The Irish standard., 1907-03-16
knew,
Forever in the darkness and the
space.

Forever in the darkness and the
space.
Childhood is gone, night vanishes,
the song is chilled,
Go also back from fancy's sleam,
Leave the dream forest where you
fingered long
But take with you the memory Of
your dream"
This is poem which almost any
one of either sex or any age, who is
addicted to verse (and most of US have
sinned) might be willing to sign, and
it is wholly the work Of the girl who
sent it, for all contributions are en-
dorsed by the sender's parents as to
"age and originality" The highest
class publication does not always print
better verse than that.
Such work may be found in almost
any number Of the departments men,
toned. The body of the magazine
finds it difficult to get anything as
good; and here is a little prose sketch
by League girl which might serve
as a standard Of excellence even for
the North American:
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN
HISTORY.
"It has always been said that to
Judge fairly Of the life and character
Of some famous historical man or
woman, one must take into considera-
ton the age and country in which he
or she lived. Environments and cir
cumstances have such an important
influence toward the molding of ideas.
But Joan of Arcs life history is ex-
ceptional in this particular. Her ac-
tions were Influenced by no personal
motive, but by purely religious and
patriotic enthusiasm. She was honor
able when people in the highest sta
tions had forgotten the very existence
Of honor; delicate and loyal when it
and false, to keep no promises, and to
| espouse no cause except for love Of
! money or personal advancement. She
was truthful when almost everybody
lied. unselfsh and refined when many
were hard, selfish and given to sinful
luxury.
MANY have called her fanatical. II
| absolute devotion to ones God, ones
king, and ones country, regardless of
self, asking no reward, can be called
fanaticism, let us have more such
| fanatics! Her military genius was re-
| ence regarded her schemes of attack
with great respect, and she is the only
person in the world, Of either sex, who
has ever had supreme command Of the
| forces of nation at the age Of II.
"In spite Of all her devotion and
| heroic struggle. her dastardly king de-
serted her; did not even make one at
| tempt to rescue her. but left her to her
horrible fate. Her captors wore out
| her physical strength by long, tedious
examinations and cruel Imprisonment,
| forced her to sign foolish confession
promises and burned her-Joan of Arc,
the deliverer of France, though only a
child in years-at the stake! Such in
gratitude and cruelty are incompre-
hensible; but her name will go down
through countless ages, while they will
be known only as the murderers OF
the loveliest character in history
AS a matter Of fact, whatever the
boys may do later, and they will do
much when tho day Of their develop
ment coines-as they always have
think we may set it down as a fact
that, so far as general intellectual ad-
vancement and attainments are con-
cerned, the girls between the ages OF
Is and 18 have them beaten-if the
Review will pardon the slang phrase
for the saka Of it's picturesque strength
|-"hands down."
In what, then, is the American gir
inferior to the American boy? 1r
sports and athletics, which require en-
durance and physical strength? Ger
tainly. In business. mathematics and
mechanical engineering? Very likely
these are the American boys pecu.
liar heritage, even as the American
girls estate lies in making herself and
her surroundings lovely, and in hel
early knowledge Of domestic economy
Does the boy excel her in department,
Never. In languages? 1t is unlikely
But admitting all that the boy ma,
fairly claim and little more for goot
measure, it does seem to one who ha:
the opportunity OF observing pretty
carefully that the wide and inclusive
deduction Of the Review that thu
American girl is IAN intolerable bore
self-conscious, ignorant and concerned