Vanished Halls and Cathedrals of FranceEdwards, George Wharton
History
Vanished Halls and Cathedrals of France
Edwards, George Wharton
Cathedrals -- France; Cities and towns -- France; France -- Description and travel
And go he did, in the driving rain, too; in spite of our remonstrances
he trudged out into the rain-soaked road, and we watched him out of
sight down the footpath leading from the station towards the river. And
this is but one of the instances of consideration and kindness that one
received in this charming countryside. Briefly, we were well housed
at Domremy among the poplars, and though the sheets were damp from the
rainy weather, a huge wood fire lighted for us by Madame at the inn soon
dried them, and a good supper revived our spirits. Here charming days
may be spent among the scenes filled with memories of la Pucelle.
There are two villages here, besides Vaucouleurs, which equipped Jeanne
for her campaign, and whence she set forth aided by Baudricourt, the
Governor. The larger is Gréoulx, perhaps half a mile away. The hamlet is
probably much as it was during the time of Jeanne; a collection of small
low white houses on either side of the roadway, squalid and odorous from
the dung-hill before each doorway. Here sit Madame and the children, who
play with the chickens and droves of small pink pigs running up and down
in every direction, and in and out of the open doors.
The street now widens into a sort of "place" before the church with
a square, pinnacled tower in which is a clock. The interior with low
vaulting is rich with festoons of drapery, wreaths and some very ornate
silk banners, all displayed with much taste in honor of la Pucelle, the
sainted Jeanne. To right is a fine monument, dated fifteenth century,
embellished with figures of Jacob and Didier Tierselin, who were the
sons of her godmother, who, it will be remembered, was a witness in her
behalf at the trial.
Here at Domremy the maid Jeanne is regarded and honored as a saint, and
over the altar are large paintings of her representing her mission, and
the events. One of them is of the appearance of the Archangel to the
young girl.
Outside the door is a bronze statue of the Maid of Orleans by E. Paul
(1855) and farther on is a very ill-kept little square in which is a
most absurd monument erected by some one who is nameless, in 1820. Just
opposite a sort of court guarded from the droves of little pink pigs by
an iron railing, is the quaint "lean to" sort of cottage in which Jeanne
la Pucelle, called by the English Joan of Arc, was born in 1411. Above
the arched door is displayed the emblazoned royal arms of France,
together with those assigned to Jeanne and her family by the King, Louis
XI. Above is a Gothic canopied niche in which is a kneeling figure of
la Pucelle, reproduced, it is said, from the one inside the cottage,
bearing the date of 1456. Here the principal room is the kitchen, in
which, however, only the middle beam of the ceiling is original.
It is said that the kneeling statue in armor was posed for by a niece of
Jeanne.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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