The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-11-04
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
How Our Great National Banner Came
into Being.

How Our Great National Banner Came
into Being.
The early history of our great flag is
very interesting.
1t is a matter of record hat during
the early days of the revolution the
colonists made use OF flags of various
devices.
1t is nowadays generally accepted as
a fact that the final idea of the Stars
and Stripes as a national flag was bor-
rowed from or suggested by the coat of
arms of Gen. George Washington's fam
lily.
In the spring of 1777 congress ap-
pointed a committee 'autSJrized to
design a suitable flag for the nation"
This committee seems to lave con-
sisted of Gen. George Washington and
Robert Morris. They called upon Mrs.
Elizabeth Ross, of Philadelphia, and
from a pencil-drawing by Gen. Wash
ington engaged her tomake a flag. Mrs.
Betsy" Ross was a milliner whose
principal customers were the Quaker
ladies. She came from good colonial
stock. The story goes hat during this
call at that little old building at 239
Arch street, Philadelphia, Gen. Wash
ington, after explaining his drawing
to Betsy Ross. directed THAT the stars
should be six-pointed ones. Mrs. Ross
objected to this, and argued that the
stars in the sky seemed to have but five
points. Following her argument by a
practical demonstration, she folded a
piece Of paper, and with a single clip
Of the scissors cut out a perfect five
pointed star. This was too much for
the committee, and without further ar
gument Betsy Ross prevailed.
This flag, the first of a number she
made, was cut out and completed in the
back parlor of her little Arch street
home.
It.was the first legally-established
emblem, and was adopted by congress
June IA, TIT, under the act which pro-
vided for stripes alternately red and
white, with a union of thirteen white
stars in a field of blue. This act read
as follows: Resolved, That the flag
of the United States be thirteen stripes,
alternately red and white; that the
Union be thirteen stairs, white in q
blue field, representing q new con-
stellation."
Words in those days were few-ac-
tions were rapid and spoke loudly. In
May, 1777, congress made an order on
the treasury to pay Mrs. Ross Ella IFS.
for flags for the fleet in the Della
ware river, and a contract to make all
government flags.
Because of the admission of Yer
mont and Kentucky, the flag was
changed by an act of January IS, 1894,
which provided that after May 1, 1895,
the flag of the United States should
consist of fifteen stripes and fifteen
stars.
But in 1918 the flag was re est blished
as thirteen horizontal stripes, alter
nately red and white, the Union to con-
sist of twenty stars, white in a blue
field, n star to be added to the Union
on the admission of every new state;
such addition to be made on the Fourth
day of July succeeding such admission.
This flag went into effect July 4, 1918,
and remains the present regulation ma
tional emblem of the United States of
America.
Some description of the symbolism
of the colors in the flag is not without
Red is supposed to represent courage
and Divine love; white, integrity of
purpose, truth and purity; blue, stead
fastness and loyalty.
The quaint two-and-a-half story
dwelling on Arch street for more than
two hundred years has withstood time
md the elements, and though threat
with destruction from fire and
modern building innovation, still stands
IN eloquent monument to Betsy Ross
md to the American flag.
The very bricks of this old house
over as ballast in the hold OF the
William PENIS ship, and
we're placed in position under the SUI
oervision of William Penn himself
st. Nicholas.
1t Had That Look.