Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-12-18

COATS-OF-ARNIS.
Labor Recognized in the Heraldry of
the New World.

An interesting sublect-one that has
not yet received the attention to which
it is entitled-is that of the recogni-
ton OF industry in what might be
called American heraldry. The coats
of-arms and official emblems of old
world nations. Us might be expected,
are monopolized by 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 10 be won by arduous
effort, should embrace every oppor-
tunity to laud The labor which was the
of the fabric of their pros
perity--of their very existence.
A glance through such n work as
Prof. Hough's american Constitu-
tions. or Admiral Preble's History
of the Flag of the United States of
America. viii not fail to reveal an al
most universal recognition of industry
and commerce. Tho most notable
omission is in the case of the seal and
arms. In not one of the designs sug-
gestcd by or to the committee appoint
ed july A, 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 '.Chocc
of Hercules what pity that upon
our passports and commissions we do
not behold delineated 1.-THE hero rest
ing on a club; Virtue pointing to her
rugged mountain on one hand and
persuading him to ascend; and Sloth
glancing at her fiowery 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 the 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 husbandman or
an artisan, and on the great seal
finally adopted June 20, 1882. nothing
typifies labor, unless it be the unfin-
ished pyramid which scoffers have in
sisted upon regarding as prophetic of
the Washington 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 q
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 o
red cow-a nobler beast than anv of
the Hons. grif1ins, boars, and bears
that ramp and roar through the forests
of European heraldry.
Massachusetts has q decidedly war;
like coat-of-arms. with her belted and
moccasined Indian, and her dexter
arm clothed and grasping broad
sword, !" and Rhode Islands ..anckern
has no reference to maritime interests.
Nor do Connecticut's three vines, sup
ported and fruited, relate to viticult-
ure, but, instead, TO the three original
plantations of Hartford, Windsor and
Weatheriield.
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 az
crest \ horses head.
Pennsylvania supporting horses are
of the rampant .'old war-horsc" breed,
but her shield is charged with peace
full emblcms-a pillow; or sea navy
proper, u ship under full sail; and y
stalk of maize. This coat-of-arms was
taken chiefly from the old seal of the
city of Philadelphia, adopted in 17O1,
which had in three of its quarters y
balance, wheat sheaf, and i ship sail
ing upon an ocean.
Delaware shows in one division of
her azure shield Il COW. and in the
other a sheaf of wheat and bundle Of
leaf tobacco. The crest is ship under
full sail, and the supporters are q
mariner and = hunter.
MARYLAND. in adopting the arms of
Lord Baltimore, was SO fortunate as to
obtain rs supporters q 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 iyY-twincd rock is farmer, clothed
in the traditional hunting shirt of the
mountain region. his right arm resting
on the plowhandlcs. and his left sup
porting woodlands AK, WITH at his
feet, u sheaf of wheat and corn-stalk.
On the sinister is & miner with pick
eral at his feet, while an anvil, on
which rests sledge-hammer, is partly
seen.
North Carolina has on her shield q
Gore with the cornucopia in one hand
and in the other three wheat ears.
Georgia has always celebrated trade
and industry with elaborate cnthusi-
asm. When George II. chartered the
colony. i'll 1882, one face Of the seal
represented n provident and laborious
colony of silk-worms, scriculture being
the special object of the new settle
mcnt. When it became n crown col
ony. in 175l, its seal showed on one
side the genius of the colony present
ing q skein of silk 10 the king. The
convention of 1777 adopted q seal
whereon was shown .':ln elegant house
and other buildings. with sheep and
cattle, river running through the
same with u ship under full sail"-a
description leaving not u 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 y wharf, receiving on
board hogsheads of tobacco aud bales
OF cotton, cmblematie 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, a man blowing. and at a
small distance a dock of sheep in differ
ent pastures. shaded by a ilourishing
tree; the motto. agriculture and
Commerce. Not bad coat-of-arms
for the thriving southern common
wealth.
Florida places 4 siie-wheeled steam
boat on the river in the middle ground
of her coat-of-arms.