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Young Girl Burned to Death While Playing Joan of Arc With Her Friends
In 1907, a group of children innocently acting out a time-honored story experienced a horrible tragedy
The imagination of a child can be a magnificent thing to behold. Nothing is off limits as youngsters take information that they have gathered from the world around them and regurgitate them into all manner of manifestations. Sadly, such creativity isn’t always harmless. In 1907, a young girl became infatuated with the story of French heroine Joan of Arc and burned to death in a tragic accident while she was acting out the famous martyr’s life with some friends.
In 1907, Mia Vjorling was an inquisitive 10-year-old living in Minneapolis. One of her favorite activities was reading, and like many children, she found a story that really resonated for her — Joan of Arc.
Born around 1412 in Domrémy, France, Joan of Arc became a revered figure who played a pivotal role in the Hundred Years’ War. When she was only about the age of 17, she claimed to have divine visions telling her that she was destined to support Charles VII and help liberate France from English domination. Despite her peasant heritage, she followed an unwavering faith, with her charisma and usefulness as a rallying point for the French people…
