Evening star., 1895-06-14
The National Emblem Honored
Throughout the District.
DISPLAYED ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Formal Exercises in Many Of the
Public Schools.
TONIGHT'S CELEBRATION

The stars and stripes mOnopoliZed great
deal of Washington today. From the mag
nificent banners that floated proudly from
the fagstaffs Of public buildings to the
modest fustian bunting that hung over the
doorway of an humble building in a remote
section, the emblem of American hope and
happiness was everywhere predominant.
There were flags on business houses and
flags on private residences and tiny flags
were worn in the buttonholes or pinned on
the bosoms of thousands of patriotic men
and women. The observance did not how
ever, appear to be as general as it was
last year. In 1894 the patriotic societies
took very practical and emerge tic i'll
terest in the celebration of Flag day. Com
mittees were active in inducing merchants
and others to display flags on that occa-
sion, and in this way general interest was
aroused. This year there We're no COM
mittees at work. and many persons simply
did not observe the anniversary because
they had forgotten it's date, something
very easy to happen when the fact is taken
INTO consideration that Flag day is a COM
paratively new one in the chronology of
the American people Still there were
enough flags floating in the breezes to in
dicate that the people of the District are
Iuii OF patriotic love for the starry striped
banner that shelters and protects their
liberties, and those who failed to hang out
flag today will doubtless make up for
the neglect when June ii rolls around
again.
In the Public Schools.
The red, white and blue held sway and
was sWayed today in the public schools of
the District of Columbia This is Flag
day the second in the history of the local
schools. The observance was inaugurated
one year ago today by order of the board of
school trustees, and at their meeting Tues
hnl Ii.~ t1I
day the teachers should devote at least a
portion of the time school kept" to instill-
ing patriotism in the minds of Washing
tons Young America.
The time for preparation for the exercises
was very short, the majority of the in
structors not receiving notification to cele-
brate the day until yesterday, but at .
o'clock this morning there was probably
not pupil of the grade schools in the Dis
trict who reported without lag. Some of
the insignia were larger than their bearers
Whlle many were merely cute baby flags,
but yet they were the symbol of American
patriotism, and thereby fully answered the
purpose.
This being matinee day" at the high
schools. when those students behind in
their work are given a chance to catch up
by examinations and the more fortunate
ones are allowed a holiday, it was i'm
possible for such pupils to participate in
the exercises. but from the tots of the first
grade to the big boys and girs of the
eighth grade, who next fall will become
young ladies and young gentlemen of the
High School, the remainder of the school
children sang-and sang in an Interested
manner as if they thoroughly enjoyed it
the praises of the star spangled banner.
The Formal Exercises.
In the majority of the schools the formal
exercises of the day began at o'clock, and
were conducted by the principals of the
buildings. assisted by the various teachers
The children were marched from their class
rooms to the main hall on the first 5oor
where the piano-in the buildings where
such an instrument is possessed--is without
exception located. The little ones took
seats on the stairs or were grouped in a
hollow square, and their parents and
friends, who comprised the invited guests
disposed of in the adjoining rooms and
other available space. At one building in
the second division a program was pre-
sented which may be taken as a sample of
the exercises In all the schools.
IT. opened with the singing of MY Coun-
try, 'Tis of Thee" by the combined schools.
An original composition, entitled "Our
Flag, was then read by a little girl, and
was followed by the enthusiastic singing
of the Star Spangied Banner Next the
children repeated in unison from memory
the following oath of allegiance: II pledge
allegiance to my flag andNhe republic for
which it stands One nation indivisible,
with liberty and justice for ALL"
An original composition, THE History of
the Flag" was part Of the exercises, as
Flag" The battle Cry Of Freedom" and
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," We're
rendered equally as well as the other vocal
selections. A wand drill by class of girls
from the seventh grade each wand being
tied with a bow of red, white and blue
ribbons. was a pretty feature of the after
noon. The remainder of the program COM
prised recitations, entitled "One Flag" and
Hymn of the Republic,' sour Flag" Fla :The
Bugle Song Truce" and Home, Sweet
Home"
In several of the schools during the week
bugles have been called into play to an
nounce the commencement and close of re-
cess. while the children marched to and
from the rooms to the beat of drums.
The scenes at the buildings throughout
the District today, excluding the special
exercises, could not instil other than pa
triotism in the minds of the children, the
teachers and the visitors.
BrOOkland School.
At the Brookland school, Miss Chesnsy
in charge of the seventh and eighth grades,
had her pupils sing national hymns. and
there were readings of the origin of the
flag and compositions on the flag. Miss
Bailey superintended the exercises of the
other grades, which consisted of singing
of patriotic songs, the salute to the flag,
reading OF essays on Washington by Fred.
Godfrey, the Declaration of Independence
by Raymond Depue, an GRAFTON on the ma
tional flag by Ralph Smons and a recita-
ton ode to the flag by Helen Brooks.
The WOmnn's Relief Corps.
The committee of the Woman's Relief
Corps on patriotic teaching in the public
schools will celebrate flag day this evening
at the First Presbyterian Church The
ladies comprising this committee have ar
ranged the following program, which will
commence at o'clock:
Assembly, by bugler; invocation, Rev. DR..
Sunderland, First Presbyterian Church;
orchestral music, Andrew Lewis and others;
address, by General J. C. Breckenridge,
vice president general, Sons of American
Revolution; song, Star Spangled Banner"
by quartet, Miss Haley Miss Muir, Mr..
Roberts and Mr. Heitinger; STORY of the
Flag" Mrs. Isabel WorrelI Ball.; song,
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean," Miss
HALEY and chorus; Balch salute, twelve
young girls; song, America" by quartet
and whole audience; address, Teach the
Children Patriotism Commander Marion
T. Anderson. Department of the Potomac;
scng, '"The Flag of the Stripes and Stars"
by the quartet; original poem, "Our Flag"
by Mrs Marian Longfellow O'Donoghue;
orchestral music. Andrew Lewis and others;
address, Patriotism" General S. s. Bur-
dett past commander-in-chief, Grand Army
of the Republic; song. Tread Softly,
Soldiers Sleeping Here" young school girls;