Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-11-18

Livingston at his desk at the right of the
doors opening to the library.
81 wonder" the reporter said. IF 1t
would be possible to dig out the circum-
stances surrounding the adoption of the
State seal"
I'm quite sure it would smiled Mr..
Livingston, lifting n paper from his
desk, 'in fact here is "a copy of the re
solve adopted in 1920. providing for a
state seal. 1t contains all the inforrna-
ton available at the present time.
The Resolve.
The resolve is under the heading.
"Arms of the State" and Chapter "
The date of it's adoption is given as June
3. 1920 following the report of a commit
tee appointed to secure a suitable device
and seal for the State of Maine. 1t IS
further stated that sketch, with de-
scription and explanation of the seal
we're submitted, together with the fol-
lowing resolutions:
l. Resolved, That the Secretary os
the State be directed to procure Suita-
Bile Seal conforming to the sketch afore-
said, and that he cause the Device afofe-
said to be engfaven thereon. and that
said seal, when SO completed, De deposit
ed in the office of the Secretary Of state
and that the same shall become ana Dc
the Seal of this State.
2. Resolved, That the Secretary OF
State cause the sketch, description and
explanation aforesaid, to be fairly copied
on parchment and deposited in the office
Of the Secretary of the state.
This design and resolutions were adop-
ted and. for % years. have never been
changed.
In the description of the devise the fol-
lowing is contained:
STATE OF MAINE.
A Shield, argent, charged with Pine
Tree Moose Deer at the foot of 1t, re-
cumbent Supporters; on dexter side
an Husbandman, resting on a seythe; on
sinister side Seaman, resting on an
anchor.
In the fore ground. representing sea
and land, and under the Shield. the name
of the State in large Roman Capitals, L
wit -.
The whole surmounted by Crest. the
North Star. The Motto in small Roman
Capitals, in label interposed between
the Shield and Crest. viz Dirigo.
Following this description is an ''ex-
PLANTATION giving a graphic pen picture
of the Moose Deer the Mast Pine.
the territory embraced by the limits of
the, State, the Crest, the Motto and the
Shield
OF the Motto. the following is remarked:
'Drgo." | direct of. / guide-As the
Polar star has. been considered the mari
ner's guide and director in conducting
the ship over the pathless ocean to the
desired raven, and the centre of mag
netic attraction; as it has been figura-
lively used to denote, the point. to which
all affections turn, and as it here is in
tended to represent the State. it may be
considered the citizens guide, and the
object to which the patriots best exer-
tions should be directed.
Significance Of the Figures. &
The significance of the figures in the
design is furnished in these remarkable
paragraphs:
The Pine Tree-The stately Pine with
its straight body, erect head, and ever
green foliage, and whose beauty is cx-
eeeded only by its usefulness, while
1t represents the State, will excite the
constant prayer of its citizens, semper
viridis.
The Moose Deer-A native animal of
preaching steps of human inhabitancy
in his recumbent posture and undisturDed
situation denotes the extent of unsettled
lands, which future years may see the
abodes of successive generations of men,
whose spirit of Independence shall be un-
tanned as this emblem. and whose liberty.
shall be unrestricted as the range of the
Moose Deer.
The Supporters of the Shield-An Hus-
bandman with scythe represents Agri-
culture generally. and more particularly
that OF grazing country; while a Sea-
man resting on an anchor, represents
Commerce and Fisheries, and both indi-
cate, that the State is supported by these
primary vocations of its Inhabitants