Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-12-23
lts Historx and Meanina

Its History and Meaning
1t may be that the fact that the
trade mark was first seen on the
Korean flag diverted investigation, al
the start, into rather 'unproductive
channels. The symbol is not original
APPARENTLY, with the Koreans, but was
appropriated by them from the Chi
nese.
The first authentic and definite in
formation, in detail, relative to the
Monad came from Rev. w. s. Holt, d.
D., of Portland, Ore. Mr.. Holt had
been, for twelve years, a Presbyterian
missionary in China, and was familiar
with the symbol and its meaning there.
AS he was walking along the street he
noticed the trademark painted upon
the windows of the Office of the COM
pany. 1t struck him as peculiar, and
entering the Office he made some in
quiries, and then, in conversation with
Mr.. A. d. Charlton, assistant general
passenger agent, informed him of the
general character and meaning of the
design. Through Mr.. Hollis efforts,
much additional information of value
was secured and now that start was
made in the right direction, investiga-
ton was also successfully pushed
through other cannels.
At first the figure appears to be
rather an involved one. An analysis
of it soon corrects this impression. 1t
is really quite simple. On the vertical
diameter of circle. inscribed on OPP
posite sides of this diameter and one
above and one below the center there
of, semi-circles having diameters of
one-half the larger diameter. or the
radius of the large circle, and the SYM
Dol is outlined.
AS previously stated, the symbol it,
self may be said to be an ide0gra phic
or Photographic representation of ideas
or principles enuncited many centuries
before.
In A. D. 1917 a young Chinaman
Chow Lien XII, was born. AS young
man he delighted in nature, and roamed
the hills and dales, and to this we owe
the existence of the trademark, and
ShoN ANICIl IA tilC ldttlC " WHICH lie at
tanned.
One day in his rambling he found a
cave. The cave ran through hill and
had an entrance on each side of 1t.
Both entrances were double crescent
shaped, but the cave itself was round
as a moon inside. Out Of these cres-
centic entrances and the moon shaped
cave he evolved the diagram that has
become noted among the Chinese. This
diagram, the Great Monad, he used to
illustrate a system of philosophy es-.I
by Fud Hi more, than 5000
years B. c., and. of course. 1000 years
before Chow found his wonderful cave.
From the mysteries of an ancient
Chinese philosophy it has now been
forth to illustrate the modern
American system of transportation. 1t
has, so to speak, leaped across a gulf
Of nine centuries, become a modern in
vention, as it were. and now does duty
as the trademark of the Northern Pa
cific Railroad company.
But what was the strange philosophy
that such a symbol was designed to il
ustrate, and how did it illustrate it?
This involves a plunge into the sea
Of metaphysics, from which let us
hope to emerge clothed and in our
right minds"
We can hardly explain the ratiocina-
ions of this young Chinaman's mind
Dy which he came to believe that the
igure really did represent what he in
ended it should but we can at least
ry to state the case as lucidly as it will
lllow, and let the reader draw his own
1t will be noticed that
however much the Chinese may de-
erve to be called heather. they could
wen in Fun His time, hold their own
n abstruse speculation. Rev. DR.. w.
l. p. Martin, evidently a close student
nd an authority on things Chinese. OBJ
erves in his The Chinese" Up. 277) ,
hat the Jesuits long ago pointed out
hat the only way in which Europeans
ould claim pre-eminenee over the Chi
ese was in their mathematical knowl-