The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-09-25
AMERICAN COATS-OF-AKMS.
Labor Recognized in the Heraldry OF
the New World.

called American heraldry. The coats
of-arms and official emblems of old
world nations, Us might be expected.
are monopolized bv ideas of pride and
warlike power. With popular rights
and peaceful industries the founders OF
European dynasties and kingdoms had
no sympathy. No less was it to be ex-
pected, on the other hand, that self
governing communities of frugal and
industrious folk, set in a land where
everything was to be won by arduous
effort, should embrace every oppor-
tunity to laud the labor which was the
cornerstone of the fabric of their pros
perity-of their very existence.
A glance through such a work as
Prof. Hough's american Constitu-
tions," or Admiral Preble's History
of the Flag of the United States of
America" will not fail to reveal an al
most universal recognition of industry
and commerce. The most notable
omission is in the case of the seal and
arms. In not one of the designs sug-
gested by or to the committee appoint
ed July 4, 1776, to prepare device for
the great seal of the United States-a
committee whose members were
Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson-was
there any recognition of the peaceful
arts. Adams design was the Choice
of Hercules s"-what a pity that upon
our passports and commissions we do
not behold delineated 1.-The hero rest
ing on club; Virtue pointing to her
rugged mountain on one hand and
persuading him to ascend; and Sloth
glancing at her flowery paths of pleas
ure, wantonly reclining on the ground,
displaying the charms both of her elo-
quence and person, to seduce him into
vice!" Franklin was for design pre-
senting the whelming of Pharaoh;
Jefferson for the Children of Israel in
the Wilderness, plus Hengist and
Horsa." Among Che supporters in the
various designs afterward reported are
to be found American Indians, Roman
soldiers, ''maidens with loose auburn
tresses," "knights in arms, with bloody
lances," but nowhere a husbandman or
an artisan, and on the great seal
finally adopted June 20, 1882, nothing
typifes labor, unless it be the untin-
ished pyramid which scoffers have in
sisted upon regarding as prophetic OF
the w aSnlngtOn monument.
Very different, however, is it with
the arms of the different states; there
the omission to recognize trade or in
dustry is the comparatively rare ex-
ception.
Maine has as her supporters hus-
bandman leaning on his scythe and a
sailor resting on an anchor.
New Hampshire shows ship on the
stocks with American banners dis
played, and a group of busy ship
wrights.
Vermont places beneath her tower
ing pine-tree three erect sheaves and a
red cow-a nobler beast than any of
the Hons. gritfins, boars, and bears
that ramp and roar through the forests
of European heraldry.
Massachusetts has decidedly war;
like coat-of-arms, with her belted and
moceasined Indian, and her "dexter
arm clothed and grasping 4 broad
sword" and Rhode Islands ''aucker"
has no reference to maritime interests.
Nor do Connecticut's three vines, sup
ported and fruited, relate to viticult-
urc. but, instead, to the three original
plantations of Hartford, Windsor, and
Weatherfield.
New York's arms have no recogni-
ton of labor or trade, if we except the
two vessels approaching each other on
the Hudson.
New Jersey, however, displays three
plows in an escutcheon. makes Ceres
one OF the supporters, and takes as
crest Il horses head.
Pennsylvania supporting horses are
of the rampant 'old war-horse" reed,
but her shieid is charged with peace
ful emblems-a plow; on sea navy
proper, a ship under full sail; and
STALK of maize. This coat-of-arms was
taken chiefly from the old seal of the
city of Philadelphia, adopted in 1901,
which had in three of its quarters
balance, wheat sheaf, and 4 ship sail
ing upon an ocean.
Delaware shows in one division of
her azure shield COW, and in the
other sheaf of wheat and bundle of
leaf tobacco. The crest is a ship under
full sail, and the supporters are a
mariner and hunter.
Maryland, in adopting the arms of
Lord Baltimore, was so fortunate as to
obtain as supporters a fisherman and
plowman.
Virginia, on the reverse of her great
seal, which is nothing if not classical,
shows Ceres, with her cornucopia in
one hand and an ear of wheat in the
other.
West Virginia has an encyclopedia
coat-of-armS. On the dexter side of
her ivy-twiued rock is farmer, clothed
in the traditional hunting shirt of the
mountain region, his right arm resting
on the plow-handles, and his left sup
porting a woodman's ak, with, at his
feet, q she4if of wheat and e corn-stalk
On the sinister is 4 miner with pick
eral at his feet, while an anvil, on
which rests n sledge-hammer, is partly
seen.
North Carolina has on her shield n
Ccre with the cornucopia in one hand
and in the other three wheat ears.
Georgia mas always celebrated trade
and industry with elaborate enthusi-
asm. When George II. chartered the
colony, in 1882, one face of the seal
represented a provident and laborious
colony of silk-worms, sericplture being
the special object of the new settle
ment When it became a crown col
ony, in 1751, its seal showed on one
side the genius of the colony present
ing skein of silk to the king. The
convention of 1777 adopted seal
whereon was shown IAN elegant house
and other buildings, with sheep and
cattle, river running through the
same with a ship under full sail''-a
description leaving not little doubt
as to whether the river ran through
the elegant house, or the sheep. The
present seal. adopted in 1898. bears the
following elaborate device: "a view
of the seashore, with ship bearing
the flag of the United States riding at
anchor near wharf. receiving on
board hogsheads of tobacco and bales
OF cotton, emblematic of the exports of
the state; at small distance, a boat
landing from the interior of the state
with hogsheads. etc. ON board, repre-
senting her internal traffic; in the
back part, man plowing, and at
small distance flock of sheep in differ
ch H. n