[howley] the old royal COAT OF ARMS AT PLACENTIA 



23 



Again Heraldry has its utilitarian side. It serves to distinguish 

 family alliances and descents, often of great legal importance in settling 

 questions of heredity, property, etc. 



It is useful in the formation and organization of guilds and cor- 

 porations: in the invention of trade-marks of business firms: in the 

 designs of National Banners, and Royal Standards, which become the 

 recognized symbols of racial loyalty and national fealty, which call forth 

 in their defence the highest sentiments and noblest feats of patriotism 

 and heroic bravery. 



Although it has become the custom in modern times and in new 

 countries, like our neighbours in the United States of America, to despise 

 as unworthy of serious thought, the childish heraldry of mediaeval 

 Europe, yet it would seem that a symbolism of some sort is a necessity 

 of human intercommunication, and those very people who reject with 

 scorn the ingenious and well-devised designs of ancient heraldry, have 

 found it necessary to adopt for themselves a spurious and mongrel 

 imitation of the truly poetic and romantic imagery of the middle ages. 

 This craving, which seems inherent in the human heart, shows itself 

 cropping out in such tinsel and tawdry hybrids as "The Knights of 

 I.abour," " The Knights of Pythias," " The Foresters," etc. 



It may probably surprise some of the sons of the great modem 

 Republic to learn that their very national flag — their " Old Glory," — of 

 which they are so Justly proud, is not, as they may have thought a spick 

 span new American invention or conception, but a survival and adapta- 

 tion of old English heraldry. The stars and stripes were originally the 

 arms or heraldic bearings of the family of Washington ! 



The first quarter of the coat of the Royal Arms of Great Britain 

 of the present day (fig. 5) is not, as can be noticed by a comparison with 

 figures 1, 3, or 18, the same as that on the Placentia coat. 



Royal Arms at Present Day. — Fig. 5. 



The shield on the present Royal Arms is divided, as it is expressed, 

 " quarterly." The first and fourth quarter contain the Arms of England 

 only; the second quarter those of Scotland; and the third those of 



