Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-04-19

building. A guard of honor deputized each week
unfurls the flag to the breeze in the morning and
gathers it in at the close Of the day. The love for
the flag that is thereby planted unconsciously in
the heart of every boy and girl can scarcely be
estimated. The future will bring in returns
There is another, a better patriotism, far too
important to be overlooked. For 113 years has it
rung in the Nations birthday with unhinching
fidelity.
This is the fire-cracker.
Civilization, however, is rapidly suppressng it
and patriotism seeks recourse in more decorous
methods, and is obliged to content itself with such
comparatively tame festivities as parade.
But parade is not bad thing in its way. 1t
proves to us that we all have elements of patriot
ism in our natures.
Who himself hath said,
This is my own, my native and,'"
sang the poet But whether it is native land, per-
sonal vanity or what not, certain it is, that man
does love to parade.
This is about his only right which woman has
never sought to usurp. She has never expressed
desire to parade She has ever been willing to
stand patiently on the curbstone for hours waiting
to feast her eyes on the glory Of parade Her
heart beats faster as the drum and the fife come
nearer and joyfuly does she wave her pocket
handkerchief and smile and cheer as the heroes
she knows they are heroes-march proudly on.
Even horse enjoys and appreciates parade.
Watch him arch his beautiful neck and step lightly
to the time of the music. Think you he is not
conscious of his glittering rider
1t would probably be beyond feminine ken to
describe the sensations of man, as he feels the
glory emanating from regimentals. He will don
red coat and bib with a picture on 1t, put
feather in his cap, and with sword and pistol by
his side march proudly away to imaginary victory.
This is like playing at patriotism. In times of
war there is no dearth OF patriots, who would seek
to cover their names with the glory of dying for
their country. But in periods Of uneventfu peace
1t rarely occurs to them that the affairs Of the
Nation are in any way their individual own
America sorely needs Americans, It is such
pretty conceit that every boy in the cradle stands
an equal chance for the presidential chair.
But the cradle has very little to do with if when
it might have SO much How much will never bo
fully realized till the race of mothers become
thinking patriotic women, with the affairs Of this
great national household at heart in degree Of
least.
l. Cultivated patriotism is wise step, yet it can
nardly pear the fruits of inherited patriotism. We
all know women are very intense. What are opin-
Ions In man are sentiments in woman.
1t has been asserted that the great numbers Of
murders by Juveniles that have taken place in the
iasC quarter OF century has been ascribed to the
onSprlng OF the war mothers, in whose hearts
RANKED all the bitterness Of their helpless and
homeless condition.
II murder was transmitted by prenatal inau-
ence, why then not patriotism History is now
ana then umed by such intrepid patriots as Joan
a ARC and Charlotte Corday-even the gray hairs
o1 barbara freltche have received their honor due.
women entertain sentiments regarding national
wrongs long after men would bury them in oblivion,
anu many veteran of our civil war was prodded
ln'o patriot by the women folk at home.
Il