Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-06-09

evening folks have rejected as va
pid and of no effect.
1 Great is the afternoon paper; great
+ is Mr.. Halstead's judgment
and the judgment of all great jour
nalsts who are born again when
they forsake the slow coach for the
lightning express, when they decide
to lead rather than follow the pro-
cession. Hesperus, not Eos, is now
first.
The Essay that Won the Flag Prize.
A few weeks ago the Youths
Companion offered flag prize for
the best essay on the American flag
in the public school. One flag was
offered in each state. Miss Bessie
johnson, daughter Of Judge John
son, of Oskaloosa, won the honor for
Iowa. She is a member of the Oska-
loOsa high school, and the following
is her essay:
The unquestioned influence of the
public schools should be used to the
advantage of the whole people
Nothing could be wiser or more
patriotic than the union of flag and
school-one the representative of
our country's past and present and
the other her very future itself. The
nations welfare is dear to every
patriotic heart, and every means
that will inspire love and create a
laudable ambition is worthy the
profoundest attention.
The first ideas of child are de-
rived from the objects about him,
and upon the same base he builds
the noblest conceptions of his man
hood. The flag is not merely a
piece of bunting with thirteen
stripes and many stars, but symbol
Of the noblest strength and purest
love, the emblem of this grand Ma
tion. Its every wave and fold speak
to us with more thrilling words
than orator ever uttered.
On the mind of child the con-
stant sight of such an object would
have an immeasurable influence.
The effect would be even greater,
extending to the foreign born who
have yet to learn our history, and to
the reconstructed south, oace dis
loyal to this very flag.
The thirteen stripes and forty-two
stars would recall our country's past,
and every child would be more in-
terested in the stories of the May
flower, Plymouth Rock and Bunker
Hill.
The thoughts would revert to that
little band Of colonists fighting so
bravely for sacred liberty, to Wash
ington, their patriot leader and our
hero, than whom grander never
lived. The flag would suggest our
lpsb SOHllICli HuCh u NpuulCI ttS luS
ancient or modern world had never
witnessed; when Lincoln bore our
country's burthens, and Grant led
the army to victory; when the slave
stepped forth free man, and hat
"mOre perfect union" was formed
which Is at once the wonder and ad-
miration Of the world
Still again the flag would speak
and tell of the millions who fought
so bTavely, and the thousands who
died so unselfishly for the honor of
the Nations standard. 1t would
tell of the many noble men impris-
oned for its sake in the foul dun
geons and fearful prison pens of its
enemies, those who endured life, yet
almost welcomed death, who, when
released, wept like children at sight
Of their dear old flag.
We are overwhelmed at the /
thought of our vast country devel-
oped from that little colony, and the /
recollection that our wealth, re- /.
sources, education and intelligence /
have increased as the thirteen to
forty-two.
The more our country and our
flag are in the minds of the chill .
dren, the higher will he rated the .
citizenship in such great and glor. .
ious nation.
As 10 the christian the sight of
the cross suggests our Saviour and
his teachings, so the flag floating
over our schools would point to our
country and Its glory
"And God love us as We love thee,
Ihou iax of truth and liberty