The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-10
NOTICES OF STATES.
How Some Phrases Became the SlO-
gnns of Various Localities.

From the Philadelphia Times.
If you desire to have fun with learned
acquaintance ask him simple questions
about his country, it's history, financial
condition. political divisions, geographi-
cal lines climatology, topography, etc.
Questions that any schooiboy can answer
Dr.. Knowail will stumble clumsily over,
often getting bad fall. There is one
question that / have never heard any
one answer, namely, What are the mot
toes of the several states of the Union
and their meaning?" clever man may
name that OF his own state and guess
at those of three or rour of the more
important sister states, but he is unlikely
to know the meanings of any that are
in the original Latin. Try some able
professor in a crowd and see him founder.
Ask the professor if he knows that the
great seal of the United States was de-
signed by an Englishman, Sir John Prest-
wich, who also suggested the motto Re
Pluribus Unum?" our ablest men had
failed to propose anything acceptable,
Franklin. jefferson, Adams, Lowell, Scott,
Houston and others wasting nearly four
years on the task. franklin proposed
Moses dividing the Red Sea with this
motto, Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obe-
dience to God" Adams proposed the
choice of Hercules and Jefferson the
children of Israel in the Wilderness.
Doesn't 1t seem funny? Some OF the sug-
gested notices were "Bello vel Pace
(For War or Peace "Semper" Forever).
"Deo Favente" with Gods Favor,
'Virtus Sofa Invicta" Virtue Alone In
vincible). etc. After six years the Eng
llshman's device was adopted, and il
vet remains on the arms of the United
states.
If the professor is familiar with the OBJ
verse of the great seal, ask him what he
has to say of the reverse, and the chances
are 100 to / that ne cannot recollect the
unfinished pyramid, the eye In the tri-
angle, the glory proper, the motto over
the eye, "Annuit Coeptis" GOD Has Fav-
ored the Undertakngs). and that under
all, "Novue Ordo Seculorum" CA New Sc
ries of Ages. The diverse OF the great
seal, with its splendid eagle, the bundle
OF arrows the olive branch. the Is
stripes. the 10 stars the glory breaking
from the clouds and the "E Pluribus
Unum" Is magnificently American, but
the pyramid, the desert, the foTbidding
Egyptian sky and the eye In the triangle
on the reverse are simply barbarous.
The great seal of the Confederacy by a
strange arbitrament of fate was never
used. II was made in England and reach
ed Richmond about the time Of the evac-
uation by the armies of the Lost Cause
and the Confederate government. Its
motto was "Deo Vindce" God Main
tains). The seal Is handsome silver die
about three inches In diameter, bearing
an equestrian portrait of Washington (af-
ter the statue in Richmond, surrounded
with a wreath composed OF cotton, to-
baoco. sugar cane, corn, wheat and rice
the principal products of the Confederate
states. 1t cost in England about $500
with press, waters and papers wax, silk
cords. etc. IT was presented TO the state
OF South Carolina about 1887 and Is kept
in the office Of the Secretary of State.
Ask the professor II he remembers that
Minnesota founded by Americans, Is the
only state in the Union that has a French
motto. The one originally selected aud
ordered engraved was Latin, but the die
was spoiled and the French substitute
was adopted, IL Etoiie du Nord" CThe
Star OF the North.) Does the professor re-
call that Montana IL the only state with
a Spanish motto? Strange thai fur trad
ers should have adop1yd "Cfo Plata"
Gold and Silver) II you say that one
state has a Greek motto he probably will
do some pretty hard thinking before an
swering that It is California. Eureka"
IL believed 40 be Greek for 81 have
found" The only Italian motto Belongs
to Maryland. and II originally belonged TO
the Calvert family patti Maschi Parole
Femme" Deeds Are Males, Words Fee
malesD To be a trihe palmer MANLY
Deeds. Womanly Words" Ask the pro-
fessOr " he knows that Washington Is
the only state with an Indian motto
"Al-Kf Is pure Chinook for by and BY"
In the future or hereafter