The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-05-10

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Latin State Notices. ~.:L
From ta. p,tro.t po.t:. ,:,;>E (
Our forefathers ran fearfully to Latin
notices In the carly days, every gentle
man e1pEctet TO- lesrn to read: Latin,
though he might not know how 10 use
good English. Latin notices were put on
city and State seals, as 4 matter of course.
The national seal of the United States is
thus ornamented. But, fortunately, the
mania Of Latin did not spread greatly, so
that only fifteen of the State seals; have
Latin notices; and it is safe to say that,
if they had the thing to do over. again,
these fifteen would show. their good
modern taste by leaving outl the Latin.
Owing to the weakness in the early
founders Of Michigan, every year, or o.
tener, some anxious inquirer writes to US
asking the exact meaning of the Latin
motto which meanders over the great seal
Of the state of Michigan, upon. the rib
band, or halter, which ties the hind legs
together of the rampant deer which rear
against the shield. The motto reads:
81 quarts peninsulan, amenan, cireu~s-
spice. The motto is parody upon the
inscription upon the tomb of Sir Chris
topher Wren, in England. It's exact
meaning is: "If you are looking for a
nice peninsula, walk right in, stranger.
We can sell you just the quarter section
you want" Upon the Michigan shield
appears the word Tucbor. It means:
michigan maintains her republican
majority" Now don't let US be bothered
again with questions about this thing.
While we are about it. we may a. we'll
explain all the Latin State notices, for
the benefit of such Of our readers as src
not classical scholars. As we have re-
marked, but fifteen of the States were led
into this folly. Maine leads off with the
motto: Dirigo-I direct. Properly trans-
lated it means: my son, Jimmy Blaine,
points the right way" A very good mot
to; but it would be better in plain Ene-
lish.
Massachusetts runs to length, like Mich
'gan. Her motto is: Fuse pestt plaeidas
sub Hbe'ta<e qu;etan. This is sometimes
translated as "Give us rest" It's prop
er meaning, however, is: LET US have
peace, if we have to fight for it,
Connecticut has q shorter motto-Qv;
transtulH suetinet-Hc who transported
will sustain. The hidden meaning Of this,
however, is Bound to make living
unless the dam breaks" And very per-
tlncnt motto it is.
New York has for her motto the single
word: Excelsior higher. Its meaning
has been made obvious a great many
times: However high may be the Re-
publican vote in the country districts,
Tammany sees it and goes one higher"
Then comes Maryland with the: motto:
Crescite ct Observation-Disclosures and
multiply; which means: "Taxes in
crease as Democrats multiply" The beau
ty of this motto is its truth.
Virginia also has a pertinent motto:
SIC semper tyrannis. This is such easy
Latin that everybody can translate it.
It means: Virginia played the tyrant
till it made her sick"
Missouri again runs to length, with
her: Salus popuzi suprema texest0-;let the
safety Of the people be the supreme law.
The genuine translation, however, runs
thus: "The laws are not allowed to fool
with the safety of our people," The
motto is favorite with the Younger and
James brothers, and other outlaws 0
Missouri.
Arkansas has brief but very express
i've and pertinent motto: Regnant popul;
whether translated freely. or
strictly, means, mob rule" T.
Kansas chose her motto in her fighting
and speculating days. 1t is: Ad astrGper
dspera. A Kansas man says this means;
+" To the stars through tribulation." He
is mistaken. The proper translation is:
Knocked higher than a kite,' as any
good Interpreter can see
Minnesota goes in for French Her
motto is: L'etoile du Nord-Star of the
North. This clearly means: : "t.Come
North, young man; come North" It il
motto which Horace Greeley hiRhlv
approved as soon as he found out what It
meant - |;.AE
California has Greek motto in the
single word Eureka, signifying: "Dig
and you may find" The evident peril
nence Of this in State whose people never
create wealth, but always find it, will at
once strike the popular mind. -.
Nevada has also good motto: Volens
ct potens-willing and able; or, in, the
modern sense: "In case of muss, count
me in."
Wisconsin. being organized in hard
times, couldn't afford any motto of. her
own. SO she borrowed her motto, along
with various other things, from Uncle Sam
uel, and puts E pEuTtbus unun, on her
shield In her case this means: "One
pig of litter" IL,
This motto, as it appears on the shield
Of the United States, however, according
to the recent decision of the Electoral
Commission, as either Mr.. Tilden or Mr..
Hendricks will testify, means zone too
many" And very good motto it is; as
the United States has always proved
one too many for any and every acci-
dent. ',t
By carefully studying these explana~
tons, very good idea of the Latin
language may he obtained; ; and the reader
will also be convinced of the immense
superiority Of our own vernacular.
A merchant in q provincial town in
r.