AHEROINE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 588, 25 July 1873, Page 3

AHEROINE.

—0 A woman named Virginie Chesquieres has lately died in the Petits Menaces Asylum, at Issy, within fifty-five days of attaining her hundredth year A remarkable act of heroism is related of this female under the Frst Empire. Paring an engagement in the Peninsular war, the Colonel of the 27th Regiment had been killed and left on the ground, when a sergeant (a slight young man) and two soldiers devoted themselves to recovering the body of their officer. They starte 1 together, but the two men were struck down on their way, and the sergeant only reached the spot. lie attempted to lift the corpse on his shoulders, but was too weak to do so. Perceiving two of the enemy at a distance, he made signs as if he were wounded, and the others hastened forward, expecting to make a prisoner, when the sergeant fired and brought down one of them, then seized his horse -the other had lied—got the body on it, mounted himself, and galloped back to the French lines. There it was seen that the young man was wounded, as blood was flowing from his breast. lie was undressed, in spite of his resistance, when ho was discovered to ho a woman ! It was Virginie Chesquiercs, formerly of Delimont, in the department of the Fiord, who six years before, finding that her younger brother had been drawn in the conscription, dressed herself in men’s clothes, cut off her hair, presented herself before the authorities, was accepted by them, and incorporated in the 27th Regiment, After undergoing the hardships of a soldier’s life during a time of war, and without any suspicion as to her sex having been entertained, she had ad vanced to the rank of sergeant, and there is little doubt, had her sex not been discovered, she would have risen to a much higher rank in the Imperial Army. This is the woman who has lately died in the Asylum at Issyf -French Paper.

CO-OPERATION. —o— Co-operative Congress.has been held at Newcastle-on-Tyne (England), Mr. J. Cowen, jun., presided, and amongst the gentlemen who supported him were Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Alderman Carter, M.P Mr. G. JJHolyoake, Mr. G. Howell, Mr. V. Neale, Mr. E. 0. Greening, Mr. Hodgson Pratt, Mr. Lloyd Jones, Mr. V/. Natta.ll, <to. In the evening a public meeting was held, at which it was resolved that co-operation was the most effectual means of permanently raising the condition of the people,” and “ That it is the essence of cooperation to recognise the right of labour to a substantial share in the profits which it creates.” The Congress at a later date resumed its sittings after a breakfast given to the delegatcs by the Ousebuvn Co-opera-tive Engine Society. Dr. Rutherford took the chair at the breakfast, and Mr. Morrison, M.P., presided over the Conference, at which the subjects of co-operative banking, and the best means of promoting productive co operation, were fully discussed. At a further meeting, Mr. Hughes, M.P. was in the chair. The report of the Congress Board was agreed to after some discussion. Some resolutions defining the conditions upon which societies should be entitled to seu< !j;d(. legates, we>'e then discussed and agreed to, and a letter was read from Lady Florence Herbertjand the Hon. A. Herbert, M.P., expressive of their regret at their inability to attend, and enclosing 51. for the Co-operative Library at Newcastle ; but it seems that there is not one in existence, and the money is therefore to be sent back. Next year the Congress is to be held at Halifax, where there is one Society which possesses seven tnousand members.—The building operatives of Leamington, who have been on strike, have issued the prospectus of a Cooperative Building Company, inviting public patronage and support. They'say.they are prepared to undertake every kind of building, and that they have the choice of the most skilled artisans in every branch of the trade.— Graphic.