The Press. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1908. RECENT LIGHTS JOAN OF ARC.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13105, 2 May 1908, Page 8

The Press. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1908. RECENT LIGHTS JOAN OF ARC.

Between two and tiireo thousaawi books havo been -written about Joan of Arc, and yet ehe still remains oma of the problems of history and , of psychology. More tian that, sho is, th© historical personality about whom it lS'nogelcss to expect that UTitcers will efer bef wholly agreed. Andftno reason •ie obTioiis. Quwrtions arise about her -to -which the ordinary canone of hisjjjtffical criticism scaroery apply, and *j|s?-the Bolution of which depends far more temperament and preconceived of writers than on the .acV of facts. Her <?rtraordin■.',r jrfpia&ir affords practically unlimited '.:'■?''•' *** , ~ : _ .__

scope for impressionism and the myetica' or semi-supernatural interpretation of events. Tho marvellous in her case is supposed to transcend the ordinary limits of the marvellous in human record; and many a writer, who sets .out heroically resolved on a cold, dispassionate treatment, finde himself gradually lulled into a uncritical slumber under tb.e mesmeric influence of what he camnot explain. Then there is the poet; discarding history altogether, or daringly forcing it into new channels, like Schiller in his moving, but unsatisfying, drama. In. recent times wo have had another litterateur, professing to translate from a contemporary chronicler, but really producing a sort of eentimental historical novel. But it is idle to accuse Mark Twain, as has been done, of an uncritical attitude and an incapacity for sifting evidence. Who ever exspeoted a humourist -with a deep vein of emotionalism to write a critical biography of Joan of Arc? Under the thin disguise of a translation, he is concerned merely with prodncing a moving picture, while following pretty faithfully the main stream of events.

But, as if to prove the possibility of maintaining a rigid air of detachment from beginning to end, a modern Frenchman has been devoting the last twenty years intermittently to the study and elucidation of the Maid of Orleans. This is the well-known essayist, novelist, and critic, who has adtxpted the name of Anatole France. Here, too, we have a novelist trying criticism; but the intellectual temperament of Anatole France is at the very opposite pole from that of the genial American humorist. He, ' too, has humour, but of the deldoato, ironic kind; and he has at the same time a remarkable capacity for impartiality n.nd clear, cold analysis. In regard to Joan of Arc ho is the great living representative of the rationalistic, school. In what is said horo wo are partly indebted to a summary of his writings on the N Maid, which appeared in the "Fortnightly Review" for March. In the clear light of Anatole France's examination Joan becomes, perhaps for the first time, an intelligible human pereonage, the combined product of her environment and an exceptional, but in no way abnormal, inner nature. Hβ sets himself the task of "explaining" her, not on a priori assumptions, natural or supernatural, not "with a sense of awo as if in the presence of a mystery, but by a patient accumulation of every faot ami cdrcormEtonoe which, could beer, in however remote a degree, on her early development and subsequent career. He does not deny her Visions and Voices, as nobody could; but he tries to place them in their- true perspective. Many other people in that croduiouß age had such experiences, but there was" in Joan what they lacked, an. extraordinary .power of initiative, a oertain rustic assurance and peasant shrewdnesA, combined "with, refinement and sensitiveness. The warpolitice of the time filled her earn by day, and ■ her imagination by wight. The two neighbouring villages of Domremy and Maxey took opposite* sidtes in the struggle J her father's house was "a place of call, and discussion ran high. Thon there ivere mystical influences of a potent character. Domremy was under tBo tutelage of -that St. Komi who had anointed Glovis, the first King of Franco, with, tihe holy oil from heaven. Joan, no doubt, knew the story, as -well as that old prophecy of Merlin, that out of the Oak Wood (i.e., hor "Bois Chieenu") would como a Maid who would break down walls and shatter her enemies. Joan was quick in applying these things to herself. She cotild -manaige horses, too, and had plenty of experience of hard riding in trying to save tho family cattle-from raiders.

It is in his treatment of her military operations that Anatole France's impartiality is most conspiououe. Hβ : podnte out that, in all their collisions with the armies of the Maid, the English were vastly inferior in numbers. Not only bo, but their power in France wae -waning from- other causes. The books on Joan's strategy err in attributing nineteenth century tactics to the loose, incoherent operations of a fifteenth century campaign. Her socalled strategy consisted mainly in hurling the full weight of her numbers in frontal attacks on strong positions held by a far inferior force. Apart from her sense of a supernatural mission, she relied mainly on her capacity for inspiring the rank and file with something of her own impetuous enthusiasm, ac well as on the likelihood of her enemies being seized with superstitious panic. The fatal day of 6ompiegne was a rude awakening. Then came the trial, the true facta of which have been., almost obliterated by sloppy eentrmentalism. Canchon, the president of the Court, v&s no bloody, soulless villain, but a fifteenth century bishop, who saw the \ necessities of his position. The Church was-trying a defiant heretic, who set her own. inner Kghte above its authority.; and to such a process there could in that age be but one endi impossible, and she muefc die. Equally natural was the Rehabilitation, -which came twenty-five years later.' Here we must stop.' .Dissection of this sort eeems destructive of all idealism, but it is nothing of the kind. It is the fcnje and only fruitful way of history, and it is when we have cleared away the accretions of centuries that we find, burn-, ing beneath, tho pure, steady fire of an immortal renown.