He hesitated long between medieval simplicity and modern symbolism.

An illustrative crest that should be a play upon his name was out of the question; for of course it was only another of Mayboom, the farce-writer's, jokes--he had taken him into his confidence on one of his visits to Berlin--to suggest a sack of oats, gules on a field, vert.

After devising a dozen crests, each of which he thought charming, only to reject it a day or two afterward as inappropriate, he finally fixed on the one which now adorned his proud banner.

It displayed on a field, vert, three waving transverse bars argent, and in a free quarter-purpure-dexter a medal of the Franco-Prussian War in natural colors.

The waving bars were in allusion to the drainage canals on his marsh estate, and the medal to his career in the war.