Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-06
A Little Story About
The State Seal of Maine

| Millions of people have seen and
know the meaning of the motto of
! the State of Maine-Dirigo-an
doubtless many hundreds of thou
sands have seen a representation of
the State SEAL which bears the
motto, but it is doubtful if many
know how, when and where the State
seal was decided upon. Look at
| Chapter of the Resolves of 1920
and you have the story. A digest of
the resolves passed from 1920 to 1862
and published in the latter year gives
some very interesting information
about our seal.
1t starts with the heading de
scrption of the Devises, etc, of the
Seal and Arms of the State of
, Maine" saying "a Shield argent,
charged with a Pine Tree; a Moose
| Deer at the foot of it, recumbent.
Supporters: on dexter side, an Hus-
handman, resting on a scythe: on
sinister side. Seaman, resting on
an anchor.
! "In the foreground, representing
the name of the State in large Roman
IdpltotIS, W v 1t.
! MAINE
"The whole surmounted by Crest.
the North Star. The Motto, in small
Roman capitals, in a label interposed
between the Shield and Crest. via:
! Dirigo."
/ The article then proceeds with the
! Explanation
! THE Moose Deer (Cervus Alces) is
native of the forests of Maine
+ When full grown. it is scarcely in
ferior to a horse in size. It has a
neck, short and thick, a large head.
nose dilating almost Immediately
from the base into a broad, palmated
form, thick heavy upper lip, hang
| ing very much over the lower, very
high shoulders. and long legs. The
color is dark grayish brown, much
paler on the legs and under part Of
the body. The hair is coarse and
strong, and is much longer on the
/ top of the shoulders, and ridge of the
neck, than on other parts. The eyes
and ears are large, the hoofs broad,
and the tail extremely short The
greatest height of the Moose Deer is
about seventeen hands, and the
weight Of such an animal about
twelve hundred and twenty pounds.
In deep SHOWS, they collect in num-
bers in pine forests.
"The Mast Pine, americana, quinis
ex uno fo1liculo setis) leaves five to-
gether. cones cylindrical, inbricated,
smooth. longer than the leaves,
crest of the anthers of two minute,
awl shaped bristles. 1t is as we'll the
staple Of the commerce of Maine, as
the pride of her forests. 1t is an
evergreen of towering height and
enormous size. 1t is the largest and
most useful of American pines and
the best timber for masts.
APPLICATION OF THE EMBLEMS,
ETC.
Name
"The territory. embraced by the
limits of the State, bears the name.
Maine.
Crest
GAS in the arms of the United
States, a cluster of stars represents
the states composing the nation. the
North Star may be considered par
ticularly applicable to the most
northern member of the confederacy.
or as indicating the local situation Of
/ the most northern State in the
Union.
! Motto
I 'Dirigo. direct or l guide.
| 1.-The Polar Star has been con-
sidered the mariners guide and d.
rector in conducting the ship over
1.-The painless ocean to the desired
haven, and as the centre of mag
netic attraction: as it has been fig
uratively used to denote the point.
to which all affections turn, and as it
here is intended to represent the
State, it may be considered the citi-
zen's guide, and the object to which