The Newtown bee., 1893-10-06

Notwithstanding the Huntington fair, and the funeral of Charles Wheeler the same day, a goodly number congregated at Rock House school house, Tuesday af- ternOon, September 2S, to enjoy the flag raising and exercises of the children, as the result of the careful training of their teacher, Mrs C. Burr Tucker. She has continuously taught in the district for many years. At , p. m., the Danbury PahquioquG council marched in line, headed by the school children, dressed in white, keeping step to the music of S. G. Seeley's fife. Rev C. l.. Pierce pre- sided, opening with prayer, after the song of welcome by MT and Mrs Frank Tucker and Miss Maud F.. Bowdy. The music was under the direction of George J. Banks, organist. All joined in sing ing, My Country, "ris of Thee" The flag, Gx9 feet, was presented by TECH more, in behalf of Pahquioque council of Danbury, who spoke earnestly in be- half of the order and
 THE AMERICAN FLAG. Among other points he emphasized, were the following "It is a pleasure for me to stand on this platform to-day, to pre- sent this flag. our meeting here to-day on this free American soil is only sac rihcc on the part of your fore-fathers. To these younger ones it is only matter uf history, but these older ones only have to look back few years. For quarter of a century have had the honor to be- long to an order whose object 1t was to place the American flag over our school houses, Gill now lGO flags are floating oyer them. It is the duty of the teach CTS. then, to teach the children what lib- crty means" In behalf of the district Rev C. l.. Pierce accepted the flag, cX- pressing himself in a feeling manner of the mighty principles which this flag carries with t. He related his eXpcri- rucc, as boy, in Philadelphia, how he was filled with inspiration as he looked upon that grand old cracked Liberty bell. He gave, Us illustrations, extracts from the old poem so well known to the school boy. Gen sherman says the mothers are most responsible for the inspiration of the children. It brings to us the fact of the Spartan spirit that we should em- ulatc, when a mother said to her son when he went to war, "Comc back with your shield, or come back on it. The flag was raised by Miss Evelyn S.Banks, being hoistcd to the top of 20 foot pole, erected on the top of the school house.
 THE SCHOOL EXERCISES now began, opened by singing "IhC Star Spangled Banner" The balance ol the program was as follows
 speaking, "CoIumbIa's Banner" Maud E Bowdy.
 "Flug ot our Country" Allie T. Bradley. singing. "Our Flag Is There"
 Dialogue "AU Hail the Land," four boys Chester Downs, Fred Schaucke, stephen Hal and Freddie PeIry.
 "FreodoIn's Flag" Evelyn $. Banks. singing, chorus,
 "Flowcr of Liberty" Hattie Baldwin. "FIag of the Free" Grace Hall. "Unlon and Liberty, Mary F. Lyon. singing, "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean. An address was given by T.F.Gilmore state organizer, who spoke enthusiastic ally of the flag and our American soil saying, "I cannot say, as many here can
  were not, but l was born here and wisl we could educate the foreign element uI to the idea of a stronger love for Ameri ca" He closed his remarks by readin! the following poem:
 OUR COUNTRIES FLAG. Among the golden stars I see banner,prou
 and fair,
 So grandly doth 1t float, methinks that Go
 hath placed 1t there,
 Forever set in Heavens blue with all its fold
 unfurled,
 The only flag that Freedom e'er bestowed III
 on the world.
 A hundred years have passed but still in COT
 scious pride it waves
 Above the land our fathers won-above thel
 silent graves.
 It represents that cause for which the best O
 earth have died,
 Upon the slopes of Bunker Hill and by Pot
 muc's tide,
 Behold it ns it floats alott OCT mountai
 plain and gorge,
 It loated long ago mid the snows of Vallt
 Forge.
 It was uufurled with honor in a light that VI
 divine,
 Above the clouds of Trenton and the smol
 of Brandywine.
 On saratoga's deathless field it got new me-
 of fame;
 And Freedom wrote upon its folds old Nor
 towns glorious name.
 To-day 1t floats in splendor in the beams
 Freedoms sun,
 As once 1t streamed aloit above the plume
 Washington.
 The sword has writ among it's stars that gr
 fhe TTufpn glx The names of Earth's great heroes-nam
 that will never die.
 Remember how our flag was borne thro' b
 ties leaded rain,
 How once 1t waved in triumph OCT grand (
 Lundy's Lane;
 How heroes who have passed away, stood
 It in the break;
 How the lips of Perry pressed it on the W
 eneircled lake.
 Why, unto every star it bears glory n;
 been given,
 Like that which always furnishes the brig
 est orb Of heaven.
 There was . time, forever past, when once
 saw 1t wave,
 With shame and burning bushes, OCT
 shackles of the slave;
 When meath it was the downcast eye, the p
 and silent lip-
 When the fiutter of its folds was but the e
 of the whip.
 But now without such stain it floats in be
 ty on the air;
 The shacklc has been broken, God hath he
 the negro's prayer,
 And you and I can stand erect with pr1
 'twixt sea and sea,
 For meath it's ever glorious stars, Human
 Is free.
 And some who made 1t thus now sleep in k