Author #4
Jefferson, Adams and Franklin sat around the table as the evening light waned in the distant window. Drinks had flowed freely, but for some reason, only Mr. Franklin seemed to enjoy the libations. Thomas Jefferson had a tankard or two and John Adams had one and said ‘no thank you” when offered more. But the distinguished Dr. Franklin never could stop himself when the steward suggested another round.
Thus it was when the conversation turned to items detailing things such as emblems and national symbols. Jefferson stood and walked around the room for a time as he thought on the matter while John Adams looked at him with a perturbed frown. It lingered enough that Franklin saw it and the old man was finally heard to say with some delight, “Drop it Adams, or it may remain that way.”
Only an “hrmph” could be heard in response. Finally Jefferson sat once again and announced he had an idea.
“For the seal,” he began in his usual calm and thought out manner, “I propose a blue background with an animal of some sort with a scroll flowing from its mouth.”
“And why would an animal have a scroll in its mouth?” Adams chimed in with a huff.
Jefferson looked at his august friend with no more than a twitch and continued, “And what is important is that it should suggest something that details both the many countries we hope to include in this nation of ours and yet a symbol of the whole.”
“E pluribus unum, perhaps?” Franklin finished the thought as he filled his tankard with more ale.
“Hmm,” Jefferson thought on it for a moment and turned to see that Adams nodded in assent. “Yes…out of many, one…yes, that’s it exactly!”
John Adams could not help but continue his agreement. “I whole-heartedly concur. Grand thought that, Doctor.”
“Why thank you, boy.” Franklin never could help when he had the chance to dig a little at Mr. Adams. He knew how it bothered him so.
“Wait a moment,” Adams stopped them. “Why blue?”
Exasperated, Jefferson did decide to pour himself another drink as he turned to his fellow congressman and attempted to explain. “The colors of our nation should be significant, as should all else. The red in our flag presents an attempt to show hardiness…and valor. Just like each state. The white, what we hope to achieve in our purity and innocence. And blue, good sir, our perseverance…vigilance and justice…or something like that.”
Franklin let out a hearty guffaw, but stifled it as he saw the young man look back with irritation. Adams too shot the old Doctor a look that burned.
“The point,” Jefferson tried to continue, “is that we should hold our symbols dear as a statement to the world of what it is we stand for…and hope to become.”
“That is all well and good, my dear boy, but what if we come to naught?” Franklin did not jest as he asked and both men knew it.
“You are old and cynical, Franklin,” Adams tried to explain but Jefferson cut him off.
“We may not, good sir, but we must strive to be or we shall never be that which we wish. This is the grand experiment, yes? And as such, we here have a duty to do what we may to assist in any way we can. If we fail, these symbols will either be remembered as evil or none at all. But if we succeed, then it will forever be remembered for the why and what for.”
“I wish I had your exuberance, my young friend, but my years suggest differently. However, I do see the point and cannot help but be pulled along by the excitement of it all. Pray go on.”
Jefferson was about to but Adams stopped him once more, “So this animal…what did you have in mind?”
Jefferson could not help himself as he allowed is lips to curl into a smile, “Why the wlak, of course.”
“What?” Adams followed incredulously.
“You heard me…the wlak!”
Franklin pivoted slightly in his chair with curiosity, “The Carpathian wlak?”
A snort escaped Thomas Jefferson’s lips as he thought on the prospects of that calamity. “Of course not!”
“Then you mean the long-strided wlak,” Franklin followed naturally.
“Well I didn’t mean the shortatthefrontlongattheback-strided wlak,” Jefferson answered with sarcasm.
“But…but…” Adams followed through with the thought, “Isn’t the long-strided wlak generally considered the English wlak? I certainly think we should shy away from such a show of support from those that mean to have us hanged.”
“True…it has had that naming, but so too have so many other things that we hold dear. Are we not descended from these peoples? Should we forsake all that we inherit from them?”
Franklin stood from his seat and walked to the door. He opened it and motioned for the steward to bring more drink. Turning back to the men, he wrinkled his face with uncertainty. “I am not so sure you have the right of it on this one, Jefferson. True, I like the color scheme…the phrasing…and I should add we might include some sort of dual nature symbol of peace and war…” He walked back to his seat as he allowed his head to venture back to the door waiting for his further drink, “But the wlak?”
“Yes,” Adams chimed in again. “I really cannot see how this could become the symbol for all we hold dear, Jefferson. Look, man…I know you are brilliant…”
Jefferson, in his modesty, tried to hold up his hand but could not.
“But this is simply too much. I suppose it is meant to symbolize our ruggedness…or perhaps our ferocity at those slights we will no longer stand from the old world. But truly…as the good Dr. Franklin has asked…the wlak? You must be mad!”
Jefferson paced as he tried to think of the best way to bring the men to his side. “What about this? The wlak is known to give off the sound of noice, rather than noise. Should this not be a perfect symbol for our individuality?”
