The National tribune., 1895-12-19
CONVERSATION CLUB.

Lizzie Aldrichs Flag s'ory-Reason for
Thanksgiving, and Passing i'm Review.
Rules ofihe C7,b.-l. Write briefly 2. Write only
on one side of the pape-. g. Write 10 the point. 4.
Write sub ject. ). Write your best. o. Each
week the names of those writing the best letters
STYLE composition. spelling. penmanship and gen.
eral merit considered-wil be named ut the head
of this column on the Honor Roll. FIRST honor
will include all of these requirements. second
honor will include a deficiency In some ole point.
OUR RoLL-CALL.
TThe letters vs. mean veterans son, v.d veter-
ans daughter and Wv. veterans widow: members
of associations will be marked sV and DV.I
Glenna ]. Kerr v.d 9TH Ohio and Anderson
Vile prisoner, Kerr, o.; Marian Clark, v.d.,
Joliet, H.; Dora E. Williams. Is Macarthur
Place, Detroit, Mich. Total, 1926.
IF NOT, WHY NOT?
WHY not. each one of us, decide to remem-
Der some one at Christmas time no one else
would have thought of, and after holidays tell
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE readers all about 1t.
My mind EXPLAINING pleasant surprise Tor
an old soldier. Loyalty
Belle C. Anderson.
THE SOUVENIR BADGES
Georgia A. Martin was i'll when her beauti-
ful gold badge. voted by the Louisville Re-
union, was received. She values it greatly, and
says: :" 1t is one of nfy most treasured posses
sions because it embodies SO many loving
thoughts"
Mary L. Best. who has served faithfully as
Treasurer Of the L.H.W for the past three
years, says Of the badge voted her at Louis
Vile:
My name and the year 1895 are engraved
in the back. and to you all desire 20 express my
thanks. The badge, not only for its real value,
but as a gift from the organizations will always
be highly priced"
STORY OF THE FLAG.
BIZ Lizzie Alirich.
Read before Keystone Circle. 9, Philadelphia, Pa.
The. idea of standards originated with the
Egyptians at an early age.
The Crusaders added the cross to those ban
ners. The union of the crosses of st. George.
st. Andrew and st. Patrick marks first, the
union of England and Scotland into Great
Britain, then Great Britain and Ireland. This,
the great union flag of Great Britain, was
brought by the Colonists to America.
When the 13 Colonies began to feel the pres
sure of British rule, they placed upon their
flag rattlesnake cut in IS pieces, represent
ing the IL Colonies. with the motto: Join or
Die" AS the Colonies became more united in
their purpose to resist British tyranny, they
placed upon their flags a well-formed rattle
snake in the attitude about to strike, with the
motto: Don't Tread On Mel"
DIR. Franklin tells from study ard inquiry
that in ancient times the serpent was consider
ed an emblem of wisdom, and in some attitudes
of endless duration. Again, countries are often
represented by anima ais peculiar to that country.
The rattlesnake is found nowhere but in
America
Her eye is so bright and without eyeids, EN-.
blem of vigilance; she never begins an attack
and never surrenders, emblem of magnanimty
and courage; she never wounds even her enc
mics until she generously gives them warn
ing not to tread OH her, emblem Of the spirit
of the people who nhabit her country she
appears apparently weak and defenseless.
formidable. her poison is the necessary means
Of digestion Of her food. but certain destruc-
ton to her enemies, showing the power of
American resources; her 13 rattles, the only
part which incrcaseth in number are distinct
from each other. yet so united that they cannot
be disconnected without breaking them to
pieces, showing the impossibility Of an Ameri-
can Republic without union of States. A
single rattle will give no sound alone but the
ringing of the - will startle the boldest man
alive; she is beautiful in youth, which in.
creaseth with her age.
June Ia, 1777, Continental Congress re-
solved: THAT the flag of the United States be
- stripes, alternately red and white, and the
union be IL white stars, npon blue field. rep
resenting new constellation"
The stars of the flag represent the idea taken
from the constellation Lyra, which signifies
/" Harmony; the blue OF the field was taken
from the Covenanters OF Scotland, likewise
significant Of the league and covenant of the
United States against oppression, and incl
dentaily involving vigilance. perseverance and
justice; the stars disposed in circle. SYM
boliZiDg the perpetuty of the Union, the circle
being the sign of eternity.
Both the IL stars and Is stripes showed the
number of the United Colonies, and denoted
the subordinatiOn of the States TO and their de-
pendencc upon the Union, as we'll as equality
among themselves.
The whole was blending of the previous !
banner, namely the red flag of the army aud |
the white flag of the navy. The red color. |
which in days of Roman glory was the signal |
Of defiance, denoted daring, and the white |
purity.
Jan. IL, 1884, by an act of Congress the flag |
was altered to ID stripes and stars. On the 4th |
Of April, 1873 Congress again altered the flag |
BY returning to the original IL stripes and |
ID stars. as the adding Of a new stripe for each |
additional State would soon have made the flag |
too unwieldly. A new star is now added TO the /
Bag on the 4th of July following the admission /
1f a State into the Union.
ONE REASON FOR THANKFULNEss
DEAR L.H.W AND c. C.: / must write and
tell you that one reason for thankiulness,
among host Of other reasons, last Thanks
giving Day was that our dear Editor appointed
special hour and special chapters of the Bible
Tor us to read the Sunday before.
Now, 10 me this was a happy appointment
n connection with our Chapan's and as | read
thought Of so many Of our {. c. who were
reading the same blessed words. 1t seemed to
BRING US nearer each other in holy Christian
fellowship.
i would enjoy this oft repeated Ny heart
,weiled with loving gratitude TO the "giver of
Nj good and perfect gifts"
May each Thanksgiving Day find US more
oval TO our country and our God and TO those
around US. May we ever serve the Lord with
yladBess, for he is good, his mercy is eyerlast-
ng, and his truth endureth to all generations
Minta Larry, Mingo o.
PASSING IN REVIEW
Glenua ]. Kerr, enrolled to-day, is little
girl of 10 whose father and mother took a
southern trip last Fall, visiting Andersonyille.
where her father was for nearly whole wear |
1f bis captivity confined as prisoner of war.
M. Dell Adams's collection of patriotic papers !
must necessarily wait until the special topics
have been considered by the L.H.W.
Frank b. Carey writes that the name Of the
l.. w. candidate in the last election
was Harvey I. Trombone, instead of Grumbore,
As printed.
Mrs. Sarah i. Cook thanks her maBy friends
who answered her inquiries for housekeeper's
position. She is we'll settled, aud very CRATE
lul, and regrets her inability to answer the
many letters received.
The name of Lizzie Aldrich has been added
TO the calendar list for her excellent flag story.
Her address is 1899 Marshall street. Phila-