Smyrna times., 1890-05-21
Hosting the Flag Over the Public
School.
SMYRNA HONoRED BY A SUCCESSFUL
pITPTT,.

PUPIL.
Friday, in a certain sense, was an
eventful day in Smyrna, made so by
one of the pupils of its public schools,
winning a flag 10 by 8 feet offered by
Perry Mason & Co, publishers Of the
Youths Companion, Boston, for the
best essay on the Patriotic Influence
of the American Flag when raised
over the Public School" This offer
was made to every StaJe, and won in
Delaware by Miss Mary Budd of the
graduating class of our public school,
the commissioners having provided |
pole attached to the north gable OF the |
building, and designating Friday for |
the honored event.
The threatening clouds had passed |
away, and at 3 o'clock large number |
of people had collected on the campus |
to participate in or enjoy the occasion. !
Seats had been provided in front of
the building for the school children,
the space beyond all along the street
being occupied by groups OF people
the whole affair having a very Fourth Of
July aspect-and appropriately so, as
the spirit and essence OF the occasion
was patriotic.
At the proper time the children,
who had been gathered in their rooms,
filed out from the right and left doors
taking their places from opposite di
rections the primary schools in the
lead. each bearing Il little flag. 1t was
rather an inspiring sight to the audi
ence 20 see several hundred children,
bright representatives, OF Young
America, ,"-thus take their places with
faces aglow with the spirit Of the Oc-
casiOn.
All things being ready, John II
Hoffecker, President Of the Board Of
Directors arose aud with clear and
elevated voice to make the widely
| scattered audience in the face of
strong breeze hear, addressed the as
semblage as follows:
"LADIEs AND GENTLEMEN - As
| the patrons and friends of Smyrna
Public Schools, permit lue upon
! the occasion which has called ms
together to congratulate you, and my
congratulations are also extended with
equal warmth to the teachers and
scholars. More than half a century
! ago our fureiathers established the free
| school system in our State, and, while
! it has from time 10 time been i'm
! proved by legislative enactments, |
declare to you, without fear of contra
! diction, that the epoch which we to-
! day inaugurale IS without ii parallel in
! our public school history, and to make
it more Impressive, SO hat the young
est here, should they live to four score
years, may not forget this 10th day of
May, Ammo Domini 1890, the School
] Pft Ia F,,r. . Ii.
! public demonstration and as an open.
ing exercise you are now invited to
take part in singing hat popular ma
tiOnal air, America
The children then under the leader
ship of Prof. n. Dushune Coward, Of
Wilmington, sang My country It's of
Thee" with will This was followed
by an appropriate prayer from Rev.
W. w. W. Wilson, and another song,
"Freedom's Flag"
Ths reading of the essay that had
given occasion for lflis demonstration,
was next in order Miss Budd think
ing her voice not strong enough, dele
gated it to the principal, w. G.. Lake,
but its reading lacked both force and
distinCtneSs to those at little distance
and in obedience to an expressed wish,
we asked and obtained from Miss Budd
the manuscript for publication, as fol-
lows:
THE PATRIOTIC INFLUENCE EXERTED
By THE AMERICAN FLAG WHEN
RAISED OVER THE PUB-
Lie SCHOOL
Some may doubt that the American
flag has any influence, but that person
must be either very ignorant or very
uupatrotic if he does not think diff
ferentIy, after few moments reatc-
tiOn. For who can look upon that en-
blem of our freedom, floating in our
free air, without thinking of those who
fought at the cost of their lives for the
principles of which we boast, with
love aud veneratjon, and with indigna
tion of those who would have robbed
US Of it. Does not the herOism of our
ancestors inspire Us 10 be more heroic
We despise the tyranny that was
practiced against US, and if we are true
Americans, will pledge ourselves to be
always brave and generous, knowing
, the rights and wishes of others. And,
having made this vow, what will re-
mind US of it better than the sight OF
we are about to do a cOwardly act, we
will perhaps see the flag or we may
think of it, and our thoughts will
wander back to the time when our
, forelathers bravely resented Oppres
, sion, and we will leave undone what
: We intended to do. Even the little
ones feel the influence. If a large flag
, should be raised somewhere in our
town, scarcely fifteen minutes would
pass before there would be a whole
, army of little boys marching The streets
with their caps decorated with min
ature hag-; but what, to day, inspires
p these little fellows to play soldier, will
make Ihein years hence, leave home
, and all else, if necessary, to fight for
! their country.
Ii lhvr. is no battle field for them to
, fight in they will fight III the streets,
, in the business world and in the courts
. and Senate. If there is no human foe
, for them to battle with they will attack
o ignorance and crime and injustice and
y fight for truth and freedom, the most
2 precious thing to all true Americans
: If it was not for the flag flying there
those little ones would forget, in their
! attempt TO gain enjoyment, that they
have country for which to grow wise
and good aud strong. But there it is
a and they cannot look up from their
!. play without seeing it,
II 1t is the coat of arms of George
I Washington. the model for every
Q young American, and they all know il
: or at least ought to know it. Will
r this reminder of that good hoy ant
o great man always before them Thea
. must grow more wise and honorable
q and noble. Washington to some de
4 gree has Influenced the life of every
n citizen of the country aud will con
+ tinue to do so as long as the Unitet
I States is a nation.
The influence exerted by the flag il
especially needful t0 the foreigners
n probably more so than to the Aneri
! cans. Persons who haYe always LIVED
q in the United States, and whose ances
tors have always lived here too, have
!. a sort of natural regard for the cOun
70 try which would induce them to b,
,. good citizens, but foreigners coming
= here for purely mercenary ends nee,
n to have instiled within them lOY,
for their new country. These foreign
= ers themselves may not be influences
~ to any great degree, but it may be ac
a complished in their children. Thos
r. who are little older, it may be, d,
| - Lo,,o tho ma uapd IF the fnu thn