SENIOR COMPETITION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 692, 18 November 1933, Page 7

SENIOR COMPETITION

FIRST PRIZE AWARD. "JOAN OF ARC." (Zeno Aurellia, 13yrs, James St.) Not that igallant Sir Francis Drake, not the mighty Napoleon, do I consider the greatest heroes in history. True, they were great men in their •own way, yet there is one greater th'an these in courage, f aith and ability — Joan of Ar-c. To the whole world she is still that dauntless maiden who risked even the terror of the flimes that she might drive the Etiglisli out •( of France, and once more proclaim it peaceful and prosperous. Some men in history have been moved to acti&n by anger and threats, by tears, by suffering, but Joan had. only a vision in a dream to guide her to victory. To some it would have been madness, but Joan had seen I the Christ, had heard His voice, and knew His wish. Fe.ar was cast aside;

she was the chosen one; France would be a glorious country once more. j Neither the betrayal among her friends, nor the cruel accusations of | the bishops could dishearten that j fearless maid. With a courage born I of determination she led her soldiers to battle, and the enemy fled before her standard. We see her yet in the i heat and horror of the battle, sitting I calmly and uprightly on her white I steed. Beside her, soldiers whom she ! trusted; before her the beaten foe; in 1 her hand the standard of France, free once more, and in her heart a glorious content. She had fulfilled | God's wish. But that terrible retribution tbat followed the burning of that innocent maid at the stake— presents the darkest page in English history. Never before, or since, has ;any crime j equalled the horror and atrocity of that despicable deed. She was France's saviour, yet her fellow men ' sold her to the English for a mere handful of coins and the English churchmen, because Joan would not : submit to their arrogant wishes, con- ; demned her to be burnt at the stake. ; And she died as a true martyr, still ; believing in her country and her God; ; fearing none, knowing that as she 1 died she had served her country, and • htr God. ; Joan of Arc is to me one of the j greatest figures in history, and ali ways will be. She lived a noble life, | but she died a nohler death. Others, ' too, have died for their cause, yet Joan's heroism seems to shine ahove them all. And I think the story of ( her great sacrifice will always he remembered and revc-red, and the name of Joan of Arc always loved and honoured.