_Un bon livre est un bon ami._ On a recent Western plate,-- _A jolly goode booke,_ _Whereon to looke,_ _Is better to me than golde._ On a recent Washington plate,-- _A trusty villain, sir, that very oft when I am dull with care and melancholy lightens my humour._ [Illustration: EX LIBRIS A. L. HOLLINGSWORTH.] The mottoes on the plates of those who have achieved distinction have a peculiar interest, especially when chosen by the owners themselves. The plate of _Henry W. Longfellow_ bears the following line:-- _Non clamor sed amor_, which is from an unknown author and is found in the following verse:-- _Non vox sed votum,_ _Non chordas sed cor,_ _Non clamor sed amor,_ _Sonat in aure Dei._ _Not voice but vow,_ _Not harp-string, but heart-string,_ _Not loudness but love,_ _Sound in the ear of God._ The motto of _George Washington_,--_Exitus acta probat_, is not given in the accepted lists as the family motto of his ancestors, but it may have been such. The meaning of it has brought out criticism recently because of its Jesuitical sound,--“_The end shows the deed_.” But this may also be taken as a patriotic utterance in view of the part of the illustrious owner of this plate in the Revolution. On the plate of _William Penn_ we see a motto most fitting for the character he sustained, _Dum clavum rectum teneam_--“_While I hold to glory, let me hold to right_.” In the plate the third word is omitted, as the engraver found the motto too long for the space reserved, and through some [Illustration: George Bancroft] blunder the _r_ in _clarum_ is changed to a _v_, which makes no sense at all. On the plate of _George Bancroft_, the late historian, a chubby cherub bears a panel on which is the motto, _Sursum corda_. Another plate was also used by Mr. Bancroft which was in all respects like the above, except that the motto was changed to ΕΙΣ ΦΑΟΣ. The plate of the late _Mr. George W. Childs_ has the following motto whose appropriateness is evident at once,--_The pen is mightier than the sword_. Above this a second motto of equal appropriateness is given,--_Nihil sine labore_. On the plate of _Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes_, _Per ampliora ad altiora_ is given upon a ribbon under a beautiful drawing of the “chambered nautilus.” [Illustration: WILLIAM PRESCOTT] Instances of mottoes which are cleverly made to carry some meaning, or some word, which will be seen at a glance to be taken from the name of the owner, are found often. On the plate of _Harold Clarence Ernst_ this motto is given, _Ernst ist das Leben_. On the plate of _George Curry, D.D._,--_Sic curre capias_. On the plate of _Edward Spencer Dix_,--_Quod dixi id feci_. [Illustration: HENRY BLACKWELL]