Show the rattlesnake as a a national emblem after the rattlesnake bad had been boen adopted BS as an emblem and bad had appeared on the flags flag of several of the colonies benjamin franklin defended the device on the 9 grounds rounds that the rattlesnake is found only in america that all serpents emblems were considered by the ancients to be symbols of wisdom that his bright lidless eyes signify vigilance that be never attacks without first giving fair warning of his presence that his rattles while distinct are fo so firmly joined that they cannot be separ separated atol without being ruined forever and that as he grows older the rattles increase crease e in number as it was to be hoped the colonies would indeed this idea was made use of in a flag device which represented a rattlesnake w with ith nine joints each joint lettered with red silk the head bead was marked N ai E new england the remaining sections N Y N J 1 pa ila md yd va 11 N C S C and ga this curious standard was discarded for the one made by mrs birs ross in philadel philadelphia abla in 1777 a flag similar to the united states flag of today 0 only I 1 y with fewer stars st louis republic |