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Show Cadillac Radiator j Shield Taken Frcm Old Coat of Arms ACCORDING to experts in heraldry, her-aldry, the coat of amis of An-toine An-toine de la Mothe Cadillac, used as the radiator emblem on Cadillac cars, had its origin in the Crusades. The first and fourth quarters of the shield are gold, divided by a black "fess," or lateral band. Each quarter contains three "morlettes" (small birds) two above and ono below the "fess." These quarters are the arms of the De la Mothe family. Tho "merlettes," legless and without beaks, are a heraldic adaptation adap-tation of tho martin; appearing in throes thoy have a holy significance, being considered sacred to tho Trinity. Trin-ity. They were granted to knights by the ancient school of heralds, together to-gether with the "fess," for valiant conduct in the Crusades. The birds, black against a gold background, do-note do-note wisdom, riches and cleverness of mind. The second and third quarters aro the arms of another ancient French family of tho lauded gentry allied to the De la Mothe family by marriage. In these quarters tho colors denote that the marriage added to the fame of the De la Mothe family something besides broad acres "marked prowess prow-ess and boldness in action for the red!'; "purity, charity, virtue and plenty" for the silver. Tho repetition repeti-tion of the cross-bar or "fess" indicates indi-cates more knightly prowess in the far fields of the Crusades. The "coronne" or coronot ensign-ing ensign-ing the arms is that borne by the six ancient counts of France. It is emblematic em-blematic of descent from the old counts of Toulouse, who were affiliated affil-iated with French royal stock of France. , |