The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-09

"HE enthusiasm of one simple minded
peasant girl made a new France.
/ Some historians say that she
could neither read nor write. This is not
certain. But 1t is true that she had no
natural advantages.
Joan OF Arc belongs to more than
France Hers was about the whitest and
most inspiring figure seen in the last 500
years.
In the near future there is to be erected
a statue to her in New York city. In a
the church. In all parts of the world
kindly and beautiful things are said of
her.
Yet she was burned at the stake by a
section of the very French people who
now make her their national heroiner-by
the English who today laud her as one
of the purest characters in history and by
officials of the church that soon will can
Not only SO. but it was nearly four CEN
turies after her tragic and pitiful death
before there came any real appreciation
Of the character of the Maid of Orleans.
Even Shakespeare said unseemly things
OF her, and Voltaire as late as the eight
the peasant girl of Domremy.
Now, in the year of our Lord 1918, there
is not one voice in the whole world that
has other than good to speak of the young
girl who gave her life to save her coun-
try.
In all this is there not infinite hope for
the triumph of truth?
Everything was against her. Church
and state, literature, practically all the
voices of weight and authority, had, in
part at least, condemned her. Over her
grave lay four centuries of calumny
There was nothing on her side but her
stainless character and her work.
Yet the truth came uppermost, and the
name of Jeanne dare, daughter of peas
ants. executed as a criminal at the age
of 10, is now lfar shining and one of the
brightest AMONG earths immortals.
Why? Because she was true to her
voices" Like Paul, she did not disobey
the heavenly vision. She fought good
fight. She kept the faith.
As pure as one of the lilies inscribed on
her own banner, as brave as truth. as
simple and direct as light. as unworldly
as a child. this warrior maid heard the
message of angels and translated it into
service for men.
There are few ascetics, pessimists
and dyspeptics that rail at ambition.
Ambition is a great engine that
makes the world move.
Rightly used and directed 1t Is
righteous and benefcent force.
1t is only preverted ambition that is
blame worthy-the mistaken sort that
endeavors to benefit self by injuring
others.
That is british.
The animal seeks tc kill his compet-
tftor. From this fact and others evolu-
tionists have deduced the law of tthe
survival of the fittest.
We have emerged from the plane of
the bull and the tiger. In the human
world a higher principle is at work.
We are shot through the divine.
The true law in this human divine
realm is to elevate self without In
Turing, or. better still. to elevate self
by helping others.
Perhaps filter name than ambition
In our world is aspiration.
We realize our aspiration through
service.
Action and reaction are equal. The
bull that cores another is in turn gored
by q stronger bull.
When injure others we receive
injury. ''Ie who takes the sword shall
perish with the sword"
When we help and serve others we
are helped and served as our reward.
We are paid in our own coin"
! would paint n great picture, write
1 great poem, serve great cause. ad-
vance . great work. This il aspira-