JOAN OF ARC PAGEANT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1929, Page 6

JOAN OF ARC PAGEANT

A RAID UR-CLAD MAID ON L xi AUGER. ■ ORLEANS, May 3.' Bathed in warm, golden sunlight and oeiiagged with .the Maid’s banners of olue studded with fleurs-de-lys’ and the gold and. crimson colours ol the city, Orleans to-day entered on the chief phase of the 560th. anniversary of the raising ol the siege of the historic city oy Joan of Arc.

The city is packed with visitors of many nations, but mostly French and English-speaking. Many high dignitaries of the Church including Cardinal Lepicier, the Papal Legate, Cardinal Bourne and. the Right Rev. Donald Alartm, Bishqjt of Argyll are taking part in the various ceremonies.

The anniversary of the deliverance of the city was heralded at mid-day by the blare of trumpets from the Tour de Vi lie and the ringing of bells from tlie old city bellry, the peals continuing at intervals until 8 o’clock tonight. MASSIVE STATUTE. A massive statue of the Alaid in woman’s dress, holding in one hand her standard, and in the other the joined hands of a poilu, was unveiled at 3 o’clock in the gardens of the Hotel de Ville. This was followed by a Afass at 'the cathedral attended by all the visiting prelates. Representatives of the trade guilds and foreign delegations attended at 5 o'clock, a reception given by tlie mayor at the Hotel de Ville. The most impressive part of the day’s celebration, however, was the pageant which started from tho Fort ties Toil relies on the opposite bank of the Loire. There 500 yeas ago. Joan’s enthusiasm and example inspired her forces to continue the attack in which she fell wounded.

It was past 9 o’clock at night when this proeesion set out. Aldle Schaeffer, armour-clad and mounted on a charger represented tlie Alaid, and accompanying her were figures representing all the various French generals associated with the raising of the seige. THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS. AVliile tlie pageant made its way across the river all the hells of the oitv were rmgiim and when it reached the Place Sainte Croix near the* cathedral, the mover handed tlie Afaid’s white and gold standard of AFgr. Courcoux the Bishop of Orleans. At tlie same moment tlie cathedral and city became illuminated, as if by magic, bv thousands of electric lights and manganese flares. And so ended tho first day’s ceremonies. The great festival will reach its culminating point to-morrow, when tlie French President, Af. Doumergue, and a number of distinguished persons, including Sir: AVilliam Tyrrell, the British Ambassador to France, will take part*