🐍 𝐻𝑒𝓁𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓃𝒶𝓀𝑒 🐍

First symbol of our nation, and should have remained so.

Published in the Pennsylvania Journal on December 27, 1775, Benjamin Franklin made some observations about the rattlesnake.

"I observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines now raising, there was painted a Rattle-Snake, with this modest motto under it, "Don't tread on me." As I know it is the custom to have some device on the arms of every country, I supposed this may have been intended for the arms of America...I sat down to guess what could have been intended by this uncommon device....having frequently seen the Rattle-Snake, I ran over in my mind every property by which she was distinguished, not only from other animals, but from those of the same genus or class of animals, endeavoring to fix some meaning to each, not wholly inconsistent with common sense. I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids. She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shown and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal...she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her."

𝕊𝕌𝔹𝕊ℂℝ𝕀𝔹𝔼! 𝕊𝕄𝔸𝕊ℍ +ℝ𝕌𝕄𝔹𝕃𝔼 𝔹𝕌𝕋𝕋𝕆ℕ!

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