ENGLISHMEN AND JOAN OF ARC. [To THE EDITOR 07 raE
"SPECTATOR.") Slit,—On reading your review of " L'Ame des Anglais " in kst week's issue, I wish to endorse in the most emphatic manner your protest against the impression the authoress conveys of the present attitude of the English people towards Joan of Arc. I believe " Fcemina " to be absolutely mistaken. Just as the Roman Church„in her day, burnt the inspired maid as a witch, and is now well on the road to making her a saint, so we English, who found faggots for her martyrdom, now with almost "cette tendresse terrible, " " cette pitie passionnee "— which "Fcemina". fails to discover in our nature—lament our brutish and ignoble crime. And I have often thought that if it were proposed to enshrine this sentiment in some suitable form—such as a beautiful statue to be placed in an honoured spot in our land—the idea would receive the warmest support from those of us who remember the history of our country and have a deep desire to make some atonement, however tardy, for the sin of long ago.—I am, Sir, &e.,
Previous page
