Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06
NOTICES OF THE STATES
story OF the Adoption of the Phrase
f Pluribus Unum.

Story of the Adoption of the Phrase
Piuribus Unum.
From the Philadelphia Times
If you desire to have fun with a learned
acquaintance, ask him simple questions
about his country, it's history, financial
condition, political divisions, geographical
lines, climatology. topography. etc Dues
tions that any school boy can answer DR..
knowall will stumble clumsiIy over, often
getting bad fall. There is one question
that never heard any one answer name
ly: What are the notices Of the several
states Of the Union and their meanfng?'
clever man may name that Of his own
state, and guess 1T those of three or four
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 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 Pres
witch. who also suggested the motto, "E
Plurfbus Unum." Our ablest men had
failed to prepare 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: Re
bellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to Cod"
Adams proposed the choice Of Hercules and
Jefferson the children Of Israel in the will
the suggested notices were: 'Bello vel
Pace" In War or Peace). "Semper" For-
ever. Dec Favente" with Gods Favor,
"Virtus Sofa Invicta" Virtue Alone Invin-
cfble), etc. After six years the English
mans advice was adopted. and it yet re-
mains 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 l that he cannot recollect the
unfinished pyramid. the eye in the triangle.
the glory proper, the motto over the eye.
'Annuit Coeptis" God Has Favored the
''Novus Ordo seculorum' "a New Series
of Ages. The observe Of the great seal,
with its splendid eagle. the bundle Of ar
rows, the olive branch, the thirteen
stripes, the thirteen stars. the glory
breaking from the clouds and the "E
Plur1bus Unum" Is magnificently Ameri-
can. but the pyramid In the desert. the
forbiddfng Egyptian sky and the eye in the
triangle on the reverse are simply bar
barous.
The great seal OF the confederacy by
strange arbitrament OF fate was never
used. 1t was made in England and reach
ed Richmond about the time Of its evacua-
ton by the armies of the lost cause and
the confederate government. It's motto
| seal IS handsome silver die about three
inches In diameter. bearing an equestrian
portrait Of Washington latter the statue
in Richmond), surrounded with a wreath
corn, wheat and rice-the principal prod
ucts of the confederate states. It cost in
England about 5000. with press, waters,
seal papers. wax, silk cords, etc. 1t was
presented to the state Of South Carolina
about 1887, and is kept in the office Of the
secretary of state.
| Ask the professor IL he remembers that
Minnesota, founded by Americans. is the
only state in the Union that has French
| motto The one originally selected and
ordered engraved was Latin, but the die
was spoiled, and the French substitute was
adopted, 'LEtoile de Nord' CThe Star of
| the North). Does the professor recall that
Montana Is the only state with a Spanish
| motto? Strange that fur traders should
have adopted 'Oro Plate Gold and Sill
ver) If you say that one state has Greek
motto he probably will do some pretty
| hard thinking before answering that it is
California. Eureka" is believed to be
Greek for 81 have found" The only ItaI-
ian motto belongs to Maryland, and It
originally belonged to the Calvert family
Patti Mascho. Parole Feminine" Deeds
are Males. Words Females), To be q trffie
palmer. MANLY Deeds. Womaniy Words"
Ask the professor IL he knows that Wash
ington is the only state with an Indian
motto. "Al-Ki' is pure Chinook for "by
and by