Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-11
HISTORICAL INCONGRUITIES

During the visit OF the Prince of Wales to Winnipeg,
visitors commented frequently on the almost universal
use among the decorative features Of the Princes crest
consisting Of three ostrich plumes, with the motto,
Itch D1en," which, as everyone knows, is the German
for II Serve" The plumes themselves would scarcely
have been noticed. and the motto in any other language
than German would have passed without comment But
at a time when the nation whose throne the young prince
is expected to be seated is Just emerging from = s-csxss
name has been changed from a German % :. Ssas<s
one, the retention of the German form II d ser,ssss O.
vice which is conspicuousty used OF every ..ase ceeasasS
provokes remark by its apparent appropriateness
In this we have an example OF one OF :Ae sz==ez
incongrutties OF history. The cres, and =c..> .or ce>-
turtles emblazoned on the coat Of arrs CT he zzr-Ga-
princes Of Wales were. formerly borne by the kings c.
Bohemia At the battle OF C,ecy, where Edward the
young Black Prince, won a decisive victory in the ssressse
which was in progress TO establish the rish. o. his
father, Edward III, to the French throne. John, the bi:nd
king Of Bohemia, one Of the allies of the French king,
learning Of the slaughter of continental knishthood a,
the hands Of English howmen and Irish and Welsh pike
men, ordered his companions to entvine his bride rains
with theirs and lead him into the thick Of the fight that
he might deal at least one blow with his own sword.
There John met. tho fate that had befallen mounted
knights by the thousand, and in mmemorat Of his
victory the English prince assumed the crest and motto
Of the dead king, which was strictly according to the
rules of the desperate game as it was then played. Since
then this trophy has formed a part &c the blazonry of
the Prince of Wales
The years bring curious changes, and some Of these
are recalled by the frequent use Of this device. Our
minds are carried back to the days when what was per-
haps the proudest family that ever sat on the British
throne. had chosen to be known as Plantagenet. after the
"planta genista." or broom corn. which an ancestor had
carried In token Of humility after q pilgrimage to the
holy land: We see an additional badge OF humility as
sumed in the pledge Of service expressed in the German
words. We recall the efforts Of the Plantakenet kings To
extend their rule over France, an effort in which they
were assisted from time to time by certain Of the German
naonarcha We see France and England, with the last
vestiges of irresponsible ktngly power long since swept
away. and with a century OF peace between them. now
welded into an indissoluble union Of friendship by the
fire and the hammer blows Of a great war against a COM
mon antagonist. We see Germany. in whose tongue the
language Of the pledge Of service Is couched, beaten and
dtshonored, because she had too long conceded the divine
right Of kings and because she sought to re-establish il
Throughout the world. &@o....
The German words on an English royal crest are
certainly incongruous, but the incongYuhy may serve a
useful purpose il it helps to remind US that:
The boast of heraldry. the pomp Of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth eer gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour;
The paths of glory lead but to the grave"
and if it helps US to see clearly and to feel surely that
"A mans a man, for a that"