Cec. Yes, I think I do. I suppose the painted sugar-loaves over the grocer’s shop, and the mortar over the apothecary’s, are emblems, too?
Pa. Not so properly. They are only the pictures of things which are themselves the objects of sight, as the real sugar-loaf in the shop of the grocer, and the real mortar in that of the apothecary. However, an implement belonging to a particular rank or profession is commonly used as an emblem to point out the man exercising that rank or profession. Thus, a crown is considered as an emblem of a king; a sword, or spear, of a soldier; an anchor, of a sailor; and the like.
Cec. I remember Captain Heartwell, when he came to see us, had the figure of an anchor on all his buttons.
Pa. He had. That was the emblem or badge of his belonging to the navy.
Cec. But you told me that an emblem was a visible sign of an invisible thing; yet a sea-captain is not an invisible thing.
Pa. He is not invisible as a man, but his profession is invisible.
Cec. I do not well understand that.
Pa. Profession is a quality, belonging equally to a number of individuals, however different they may be in external form and appearance. It may be added or taken away without any visible change. Thus, if Captain Heartwell were to give up his commission, he would appear to you the same man as before. It is plain, therefore, that what in that case he had lost, namely, his profession, was a thing invisible. It is one of those ideas of the understanding which I before mentioned to you as different from a sensible idea.
Cec. I comprehend it now.
Pa. I have got here a few emblematical pictures. Suppose you try whether you can find out their meaning.