Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-06-20
THE FLEETING SHOW.

Auo AourIeentu uAy OF THIS month WarK-
ed the one hundred and fourteenth ami
| versary of the adoption of our national
| flag, the triumphant ''Stars and Stripes" )"
"Old Glory" 80 loved, SO honored by every
loyal American. "He must be cold in
deed" said Charles Summer, ''who can
look upon its folds rippling in the breeze
without pride of country. If he be in a
foreign land the flag is companionship and
country itself with all its endearments. 1t
has been called "a floating piece of poetry,
and yet know not if it have any intrinsic
beauty beyond other ensigns. Its highest
beauty is in what it symbolizes. It is be-
cause it represents all, that all gaze at it
with delight and reverence"
On the 14th of June, 1777, the Continen-
tai Congress unanimously adopted without
debate this resolution: Resolved, That
the flag of the thirteen United States be
thirteen stripes, alternate red and white;
that the Union be thirteen stars, white in
blue field, representing new constella-
ton This flag, first unfurled by Captain
John Paul Jones on his ship, the Ranger,
has remained unchanged, except that from
time to time new stars shine out upon it's
blue field. 1t is now older than the flags
of most European nations. The present
flag of Great Britain was adopted in 1901;
of Spain in 1885; the tricolor of France in
1894; of Italy in 1S48, and of the German
Empire in 1871.
The first mention of stars for an en-
blem is fonnd in the Massachusetts Spy, a
periodical published in Boston, which on
March 10, 1774, printed an ode containing
the lines
A ray of bright glory now beams from affair."
The American ensign now sparkles star
Which shall shortly flame through the skies
The first use of the thirteen stripes on
an American flag has been traced to a
standard presented in 1775 to the Phila-
delphia troop of light horse, the troops
which escorted Washington from Philadel-
phia to NewYork on his way to Cambridge
to take command of the colonial forces.
The stripes seem a national symbol of the
thirteen colonies, closely united, with
equal resolution and courage, in the stern
struggle for independence, and it hardly
appears necessary to go back to the flag of
the Netherlands, as do some authorities on
colonial matters, to find the device that
suggested them. This flag had three hori
zontal stripes-orange, white and blue
symbols of the rise Of the Dutch Republic
from the union at Utrecht; truly banner
of glorious, inspiring significance to the
patriots of America, though we may dis
credit the theory that they borrowed it
from the idea of the stripes.
Another theory is that both stars and
stripes were suggested by the armorial
bearings of Washington; two horizontal
bars of red upon a white shield, with:
three mullets, that is, Growels of a spur, in
shape a fve-pointed star, above them.
The crest is a raven, issuing out of a du-
cal coronet The Archaeological society of
England, the highest authority in the
world on ancient church and heraldic
matters indorse this opinion, for it has
said that sin the red and white bars, and
the stars of his shield, and the eagle issu-
ant from his crest, borne later by General
Washington, the trainers of the constitu-
ton, got their idea of the stars and stripes
and the spread eagle of the national en-
blem."
Upon the floor of Brington church,
Northamptonshire, England, covered with
board for it's protection, is one of the
old time "brasses"-a piece of sheet brass,
set into the pavement of the church, and
bearing an engraved inscription in memory
of Robert and Elizabeth Washington
ssThey lived lovingly together, y and died
within nine days of each other, in March,
1922. This brass has also upon it the
"stars and stripes of their coat of arms.
Then in Sulgrave church, is the tomb of
Lawrence Washington, the father of
Robert and many monumental brasses,
and the old manor-house, part of the
priory of st. Andrews, con6scated by
Henry the Eighth and presented by him
to the "Worshipful Lawrence Washing
ton" twice mayor of Northampton, is still
standing, though little more than ruin.
Upon the pavement of the church, and
above the porch of the still older manor
house, may be seen the shield of the Wash
| ingtons, with its bars and mullets, and if
our ststar-spangled banner" has its origin
| in this, which may be traced still further
| back almost to the days of Columbus, our
beautiful flag was planned nearly four
| hundred years ago. If this was not
its origin, it is generally conceded
| that the stars and stripes being found
upon Washington's heraldic insignia, were
| adopted and established by congress in
| honor of the nations leader and deliverer.
Mrs. Ross of Arch street, Philadelphia, was
authorized by congress to work these en-
blsms into flag, which she did from de-
| signs drawn by Washington himself at her
| house.
One curious item concerning the stars
are that they are five rayed like the mul-
ington's time have ive-rayed stars, while
i
all issued since, have six-rayed stars. The
stars of the flag are unchanged, except in
position and numbers. In 1894 an act
prescribing that the number OF stars and
| stripes should be fifteen WAS passed, Yer
mont and Kentucky having been admitted
| to the Union. On April 4, 1918, bill
was signed by President Monroe, reducing
| the number of stripes to the original thir-
teen, and prescribing that a new stal
should be added to the field of the flag OF
the Fourth of July next following the ad-
the Union. On next Fourth
of July therefore the new stal
Wyoming takes it's rightful place, and the
thirteen starred circle of 1777 will have in
creased to O constellation of forty-four
Most of the stars have been added one by
! one. In 1920 two stars shown out togeth
er, but 1890 seemed grand year for sta
accessions. five 1umiuaries appearing all a
once.
Our flag has a wonderful history, many
of the facts of which have been recorded
by Admiral Preble. 1t has, too, an unwrit
ten history, beyond the power of languag
to rehearse' What suggestions of heroism
suffering, sorrow, victory, are bound up il
it's foldsl When the flag is unfurled ant
ripping in the wind, how they fly straigh
to the heart, quickening its be ting ant
bringing the mist of pride and grief to tn
eyes. At home we admire and love it
abroad we greet it as protector ant
friend.
| White blue and red
A flag unrolls the stripes and stars.
All! when the wanderer, lonely, friendless,
In foreign harbors shall behold
That flag unrolled,
Twill be friendly hand
Stretched out from his native land,
Filling his heart with memories sweet and end
| less.
There is one place where the flag alway
looks especially grand and beautiful, anc
that is when it flies from the Gilbert,
pole" on the old green. 1t ought to b
raised there every day in the year in com
memmoration of some historic event. /
calendar of. events might be ARRANGED
and the particular event announced il
the daily papers; thus the flag would be a
an illustrated page of history, set on higl
for all the townspeople to read. Thi
would be a valuable object lesson to chill
dren, and to the alien populace. some o
whom fail, though ignorance, to respec
su Efficiently the flag of a country, which
m ore than any other they seek, because
as no other, it offers them the blessing
of freedom, protection, education, ant
citizenship.
TWO WOMEN.
Mrs. Grimwood, praised the world owe
for her heroism at the siege of Manipu1
India, last March, it is said, is to receiv
the decoration of the Victoria Cross, tha