Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
Famous Woman Warriors

JEANNE d'ARC is not the only girl
warrior whom the French have de-
lighted to honor, as is evidenced in
the cases Of two young women who made
history in the early days of the revofu-
ton and of Antoinette LiX, who served
during the Franco-German war.
Theophile and Felicte de Fernig, daugh-
tiers of a retired French officer, were
taught to handle arms in childhood. AS
womanhood approached they secretly
took part. disguised by uniform, in little
expeditions organized locally to harass
the Austrian outposts. for but few regu-
lar troops could be spared to protect their
particular district.
In this way 50 much experience was
gained that both girls learned to fight
with the assurance of old campaigners.
and DumourieZ attached them to his
corps as volunteers. They commanded
much respect as admiration from the
soldiers and they were compared to
Jeanne d Arc in dispatch. and each re-
ceived brevet rank as adjutant general
Ak
They had faced the Prussians on
French ground at valmy, near Chalons-
was proclaimed. but their lasting reputa-
ton was achieved on Flemish fields
against the Austrians. At ,Jemappes, Du-
mouriez made conspicuous use Of their
services as aids-de-canlp. Felicite
mounted on a bedecked horse, was sent
to charge the Austrian lines between the
Due de Chartres. who became king as
Louis Philippe. and the Due de Mont
pensier- Theophile engaged an Austrian
hussar in a hand-to-hand conflict and
led him prisoner to the commanding
officer.
Their last exploit occurred soon after
the execution of Louis XVI. at the
battle of Neerwinden. where their ex-
ample encouraged dispirited column as
Dumourlez soldiers fed defeated Du-
mouriez, by this time disguised with re-
publican excuses and bent on setting up
constitutional monarchy. was accused
or treacherous conduct. and his devoted
followers went over with him to the
Austrian camp. When the circumstances
girls gave up their commissions. They
We're nevertheless prescribed and exiled
while the republic endured.
For a while they lived in hiding. but
in the face of restitution their old cour-
age came to their aid. Felicite obtained
the position of manager of a French
bureau de loterie authorized by the gov
eminent at Brussels, and in her best year
she made as much as 5000 francs
Theophile made the round of the fairs
selling toilet articles. The strain of six
years toll was relieved when Felicite
married NJ. Vandervallen, a Belgian Of
ficer of volunteers, whose life she had
saved on the field of Anverlecht. They
set up housekeeping in Brussels and
Theophile probably made her home with
them until the time of her death. about
1915. Felicite died in 1871. Lamartine is
authority for the statement that they lie
Tw,
memory of his sisters services. their
brother Louis Desire de Fernig was made
count of the empire by Napoleon.
In November, 1911. in a hospital Of the
town of st. Nicholas du Port, there died
a white-haired woman of ninety-two. Her
name was Antoinette Lix, and she had
been a lieutenant of the Francs-Tireurs,
the famous sharpshooters of France. who
did such damage to the Prussian and
Bavarian troops during the war Of 1870,
and very nearly. turned the scale of
battle on more than one occasion.
1t has been said that Antoinette was
one of five brothers Indeed, this is the
expression she is said to have employed
in telling the story OF her life.
She was bosn at Colmar. in Alsace. Her
mother died when the daughter was born,
and the first thing that Antoinette re-
nembered was the words of her father
and uncle, soldiers both. they stood
looking at her: 1T Is pity that the
child is not a boy. She was, however,
reared as a boy. With her four brothers
Antonette learned to play the same
games. to dress. to work and to think
as though she were a boy. Her brothers
never made the slightest difference be-
tween their treatment of one another and
of her, and as she grew older her father
was accustomed to take her about with
him just as he took her brothers, Of talk