The record-union., 1895-06-03
THE COD AS HER EMBLEM.

THE COD AS HER EMBLEM.
a hundred years wooden imitation Of
Goldfish has hung in the Chamber of
Representatives in the Statehouse of
Massachusetts. The other day the House
of Representatives moved into new and
more elegant quarters. Thereupon pro-
cession WAS formed, and with the Ser
geant-at-Arms bearing the cod reverently
In his armss and "Mr. Speaker" with bis
mace Of office and the members trailing
in order after, the sacred cod was borne
with all soiemnity to it's new home.
Speeches were made galore, and apos-
trophies paid TO that cod which shame the
glowing periods of Webster and Clay,
and put the patriotic bursts of eloquence
from the lips of our most devoted and
fervid patriots to the blush.
That homely old wooden cod stands,
then. to the legislators of Massachusetts as
an emblem and guide something as did the
cloud by day and the pillar of FIRE by
night to the exiled Israslites. It is evil
IDENTIFY an emblem of much that is
glorious and triumphant in the history Of
the old Bay State and in the annals of
its conquest to civilization. AS one sur
charged speaker put it.:
This fish is instinct with memories and
prophecy ike an oracle. 1t swlms Symphonic
in that wider whose confines are the limits
set 10 the activities or human thought. II
typifies to the citizens OF the commonwealth
and OF the world the founding of "a state. 1t
commentaries democracy; it celebrates the
rise OF free institutions 1t emphasizes pro-
gregS; 1t epltomlLeS Massachusetts.
But now they have discovered that the
old cod is inartistic In the midst Of the
new and elegant surroundings it stands
forth overhead like a suspended brick
bat in my lady's silken bower; it is as out
of place in it's LONELINESS as would be q
denim portiere in the midst of tapestried
hangings and velvet drapery. So art has
| been called to the rescue. and the wooden
cod is to be repainted by the most skill
full brush that can be com msnded-
fig for the cost. for the cod must be
made as real as is possible to art.
Now, this is loyalty to State, and pride
is worthy of all commentator. With
all its culture and refinement and critical
| trend Massachusetts is not ashamed to
pay respect to the goldfish, and confess it
to be typical of the State.
| Hereafter the Goldfish aristocracy,
wherever it blooms, can hold up its head
and shed reproach as a duck spurns
water. No rising ambition born in the
BOSOM OF a Massachusetts youth will
hereafter be satisfied until it has
| achieved the distinction of sitting be-
meath the benign down-looking and
| within the fall of the historic shadow of the
cod in the State House. From it native
eloQuence will draw inspiration.
patriotic devotion, imbibe courageous
purpose, and craftsmanship absorb wis
dom.
For not one moment would we be under
stood as making sport Of the grave and
reverend seniors of the General Court OF
the grand old Bay State, even if their
ceremonial over the cod does provoke a
smile, and II we suspect that beneath
their seeming they were really enjoying
quiet chuckle themselves. But. how
ever. that may be, in view of this new
elevation of the emblem of Massachu-
sets providence and industry, it occurs
TO US that California and Missouri with
their bears and Wisconsin with her
badger must confess the honors to the
Massachusetts cod after this. Alabama
may well retire her eagle to his eyrie.
and Michigan send her elk back into the
deep forests of her virgin peninsula;
Louisiana with its stork, the Hoesier
State with it's bounding buffalo, must
now do obeisance to the new painted cod
OF the Puritan State. Even ancient Mas
sachusetts herself may feel moved upon
to take down the tall and dignifed In
dian who stands defiant upon her coat of
arms and supplant him with the graceful
proportions and artistic contour of the
| amiable and intelligent cod.