“Oh, for the love of God, man!” Adams could take no more and pulled the pitcher of ale from the steward as he entered the room. Pouring himself and the good Doctor another cup, he tried his best to argue…which was not hard. “Noice? Tis not even a word! It is only the stuff of legends and it is ridiculous on the face of it to try and play this as something unique to the new world. There’s never even been a sighting of such a creature this side of the great ocean, Jefferson. How about something more practical…say…the eagle. Yes, the bald eagle!”
Adams smiled at his mind at work even while Franklin grimaced. “Dare I remind you, Adams…such an animal has bad moral character.”
“What mean you by this?” Adams turned on the good Doctor with quick speed.
“Well,” Franklin began as he took a drink from his cup, “He does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree near the river, 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 his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him.”
“Tis simply using his wits,” Adams attempted to argue…which, as we have seen, was never difficult.
"With all this injustice, he is never in good case but like those among men who live by sharping and robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank coward.”
“Coward?” Adams stood at the affront, as if it were aimed at himself. “How dare you, sir?”
For his part, Franklin ignored it. "In truth I find the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. He is besides, though a little vain and silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on. And did not the first settlers feast on such a bird? One must ask why? In fact…I wonder if we have any present.”
Franklin lifted from his chair and walked back to the door to inquire as Jefferson shook his head at the old man’s humor. Adams would have none of it and stood himself. “Such is laughable, good sir. Why, the turkey is nothing more than fowl for the feast as your own good stomach may attest to. If we are to choose a beast for such a purpose, it should be something with honor.”
“Well then…let us not argue the point. I’ll eat just as much as honor, Adams. You’ll find not a problem with me on that account.”
Again, Jefferson allowed a laugh to push forth from his lips, even though he wished not to offend his good friend Adams. “Which again explains why we should choose the noble wlak, sirs.”
Both turned again and in unison responded, “Again with the wlak?”
“Yes,” Thomas Jefferson attempted to explain, “Such an animal is known for its continued rise in history and its never-ending struggle against self determination and extinction. Are not we one and the same, and further to remain so?”
The two men nodded apprehensively.
“And this grand beast instills fear into the hearts of a European simply by statement. Why…” Jefferson fumbled with some papers for a moment before pulling one out to prove his point, “…I have it on good account that a good sir de Bloomefielde was scared out of his wits by such a beast and put pen to paper to show for all time. It is one of the most widely read bed stories for young children. Now that is an animal that we may all fear. And dare I mention this de Bloomefielde was a British Sergeant, or so I have been told. If there is one person we wish to instill fear in, it is the British, is it not?”
“They may have their floppy hats all they wish, sir. I’ll not find worry in their hides…wlak or no.” Franklin finished his ale and set the empty cup down as he stood.
Adams too stood with no little amount of anger. “As the good Doctor has stated, this is simply too silly, my good man. I fear we have been amongst the spirits too much this eve and should return with a fresh head come the morn.”
“Bite your tongue, young man,” Franklin turned on Adams. “I’d just as soon accept the wlak as give up the drink. How does one assume I remain so sprightly at such an advanced age as my own?”
“Oh give it a rest, Ben.” Adams turned to leave the room with disgust. “And you too, Tom. Get a good night’s sleep and please…please, let us not spend one moment more on this topic tomorrow. I am still trying to get used to your brilliance with the declaration. Yes…yes…I know I told you that you had the right of it, but I’ll not stand idly by and allow this…this…thing as our national emblem.”
By this point, Benjamin Franklin had already begun to leave the room, good-naturedly talking to himself, “I wonder if they have any mustard to go with that wlak…I mean, turkey.”
Adams threw his hands up and Jefferson rolled his eyes. But suddenly he had a fresh notion come to mind and tried to holler after his two cohorts, “Wait…wait…what about the Wooly Wlak? ‘Tis North American I am told!”
Unfortunately by this point, neither man was listening. History would prove Thomas Jefferson wrong, but his later letters would show his undying loyalty to the strange and beautiful creature. In one of his last letters to John Adams he was known to write,
“John…you simply underestimated this grand beast. Though the buffalo may some day be hunted out, we shall never hear the end of noice from this great beast we know as the wlak. Mark me and remember my words of our time together. Even today, in the lands of Wallachia, they are known to rise from sure death to mate time and time again. Is this not what we wished? I shall be proven correct on this, but I fear neither of us shall live to see such.”
And neither would as they both died that following July. But future historians do not misunderstand the resurgence of the wlak as the recent christening of the new modern aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Wlak may attest to. Thomas Jefferson had the right of it and not for the first time or the last, much to John Adams’ dismay. And Ben Franklin? For his part, he did enjoy the turkey sandwich thanks to the mustard found in the neighboring alehouse. And thus, was another legend formed.