The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-31
V. JOAN OF ARC. THE VIRGIN
MARTYR OF FRANCE.


1929 is classed among the fifteen de- |
cisive battles of the world. There the |,
fate of France as an independent ma !
ton was decided. Had the English |
prevailed it has been predicted that
land as a province of England would
have been in no better state than Ire
land is today. In manners, literature,
art science and invention the exist
ence of France as an untrammeled
nation has been essential to the prog
ress of mankind.
There are certain vital events Of
history that are as familiar to all as
the alphabet, the multiplication table,
or the Ten Commandments. Chief
among them is the wonderful story or
the achievements of Joan of Arc,
Without exception hers is the most
marvellous and saddest career Of all
history. At rare intervals we find
characters born exclusively for the
service of their country. such was this
peculiarly endowed maid born four
hundred and ninety-three years ago
In the little farmhouse near the vii
lage Of Domremy on the borders OF
Lorraine. A life that ends before the
attainment of ma ajority is regarded as
that of an infant in the eyes of the
law and the world laments the fate Of
one who was deprived of an OppOr-
tunity to serve humankind and yet
this sanity Maid of Orleans perished
at the stake before her twentieth
birthday. the acknowledged saviour
of France, having in a few months
accomplished more than some of the
most notable military leaders Of the
ages. Today after the lapse of CEN
turies she is esteemed as the saviour
of France. has been canOnized and
her statue has been placed in many
churches of her fair land. None Of
her country's heroes and herOines re-
ceive the honors conferred on this
daughter Of Lorraine. Her statue
close by the Louvre in Paris is not a
work of art, but is interesting to the
visitors from enlightened lands, to all
of whom her meteoric career is an Oft
repeated bit of history. From it one
obtains an insight into the French ma
ture. considered so light and frivolous
and yet is in reality indued with the
most sincere sentiment and unswerv-
ing loyalty. Nearly always can be
seen floral wreaths resting on the
pedestal, deposited there by deputa-
tions from the various provinces Of
France, an eloquent tribute to their
medieval heroine.
At that time France was overrun by
the armies of England. composed OF
veterans that had served under Henry
v. Henry vi had been crowned at
Paris. while the dauphin was a mere
trifler. stained with the assassination
of the most powerful noble of the
kingdom, whose son was then allied
with the English to avenge his fathers
death. The quiet village of Domremy
knew little Of the atrocities Of tn,
rude sOldiery save through hearsay
but the peasantry, especially the pa
rents of the young Maid, were burning
with patriotism and longed to see thu
English expelled from the land which
was in a deplorable condition indeed
But even the little family of Jacque
dare was on time driven from tn
simple abode and took refuge a
Neufchateau for fifteen days.
To his eldest daughter Jacque
dare and his wife gave the name O
Jeanette, called later by the F,rencl
Jeanne, which was Latinized into 10
hanna and Anglicized into Joan. He
father coming from the nearby ham
let of Arc took the urnameS of d Arr
So Jeanne dare after her victory a
Orleans was henceforth known as tn
Maid of Orleans, and later the Frenc
called her the Maid (la Purcelle) a
though she were the only one in a
France. Her days were spent watch
Ing her fathers flockS in the mead
ows. or, when not so engaged, sat
the farmyard bright afternoons an
sewed knit or spun. She was dt
scribed as fair, Stralght-limbed an
robust as a lad, and dressed as othe
peasant girls Of her day. Her stron
faith and Imagination were unusu
and she paid much heed to the saint
legends and fairy tales. The lionel
ness of her pursuit enhanced the:
gifts. In addition to her piety ar
purity of soul she was noted for tel
der sympathy for the afflicted
early as thirteen the Heavenly Voic
tn vt 10 h..r
cred mission. Her own version wa
"At the age Of thirteen a voice fro
God came to her to help her in rulil
herself, and that the voice came
her about the hour of noon, in sur
mer, while she was in her fathers ga
den, and she had tasted the day b
fore. and she heard the voice on h
right in the direction of the churC
and when she heard the voice she 81
a bright light Then visions a