The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-16
PRETTY FLEUR-DE-LIS.
Facts About Its Origin and Real signifi-
canoe.

Facts About Its Origin and Real Signif-
canoe.
Che heraldic device of the BourDons OF
France was called feur-de-lis, from the
fancy that it represented three flowers of
the white lily, as in England it was called
fower-de-luce. on the hypothesis that it
was a representation of the white iris.
But the feur-de-lis is not. properly speak
ing, a lily, nor aver a flower. The resem-
blance to a lily is very remote. even If you
call the lily a conventional one. Some
hist orians hold that it is the figure OF a
reed III blossom, used instead OF a sceptre
at the proclamation of the Frankish
kings. Others, with more likelihood, in
sist that it is neither a reed, a lily nor any
other member of the floral family, but
the extremity OF the francisque, a kind of
javelin anciently used in France. A fatal
objection to any pul ely French origin of
the symbol is that it was early an orDa-
ment Of sceptres, robes and seals. not only
of the Merovingiap, but of Greek, Ro-
man. Spanish and English kings. apd u
symhol employed by many noble fami-
lies of the Twelfth aud Thirteenth Cen
turtles. 1t is also said that it occurs. very
perfectly sculptured, in headdresses OF
Egyptian sphinxes. Tine use of the feur-
de-lis as a symbol of royalty In France
cannot be traced further back than the
Twelfth Century.
There are many complicated legends as
to the origin of the fienr-de-lis. Que of the
prettiest tells how an aged hermit in the
reign of good King Clovis saw one night
& miraculous light stream into his Cell,
and IN angel appear to him. bearing an
azure shield, on which were emblazoned
three golden lilies that shone like stars.
The celestial visitor commanded the her.
NIT to give the shield to the pious Clo-
tide. By her it was presented to her
newly converted husband, who discarded
in its favor the three black tOads which
had hitherto been his device. AS a re-
suit the armies of Clovis were victorious
over all his euemies.
Another legend, which probably has a
substratum of historical fact, tells now
the fieur-de-lis is corrupted from feur-tle-
lace, which, III turn, came from deur-de-
Louis. In A. d.. 1l35 Louis VII, setting
out OH a crusade, chose the purple fris as
his heraldic emblem. Thus it became
the fiower-de-Louls (Louis's iowerl.
which was first contracted into fower-de-
luce and after into feur-de-li+, or lily
flower, although it has no affinity with
the lily. The iris is still called the heur-
de-lis in the French provinces. 1t is said
that after a certain battle fought by the
crusaders their white banner was found
to be covered with these flowers.
AT first the National flag aud the arms
of France were thickly sown with fleur-
de-lis, but the number was reduced to
three in the reign of Charles Vi, about
the year 1881. The latter monarch is also
said TO have added the supporters 20 The
French arms in consequence of an adj
venture that happened 20 him. Hunting
in the forest of Senlis he aroused an enor-
nous stag, which eluded the dogs, but
was finally secured in the tolls of the net,
when a collar of copper gilt was found
around his neck, with the inscription
.'Hoe miih Caesar donavit" Caesar gave
his 10 me.) Subsequently The young
Kiug dreamed that he was carried
through the air on a winged stag, from
which he added two winged stays for the
supporters of the arms of France.
The feur-de-lis appeared Oh the arms OF
England from the time OF Edward Ill,
who claimed to be the rIghbful heir of he
French throne. In the year 1900 Ireland
WIS joined TO England and notifications
were called Tor both in the Kings title
aid in the national arms. The title or
King OF France was then dropped aud the
heur-de.lis expunged from the royal quar-
Ieriugs.
Since the French revolution the fleur-de-
lis has Deen associated with the Royall5t
party and The Bourbous. 1t was prescribed
during the reign of terror, aud hundreds
of persons found wearing 1t were con-
demned to death. Wherever it was con
sp1cuously seen in public works it was
effaced by popular fury. Napoleon sub
stituted the bee In lis stead (soine histor-
ians tell US that it was three bees, and not
three toads, which Clovis originally bore
on his SHELBY, but this emblem has given
way before che violet, which IL the i'm
perialist flower today Chicago Times.