The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-08
The Stars and Stripes.

The early history of our great flag 10
very interesting. 1t is matter OF rec
ord that during the early days Of the
Revolu ion he colonists made use OF flags
OF various devices. The final idea of the
stars ard stripes as national flag vas
borrowed from or suggested by the c. at
of arms of General George Washing
toms family.
In the spring of 1777, congress ap-
pointed committee Eau horized to
d. sign a suitable flag for the nation.'
This committee seems to have consisted
of General George Washington and
Robert Morris. They called upon Mrs.
Z IL ,belh r, So of Philadelphia, and
from pencil drawing by General
Washington engage d her to make a fl ,g.
Mrs. " Betsey" Ross was nlilliner
whose principal customers were the
Gu, ker ladi 8. She came from good
colonial stock. The story goes that
during this call at that little old build
ing at 239 Arch street, Philadelphia,
General Washington, after explaining
his drawing to Betsey Ross, directed
that the Stars should be six poiu ted
ones. Mrs. Ross objected to this, and
argued that the stars in the sky seemed
10 have but five points. Folowir g her
argument by practical d rmonstration,
she folded a piece Of paper, and with q
single clip of the scissors cut out five
POINTED star. This was too much for
the committee, and without further
argument B,t'ey Ross pl evaiied. This
flag, the first Of number she made,
was cut out and completed in the back
parlor of her little Area street home.
1t was the first legally -establisht en-
blem, and was adopted by congress
June ID, 1777, under the act which pro-
vided for stripes, alternate red and
white, with a union of thirteen white
stars in fed of blue. This act read
US follows: Resolved, That the flag
of the Uuied States be thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the union
be thirteen stals in blue field, repre-
seniing new constellation"
Wore in those days were few-ac-
tons were raj id, and spoke loudly. In
May, 1777, congress made an order on
he tire sury to pay Mrs. Ross GA 12s.
ID for fl ,gs for the feet in The Della
ware river, and contract to make all
government flags. Because of the ad-
mission of Vermont and Kentucky, the
flag was changed by an act of January
13, 1894 which PROVIDE that after
My l, 1895, the flag OF the United
States should consist of fifteen slrines
and fifteen stars. But in 1918 the flag
was re-estabished as thirt' Ell b, RI
nal stripes, al ernately red and white,
the union to consist of twenty stars,
white In blue fed, one star to be
added 10 the union on the admission of
every new state; such additio to be
made on the fourth day of July sue
Get ding each admission. The flag went
into effect July 4, 1918, and remains
the present regulation national en-
blem of the United States of America.
Some description OF the Symbolism
of the colors in the flag is not Without
interest. Red is supposed TO represent
courage and divine love; white, integ-
rily of purpose, truth, and purity;
blue, steadtastness and ,oyalty.
The quaint twC-and a-haf story
dwelling in Arch street for more than
Two hundred years has witt stood time
aud the elements, and though threat
ened with destruction from fire aud
modern bui ding innovation, still stands
an ell, quent monument to Betsey Ross
and to the American fig. The very
bricks of this old house came over as
ballast in he hold OF the Welcome"
(WilIiam PENIS ship, and were placed
in position under the superv SION OF
William Penn himself.-St. Nicholas.