The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-01-15
rHE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
TUESDAY, JANUARY is, 1884.
tine Hundred Years Ago.
st. Nicholas.

| OC. NInnOldS
It was the 25th OF November, 1888
brilliant tIay-that an excited crowt
surged and shouted about Mr. Day
tavern in Murray street, near the roa
to Greenwich. Cunningham. the crue
and vindictive itish provost marshal
stood at the foot of the fag-pole from
which f,ated the stars and stripes, tn
fag Of the new republic
"Come, you rebel cur" be said t
Day, 81 give you two minutes to hat
down that rag. I'll have no such striped
clout fving in the faces of His Majesty,
forces!'
There it ia, and there it shall stay,
said Day qTetlY but firmly.
Cunningham turned to his guard EAR
rest that man." he ordered; land as fo
this thing here I'll haul it down myself,
and se;z ng the halyards he began tt
lower The flag. The crowd. broke ou
into fierce murmurs uncertain what tc
do But in the midst of the tumult th,
door Of the tavern flew open and fortt
sailed Mrs Day, armed with her trusty
broom.
Hands of thst a,g, you viIlain. anG
drop nv husband" she cried, ard before
the astonshed Cunningham could realizt
The situali>n,. the broom came dowr
rhwack! thwack. upon his powdered
wig. Old men still lived, not twenty
years ago, who were bows IN that excited
crowd, and remembered how the powder
flew from the s'if white wig, and how
amidst jeers aud laughter, the defeated
peovest marshal withdrew from the une
quail contest and fed before the resislles'
sweep of Mrs. Days al-conquerins
b Dom.
Sir Guy Carleton, K C. B comman.
der in-chicf OF all His Msjesly's forces
in the colonies, stood at the foot of the
flagstaff on the northern bas,ion OF Fl
George Before him fled the ting
troops of his king, evacuating the pleas
ant little city they had occupied for over
seven years. The waves OF the bay
sparkled in the sunlight, while the whale.
boats, barges, gigs and launches sped
over the water, bearing troops and refu
gees to the transports, or to the tempo.
rary camp on Staten Island. The las'
act OF the evacuation was almost com.
pleted; and, as 10 the strains OF sppro.
pirate music the commander-in-ch -chief and
his staff passed down to the boa.s, the
red cross OF St George, England's royal
dag, came 1uttering down from its higi
staff on the north bastion, and the las
o. the rear guard wheeled toward TIE
slip. But Cunningham, the provost mar
shal, still angered by the thought OF bis
discontinue at Days tavern, declared
roundIy that no rebel flag should 60 uT
that staff in sight OF King Georges men
Come, lively now, you blue jackets,
he shouted to some of the sailors from
the feet. "Unreeve the halyards, quick
slash down the pole; knock off the step
ping cleats! Then let them run theil
rag up il they can" His orders were
quickly obeyed and the marshal now lef
the liberated city. In few moment
Cpl Jackson, halting before the flag
staff, ordered up the stars and stripes
"The halyards are cut Colonel" re
ported the coor sergeant; ".he cleat.
are gone, and the pole is slushad."
"a mean trick, indeed, exclaimed thu
Indignant Colonel. "a gold jqeobus t.
him who will climb the staff and reev,
The halyards for the stars and stripes"
IL want no money for the job" said {
Young sailor lad as he tried it manfull,
once. twice, thrice, and each time cam,
slipping down covered with slush ant
hame "rll fix 'em yet" be said, ~
veil but saw me some cleats, I'll rul
that flag to the top in spite OF all th
Tories from 'Sopus to Sandy Hook !"
Ready bands came to his assistance.
Then, tying the halyards around hi
waist, and filing his jacket pockets wit
cleats and nails, he worked his way u
the flag pole, mailing and climbing as b
went. And now be reaches the top, not
the ba!yards are rove, and ss the beauti
ful flag goes fu'tering up the staff
mighty cheer is heard, and round Q
thirteen guns salutes the stars and stripe
aud the brave sailor boy who did tb
gallant deed