Honesty - BoF

Und hier kommt schon Nr. 2 meines kleinen Projektes - zwei folgen noch:

And here comes no. 2 of my little project - there are still two left:

Es gibt übrigens eine tolle Legende über den abgebildeten George Washington mit der Axt in der Hand:

An seinem 6. Geburtstag bekam George eine Axt geschenkt, auf die er sehr stolz war und mit der er gleich in der Gegend umherging, um sie an Holz, Gestrüpp, Bäumen u. ä. auszuprobieren. Leider probierte er sie auch an einem kleinen Kirschbaum (der daraufhin starb) seines Vaters aus, der sehr stolz war auf seine Bäume. Als der Vater sah, was mit seinem Bäumchen passiert war, wurde er zornig und wollte er wissen, wer es gewesen sei. Sein Sohn, der just in dem Moment dazu kam, als der Vater schimpfte, gestand sofort, dass er es gewesen sei, indem er sagte, dass er nicht lügen könne. Guter George! Der Vater verzieh ihm und sagte, dass ihm ein Sohn, der die Wahrheit sagte,  lieber sei als tausend Bäume mit silbernen und goldenen Blüten und Blättern! (Quelle: hier) - Daher also die Verbindung Ehrlichkeit und George mit der Axt und dem abgehaktem Bäumchen!

Besides, there is a nice story/legend (found here) about the shown George Washingon with the axe in his hand:

>"When George was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet of which, like most little boys, he was extremely fond. He went about chopping everything that came his way.

One day, as he wandered about the garden amusing himself by hacking his mother's pea sticks, he found a beautiful, young English cherry tree, of which his father was most proud. He tried the edge of his hatchet on the trunk of the tree and barked it so that it died.

Some time after this, his father discovered what had happened to his favorite tree. He came into the house in great anger, and demanded to know who the mischievous person was who had cut away the bark. Nobody could tell him anything about it.

Just then George, with his little hatchet, came into the room.

"George,'' said his father, "do you know who has killed my beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden? I would not have taken five guineas for it!''

This was a hard question to answer, and for a moment George was staggered by it, but quickly recovering himself he cried:

"I cannot tell a lie, father, you know I cannot tell a lie! I did cut it with my little hatchet.''

The anger died out of his father's face, and taking the boy tenderly in his arms, he said:

"My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! Yes - though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of the purest gold!''<

- That's why the connection between Honesty and George Washington with the axe and the cut tree! :o)