The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-28
THE DUAL POWERS.
Symbol OF Ancint O.igin In Present Use
on Northern Pacific Road.

Symbol Of Ancint O.igin In Present Use
on Northern Pacific Road.
me" York Mail and Expressly
The trade mark used by the Northern
racine railroad company has history
which antedates the C-h-ir.ian ora nv
more than 5000 years. The figure was
adopted several years ago, bu, it was
only recently discovered that 1t possess
ed a significance which makes fl ex-
tremely interesting to students of an
Gent philosophers. Although the figure
appears involved at first sight 1t is real
ly quite simple. On any given diameter
OF a circle tnscribe. on opposite sides of
this diameter, alternate semi-circles hav-
ing diameters OF one-half the larger d.
amcter or the radius OF the large circle,
and the symbol Is formed.
The trade mark appears in the win
dows OF all the Northern Pacific offices
throughout the country. 1t Is printed
upon all the roads folders, letter heads,
envelopes and on all its securities While
the Worlds Fair was in progress at Chi
cago the symbol or geometric design at
tracted the attention OF r. H. McHenry,
the chief engineer of the company. He
noticed 1t upon the Korean flag. and
knowing that the company sought a
striking trade mark. he concluded that
the design might be available. Ulti-
mately 1t was adopted. and when the
Northern Pacific was reorsanized the
trade mark was copyrighted and adopt
ed the corporate seal of the new COM
paay. Il
Some time passed before it's signif-
canoe became known. One day Rev. DR..
w. S. Holt. who for a number Of years
had been a Presbyterian missionary in
China, while walking along a business
street In Portland. caught sight OF the
symbol. He recognized 1t Immediately.
In China 1t has been an emblematic de-
vice for ages f:aught with world of
meaning. DR.. Hol, told the railroad Of
ficlals all he knew OF the symbol. and at
their request he pursued a searching in
vestigation, the result OF which Is found
in a scholarly article printed in the Port
land Morning Oregonian.
The original Idea embodied In the SYM
Dol coems to have been that Of the crea-
ton, or the sexual principal. AE
In formulating statement as to the
origin OF this Idea. Dr. Holt quotes from
Choo Foo Tsz-a noted interpreter Of,
and commentator upon the Confucian
classics in the twelfth century A. D.-as
follows:
The Great Extreme Is merely the i'm
material principal; 1t Is found in the
male ana female principal In nature, in
the five elements, and in all things.
From the time the Great Extreme came
into operation, all things were produced
by ira information. The Great Extreme
has neither.residepssN5form nor place
which you can assign t8ft. If you speak
Of 1t before Its development. then. previ-
oue to. that emanntion It was perfect
stiffness. Motion and rest, with the
male and female principle OF nature
(Fo-ce and Natter, are only the descent
and embodiment of this principle"
II appearnfrQn this recital that one OF
the great tTSnscottineTftaf railway COM
paniee Of the United States has. by the
adoption OF It's unique trade mark figure,
linked closer together the old Chinese
and Korean civiliza lions with the newer
one of America: that the steel rails OF
the Northern Pacific, in connection with
Its steamships OF it's co-partner In com
merce. the Northern Pacific Steamship
company, have established n new bond
between the young republic and the old
empire. the Ocoident and the Orient.
In prosecuting his inquiries regarding
the trade mark. Dr.. HOLT corresponded
with friends-some of them learned Sin
ologues-in Canton, Foochow. Shanghai.
Hangchow. Pekin, Yokohama, etc. To
each he sent q list OF stated questions
and n copy Of the trade mark, taken
from the company's Advertising matter.
This date OF the disg gram is placed In
the eleventh century a. D.. although tho
Idea for which It stands were held more
than 1900 years B. c. 1t Is stated that
the diagram was invented to illustra lie
the philosophy OF Fuh HI It 10 attrIbut-
ed to Chow Lien Chi
Where could a mort appropriate en-
blem for great transportation compa-
ny be found than In this design? mo
ton and Rest" Force and Matter" Of
which tho figure conceives, are most eff
fcctirely excmplttied and manifested in
such pursuit.