New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-31
KITES.

bird presses its bill strongly and with a kind Of
sDasmodic action against its breast and the pink
ish hue OF its feathers. the red tipped BILL and
often enough the blood Of it's captured victims
combined 70 produce the effect which birth to
the legend.
The pelican his blod did blede.
Therwith his BRIDES for to feed
This tradition seems to have found tender foster
mother throughout Christendom. and the proverbsI
pelican in her pety- took root both as a symbol
and a phrase. II should be remembered that the
Romans regarded flial love as "piery" and II is
OF course. in that sense that the word was under
stood BY degrees the figure OF the pelican feed
ing her young developed into a common emblem OF
charity. the of which especially prevailed IN
Southern Europe. Many Of the old Venetian trade
guilds placed it on their banners as a token that
they were at all times ready TO give their blood
for their country Almost a matter Of course
the same figure became frequent subject OF deco
rative treatment in the medieval church. More
than Cardinal adopted 10 in his arnoria1 bear
ings. and we find Henry VIII changing the three
cranes. which were a part Of Archbishop Gran
f f arms b1z into three Peeaqs for the reason tnat
70 be ready, as the pelican is. to shed his blood
This. however. was by no means the first rscoz-
THE nelcan In her piety' bas baar occs siCsII,>
found carved on the wood or stonework OF some OF
t our ancient chGrches But it seems 70 have had
Tor ages regarded with hardly less affection than
were kent in the coitsrs 81 +y - $500 -. BE-
pie to visit them every Sunday. IN the expectation
of seeing the parent birds distribute their blood
70 their young Aristotle makes allusfOu this
reputed habit of the pelican. and Pliny appears
nave COMPOUNDED it with the spOOnbiI a bird OF
quite q different family And yet the legend
certainly IN existence before tho time OF either and
1t has naturally not come down to US without soma
variations and additions Substan TALLY. however.
II remains the same. though the Egyptians made
the pelican the emblem OF folly. because IL was
said to take small Of its
primitive tradition Frederick SChleZal-
clothed with the ornaments Of poetry, IS often
much nearer the truth than duh reason that
draws its estimate OF probability from mere vulgar
analogies-' This seems almost exactly TO refecu
the attitude OF the medieval mind in respect thu
legend OF the pelican It's habitUal reverence was
adverse the spirit OF inquiry. 1t may seem
strange that the presumed act OF liberation OF it's
own breast did not lead to examination the
bird supposed 10 have performed il. But this
would have been explained away. and the BELIEF
was too strongly impressed TO favor such alunosr
sacr1egOus course. As matter Of fact, the legend
had some steadfast uphOlders less than century
ago, though il required a modern system OF
friend. people viii believe what they see. think
they see. with their own eyes With its power
full and strongly hooked bill the pelican at
least able to perform the attributed II. and
other COncUrring external signs that it had really
done were not wanting II myth. but who
will grudge It it's long and oft renewed lease Of
isteuCe? The pelican in her piety'' at least
might DO something for And
need not hesitate to rate the innocent credUlty OF
ancient days above the widespread OUttsh in
sensibtlity Of the present, which digniies the
slaughter of every feathered wauderer with tbs
wrongful name Of sport"