Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-02

("The Maid of Orleans" of course, Is
but another name for Joan of Arc. IA
nous as the girl-leader of the soldiers
who saved France. She Is French
heroine She was born in 1412. and
died in 1431.)
It was Just at the dawn of day, when
the first rays of morning were breaking
over Europe and dispelling the dark
ness of the Middle Ages. France and
England we're engaged in a desperate
struggle. the one for existence, the
other for throne. MI the western part
of France had avowed the English
cause, and the English King had been
proclaimed in Paris. at Rouen and at
Bordeaux, while the strongly fortified
CITY of Orleans, the key to the French
possessions. was beSieged.
The thunder and lightning of the
battlefield are bad enough, but the
starvation and pestilence of besieged
city are infinitely worse. The supplies
son was reduced to few desperate
men, and the women and children had
been abandoned to the English.
But far away on the 1Order OF Ger
many, in the little village of Domremy,
the Nazareth of France, God was rails
ing uD a deliverer for Orleans, savior
for the nation
The outdoor life of peasant girl had
given to Joan of Arc a well-daveloped
form. while the beauties of her soul
and the spiritual tendencies of her ma
ture must have given to her face that
womanly beauty that never fails to win
respect and love. Her standard was
banner of snowy silk; her weapon a
sword, that from the day she first drew
It from its Scabbard until she finally
laid it down upon the grave OF st. Denis,
was never stained with blood: and her
inspiration was self-sacriflcing devo-
ton to the will of God, to the rights of
France and her king. Without single
opposing shot she passed under the very
battlements of the besieging English,
and entered Orleans with soldiers for
empty forts and food for starving people
1t needed no eloquent speech to incite
the men of Orleans to deeds of valor
and Of vengeance. The ruins OF their
homes choked the streets: the desolated
city was one open Sepulcher while the
cries of half-starved children and the
walls of heart-broken mothers. stirred
them to such a mad frenzy Of enthu-
siasm, that now, since a leader had
come. they would have rushed headlong
and thoughtlessly against the English
forts as into trap of death.
And now the attack was planned and
the lines were formed; and then as the
crumbling walls of the city echoed back
the wild shouts of the Orleanites. the
maid of Donremy. waving her sword
aloft and followed by her snowy banner
led her Frenchmen on to slaughter anc
to victory. Then from the English
archers came flight after fight of swift.
winged arrows. while the wild catapult;
threw clouds of death-laden stor e.
crashing among the French.
Broadsward and battle-ax clashec
en- shield and helmet. while the wilc
horses, mad with rage and pain. rushed
with fierce yells upon the foe: but evel
above the din and noise of battle. above
death shouts and saber strokes; though
the dust and smoke obscured her ban
ner, ever could be heard the clear, ring
ing voice of their leader. shouting fol
victory and for France.
An arrow pierced the bosom of Joar
of Arc, but drawing it out with her owl
hand and throwing it aside, she showed
the French her blood-stained corselet
and once more urged them on. Al