FABLE AND FOLKLORE 37 



bird in its imprint is now a far more reputable fowl than 

 at first — looks less as if it were nailed on a barn-door 

 pour encourager les autrcs. In its right claw it holds a 

 spray of ripe olives as an emblem of a peaceful disposi- 

 tion, and in its left an indication of resolution to en- 

 force peace, in the form of American thunderbolts — 

 the redman's arrows. 



There were men in the Congress in 1782, as well as 

 out of it, who disliked using any eagle whatever as a 

 feature of the arms of the Republic, feeling that it 

 savored of the very spirit and customs against which the 

 formation of this commonwealth was a protest. Among 

 them stood that clear-headed master of common sense, 

 Benjamin Franklin, who thought a thoroughly native and 

 useful fowl, like the wild turkey, would make a far truer 

 emblem for the new and busy nation. He added to the 

 turkey's other good qualities that it was a bird of courage, 

 remarking, with his own delightful humor, that it would 

 not hesitate to attack any Redcoat that entered its barn- 

 yard! 



Franklin was right when he argued against the choice 

 of the bald eagle, at any rate, as our national emblem. 

 "He is," he said truly, "a bird of bad moral character ; 

 he does not get his living honestly; you may have seen 

 him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for 

 himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk, and 

 when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish and is 

 bearing it to its nest the bald eagle pursues him and takes 

 it from him. Besides, he is a rank coward; the little 

 kingbird attacks him boldly. He is therefore by no means 

 a proper emblem." 



None of these depreciatory things could Franklin have 

 truly said of the skilful, self-supporting, and handsome 



