The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1913-11-14
THE LIFE OF JEANNE D'ARC
By r. NJ. MAYOR.
PART ONE.
'THE PITY THAT WAS ~ FRANCE. Z

statement that Rome was not built IN a
day might be well applied to the con-
struction and developmentof the French
monarchy. Many remarkable things
have been accomplished during the
Capetian rule OF three hundred years,
and yet, within quarter OF a century
after the death OF the absolute Philip
the Fair, new disaster arose to darken
the bright rays Of hope that seemed to
be shining over the fair fields Of France.
Within few years after the first ruler
Of the Valois line ascended the throne,
the Hundred Years War with England
began, struggle whose outcome was to
determine once for all whether France
or England should be supreme on the
western border OF the Continent.
About the time OF the birth and
childhood OF Jeanne dare the condi-
ton OF France as an independent king
dom appeared well-nigh desperate. A
century OF misfortunes and misery,
broken only by parenthesis Of compar-
ative prosperity from 1880 to 1407, had
left her an easy prey to English rule.
The King Of France was insane, and
his wife, Isabelle OF Bavaria, had come
to terms with Henry the Fifth Of Eng
land. By the treaty Of Troyes Q410)
it was settled that the crown of France
should pass from the Dauphin ION
whose legitimacy his miserable mother
had thrown doubts to Henry v Of Eng
land. Soon after the signing Of the
treaty, however, Henry v died. As the
young King Henry VI was then less
than year old, the reins Of govern
ment fell into the resolute and skillful
hands Of his uncle, the Duke OF Bed
ford, who, as regent, ruled France, and
whose troops continued to carry the yic-
torious arms OF England against all who
opposed his nephew's claims. The Dau-
phin took refuge i'll the South and abail-
doned to the English all territory north
OF the Loire, while Paris was likewise
held by them. Some members Of the
French Parliament and the University
Joined the Dauphin, but the more tiDid
spirits did homage to Bedford for his
baby nephew. OF the great towns,
Orleans alone remained faithful to the
Dauphin; If it fell, all organized oppo-
sition to the English would be at an
end. Orleans was the key to the French
military position, while Rheims was the
key to the political or royal position.
In addition to the two great parties
Of French and England, France was di-
yided again into the factions Of Arma-
gnacs and Burgundies, the former pro-
Tossing to be on the side OF the Dau-
phin, the latter attaching themselves to
the English faction. The strife Of these
two parties was continually creating dis
turbance, especially in Eastern France
along the marches OF Lorraine. =
Such was the political condition Of
France during the reign Of Charles VI.
The economic conditions we're, II any
thing, worse. There we're many depop-
ulated regions scattered over the nation.
In certain districts the wildwood had
completely overrun the cultivated soil.
In consequence OF the political turmoil
agriculture could only be carried on
near castles and walled towns. A mir
acle was necessary TO rescue France
from this long period OF war and DESC
lation--and the miricle camel
PART Two.
poMRRAfY - BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF
JEANNE-THE Two VISITS TO vAUcoU-
LEURs.
The River Meuse, rising somewhere
on the eastern border OF Champagne
and tracing its winding course into the
northern portions OF the Continent
where it joins the mighty Rhine and
with it empties into the North Sea,
separates France proper from the doubt
ful aud ever-wavering Lorraine. In
summer it flows clear and QHiet, but
after autumn rains it spreads across the
valley, rejecting the purple and scarlet
OF the vineyards. The river is sur
rounded by high hills covered with
dark, dense forests. Nestled among
those lofty hills and overshadowed by
the legendary oak forests lies the little
village oi Domremy. A healthy, happy
place, this Domremy. The climate is
temperate and the inhabitants poor
laboring people engaged in tillage and
in raising swine for distant markets.
are noted for their longevity and veraci-
ty--' Seldom die. never lie, = they we're