le village of Penfra the hospitality they had
refused him. Here is an establishment, directed by a brother of Lamennais,
the celebrated author of 'Paroles d'un Croyant,' where people of all
nations--Indians, negroes from Senegambia, and others--are educated and
taught trades of every kind, and sent back to their own countries.

[Illustration: 42. Column of the Thirty.]

The people about Ploermel and Josselin speak French instead of Breton, the
prevailing language of the Morbihan department. It is nearly seven miles
between Ploermel and Josselin. Equally distant from each, at Mi-voie, in
the centre of a star formed by avenues of firs and cypresses, is an
obelisk set up to commemorate the famous "Combat des Trente," which took
place on this spot in 1351, and on which are inscribed the names of the
thirty who fought on the French side. It was during that period of the War
of Succession when hostilities were carried on by the two Jeannes, Marshal
Beaumanoir, the Breton commander of the garrison of Josselin for Jeanne de
Penthievre, gave a challenge to Bembro', as he is called, the English
captain who held Ploermel for Jeanne de Montfort and her infant son, in
consequence of an alleged infraction by the latter of a truce, agreed upon
between the Kings of France and England, in which it had been stipulated
that the peasants and those not bearing arms should be unmolested. In
spite of this compact, the English soldiers devastated the country and
committed every kind of excess. Jean de Beaumanoir repaired to Ploermel to
remonstrate, and it was agreed to settle the dispute by a fight between
thirty warriors from each camp. The prophecies of Merlin were consulted,
and found to promise victory to the English. The appointed place of
meeting was by a large oak, the "Chene de Mi-Voie," on a lande or large
plain, half way from each town. The battle began with great fury, at first
to the disadvantage of the Bretons, when Bembro' was killed, which threw
dismay among the English; but a German, who succeeded in the command,
rallied their courage, and the melee became thicker than ever. Beaumanoir
was wounded, and his loss of blood and his long fast produced a burning
thirst, and he asked for water. "Bois ton sang, Beaumanoir, ta soif se
passera," was the reply of Geoffroy du Bois; and Beaumanoir, forgetting
his thirst and his wound, continued the fight. The English kept their
ranks close, till Guillaume de Montauban broke them by a stratag