The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-04-19

dltlons of that famous day; also what
might have been his method or APP
plianee utilized for registering the
heat of the atmosphere. Here again
the supposedly valueless documents
furnish corroboratiVe evidence Of JEFF
terson's ability to obtain the desired
information. On July 4, 1776. Jefer-
son called on Mr.. Sparhawk to settle
an account, and this entry appears
among his papers as witness of GER
tain purchase and payment:
July 4. 1776. Paid Sparhawk for a
thermometer, e3, Is. Paid for pr.
(probably pair) women's gloves, q.
Gave to charity Is"
The foregoing entry removes all
| doubt as to Jefferson's ability to de-
| termine accurately the rs degrees of
heat on the noon of July 4th. and c.
| tablishes the fact that it was a calm
and delightfully."- tempered summers
| day.
Further search among Jeferson's
papers brings to light the correct
name of the German family which fur
nished him with room and board at
the time when he wrote the Declare
ton and devised a number of designs
for a seal of the young republic. one
entry reading:
"Pd. Mrs. GRAF one weeks lodging,
35."
| On the 9Th day of July, 1875. the
committee on seal met at the tavern
OF the London Coffee House. and while
the report formulated on that occa-
sion contains much of general inter
est. It is only necessary to consider in
this connection the items in which the
hand Of Jefferson is seen. He was
made chairman Of the committee. and
It was he who addressed congress on
the subject. While Jefferson's device
was not accepted by the committee.
he assisted in creating a conjoint de-
vice in which the ideas of Dr. Frank
lin, himself and a French artist
named Du Simitier were blended. In
the report to congress in the fall of
1776 Jefferson presented the double
sided idea Of seal on the diverse. or
front. of which the following appear
ed:
"a shield divided into six fields upon
which we're emblems OF the LEADING
European nations; above the shield
the eye of Providence: the shield was
supported on the right side by the
goddess of Liberty. on a stan she held
Phrygian cap; on the left side OF
the shield the goddess Of Justice held
forth the scales of justice In the left.
and a sword in the right hand. Around
the entire device the thirteen shields
/ "a H.
initials blaZoned upon them" On the
back. or reverse, of the proposed seal
the Franklin idea was displayed as
follows:
Legend round the whole achieve
ment. Seal Of the United States Of
America. MDCCLxXYI.'
"on the other side of the said Great
Seal should be the following device:
Pharaoh sitting in an open chariot,
crown on his head. and a sword in
his right hand. passing through the
divided waters of the Red Sea, in pur.
suit Of the Israelites. Rays from a
pillar OF FIRE in the cloud. expressive
of the divine presence and command.
beaming on Moses. who stands on the
shore. and extending his hand over
the sea. causes it to overthrow Phar.
aoh.
Motto. Rebellion to Tyrants is
Obedience to God"
But congress rejected the device
and report. dismissed the committee.
and appointed new one, Yet JET.
ferson's keen interest in the heraldic
creation OF a symbolic seal did nor
wane He kept in touch with several
future committees and submitted two
other important designs, both of which
throw new light on the religious and