Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-19
TRE STARS AND STRIPES.
Interesting Facts About the Origin q
Our National Flag and it's Meaninx.

To the Editor Of TIE EVENING STAR:
SO much has been said and written concerning
the origin OF the American Flag our cherished
banner OF the ''Stars and Stripes" permit me 70
furnish the following data, which are authentic
and historically true, as TO the history OF the
United states nag.
The Idea OF standards originated with the Egyr-
tians at an early age. The Crusaders added the
cross TO their banners. The union OF the three
crosses OF Sc. George, st. Andrew and St. Patrick
marks, first, the union OF England and Scotland
into the kingdom OF Great Britain and then this
kingdom with Ireland. This Is termed the great
union flag OF Great Britain, and was brought by
the coonistS to America.
''JoIS OR DE-
When the thirteen colonies began to feel the iron
pressure OF British tyranny and despotIc rule
they placed upon their banners q rattlesnake, cut
In thirteen pieces, representing the thirteen origi-
nal colonies, with the motto, "Join or de-" When
poses OF resistance TO British enslavement they
placed upon their flag a well-formed rattlesnake
n the attitude OF about to strike, with the motto,
Don't tread on me-"
THE EMBLEMATIc RArTLEsSAKE.
Dr. Franklin, seeing this emblem on one OF the
drums o. that day, writes follows: s'On inquiry,
and from study, learned that the ancients con-
sidered the serpent an emblem OF wisdom; and, in
some attitudes, OF endless duration. Also that
countries are often represented by animals pecu-
nowhere but IN America. Her eye is exceedingly
bright and without eyelIds-emblem OF vigilance
She never begins an attack, ami she never surren-
ders-emblem OF masn1nimity and courage. She
never wounds even her enemies, till she gener-
Ously gives them warning not to tread on her
when WI Is embleinatical OF the spirit OF
the people who inhabit her country. She
appears apparently weak and defenseless,
i bnL heT weapons are nevertheless form
Tor the digestion OF her food but certain destruc
ton 70 her enemies, showing the power OF Ameri-
can resources Her thirteen rattles, the only part
OF which Increases in number are distinct from
eacn other, and yet so united that they cannot be
disconnected without breaking them to pieces,
showing the imposSibility OF an American repub-
prophetic.
the ringing or the thirteen together is sufficient to
startle the boldest man alive She is beautiful In
youth, which increaseth with her age. Her tongue
Is lorked as the lightning, and her abode is among
the impenetrable rocks"
STARS AND STRIPES
The next form OF the United States flag was the
Stars ana stripes. Its proportions are perfect
when properly made the first ard last stripe being
red, with alternate stripes OF white. The blue
HELD Tor the stars Is the square OF the width OF
seven stripes on the 14th OF June, 1717, the Con-
t1nental Congress resolved, "That the flag OF the
United states be thirteen stripes alternate red
and white and that the Union be thirteen white
stars on blue field representing new constella-
uon- Previous 20 this, however, our national banner
was the Union flag. combining the crosses OF st.
George and St Andrew. The stars and Stripes
were unfurled for the first time at the battle OF
Saratoga on the occasion OF the surrender OF Gen.
BurgOyne.
WHAT THEY SYNBoLIZED.
The stars OF the flag represent the idea taken
from the constellation Lyra, which signifies har-
mony. The blue OF the field was taken from thu
banner OF the Covenanters OF Scotland, likewise
Significant OF the league and covenant OF the
United Colonies against oppression, and incident
ally Involving vigilance, perseverance and justice
The stars were disposed in a circle, symbolizing
the perpetu1ty OF the Union, the circle being the
sign OF eternity. Both the thirteen stripes and the
stars showed the number OF the United Colonies
and denoted the subordinatiou OF the states to-
and their dependence upon, the Union, as well
as equality among themselves. The whole
was blending OF the previous banners, namely,
the red nag OF the Army and the white one OF the
Navy. The red color, which, In the days OF Roman
glory, was the signal OF defiance, denoted daring
and the white purity.
FIRST ALTERATION.
On the 18th OF January, 1894, by an act OF Con-
gress, the flag was altered TO fifteen red and white
stripes, and fifteen stars. ON the 4th OF April
1918, Congress again altered the flag by returning
TO the original thirteen stripes and fifteen stars
as the adding OF new stripe for each additional
state would make the nag too unwieldy The
new star is added 10 the flag on the 4th OF July
following the admission OF each state into the
Union. i conclude with the following apostrOphe
TO the beloved old flag:
Light of our armament. guide Of our nation
Pride of our children and honored afar:
Let the wide beams Of thy full constellation.
Scatter each cloud that would dar ken a star"
j. THOMAS TURNER