Show ABOUT EMBLEMS the of many of them shrouded in mystery Mya tery what the learned dr aiken once called A visible image of an invisible thing in fact the emblem has so little record in modern times that even the encyclopedias give concerning it only the dictionary definition yet two centuries ago it formed the subject for the work of some of the best writers painters and engravers of europe while has illustrated it in a myriad of forms the meaning of which is in thousands of instances lost to us in the mystery and darkness that overshadows the history of so much of human life any object chichi presents at a glance a meaning beyond its mere appearance pe arance is an emblem the torch for illumination the scales for justice the anchor for hope the owl for wisdom the butterfly for the soul the scythe and hourglass hour glass for death the first attempt at writing was emblematical and chinese writing is so to this day so were the egyptian hieroglyphics and the same can be said of our own indian picture writing all coinage from the first hebrew shekel to the last american dollar all the flags of all nations all state or national seals are emblematical of something the cross the crown the scepter the miter every church steeple in every land mosque minaret and pagoda temple and shrine idol and fetish all are emblems every letter in every language every figure the sign of every trade and profession fes sion the roses of england the lilies of france Ir elands shamrock and Scot lands thistle are all emblems and yet strangely enough it is only by persistent search that one can find out even the least about the origin of this class of art the meaning of its varied forms the hidden sense being often lost utterly while only the form remains |