The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing Part 11

Mississippi--Indian; meaning "great father of waters." Missouri--Indian; meaning "muddy."

Nebraska--Indian; meaning "water valley."

Nevada--Spanish; meaning "snow-covered," alluding to the mountains.

New Hamps.h.i.+re--From Hamps.h.i.+re county, England.

New Jersey--In honor of Sir George Carteret, one of the original grantees, who had previously been governor of Jersey Island.

New York--In honor of the Duke of York.

North and South Carolina--Originally called Carolina, in honor of Charles IX. of France.

Ohio--Indian; meaning "beautiful river."

Oregon--From the Spanish "oregano," wild marjoram, which grows abundantly on the coast.

Pennsylvania--Latin; meaning Penn's woody land.

Rhode Island--From a fancied resemblance to the island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean.

Tennessee--Indian; meaning "river with the great bend."

Texas--Origin of this name is unknown.

Vermont--French; meaning "green mountain."

Virginia--In honor of Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen."

Wisconsin--Indian; meaning "gathering of the waters," or "wild rus.h.i.+ng channel."

MOTTOES OF THE STATES.

Arkansas--Regnant populi: The peoples rule.

California--Eureka: I have found it. Colorado--Nil sine numine: Nothing without the Divinity.

Connecticut--Qui transtulit sustinet: He who has transferred, sustains.

Delaware--Liberty and Independence.

Florida--In G.o.d is Our trust.

Georgia--Wisdom, Justice, Moderation.

Illinois--State Sovereignty and National Union.

Iowa--Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.

Kansas--Ad astra per aspera: to the stars through rugged ways.

Kentucky--United we stand, divided we fall.

Louisiana--Union and Confidence.

Maine--Dirigo: I direct.

Maryland--Crescite et multiplicamini: Increase and multiply.

Ma.s.sachusetts--Ense pet.i.t placidam sub libertate quietam: By her sword she seeks under liberty a calm repose.

Michigan--Si quaeris peninsulam amoeanam circ.u.mspice: If thou seekest a beautiful peninsula, look around.

Minnesota--L'Etoile du Nord: The Star of the North.

Missouri--Salus populi suprema lex esto: Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.

Nebraska--Popular Sovereignty.

Nevada--Volens et potens: Willing and able.

New Jersey--Liberty and Independence.

New York--Excelsior: Higher.

Ohio--Imperium in imperio: An empire within an empire.

Oregon--Alis volat propriis: She flies with her own wings.

Pennsylvania--Virtue, Liberty, Independence.

Rhode Island--Hope.

South Carolina--Animis opibusque parati: Ready with our lives and property.

Tennessee--Agriculture, Commerce. Vermont--Freedom and Unity.

Virginia--Sic semper tyrannis: So be it ever to tyrants.

West Virginia--Montani semper liberi: The mountaineers are always free.

Wisconsin--Forward.

United States E pluribus unum: From many, one.

Annuit captis: G.o.d has favored the undertaking;