivolity
and procrastination of the most petty
and frivolous of courts, this inspired
peasant never once wavered in her con.
victions, but forced her will upon all
with whom she came in contact. II
was singleness of purpose, depth Of
simplicity that transcended all diplo
macy.
Well, she was burned, dressed in the
monstrous garb designated for suct
occasions, and crying out in her agony
to God not to forsake her, and the
miserable insect of a king whom sht
created never once stopped in his dane
ing, tennis playing, theatricals and
lecherous flirtations to devote one mo
ment's thought to the woman who hal
made him. He is forgotten. Her cap
tors are only remembered as the brute'
in human form that murdered her
But Joan of Arc will never die. In th'
center of the main square of the ol(
quaint town of Rouen on the very spo
where the flames licked up her youn,
body stands great statue of the "Mait
; of Orleans" clad in full armor astrid'
her white horse and carrying her ban
ner in her hand. Elsewhere othe
monuments have been erected to he
memory, and whenever one is seen, o
whenever her name is mentioned, mel
> think not only of the simple girl VIII
laid down her young life to save France
, but of the king-God save the mark!-
that permitted the sacrifice. J. E. D.