The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-04

streets, up IN me dizzy heights Of cloud
piercing poles; in the hands of babies and
gray bearded men; on the patient cart horse;
on bicycle and street car; far out on the
Atlantic and Pacific. in the great sea ports
Of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia; lin
every sea and ocean the world over; on the
prairie and in the crowded city, indoors and
out The Red. White and Blue viii adOrn
the earth and the people of all climes will
know thai the Fourth of July means much
to the 70,0eo.0o0 people who compose the
United States.
This flag celebrated its 18th anniversary
on June IA last. On Saturday, June IA,
1777, Congress passed a resolution that the
flag Of the thirteen United States be thirteen
stripes, alternate red and white; that the
union be thirteen stars. white in a blue
field, representing new constellation.
Superstition must have played no part in
the makeup Of the hardy statesmen of those
days. and their courage in hosting ban
ner in which the number thirteen was so
conspicuous has been proven by history to
have been well directed.
Since March factories all over the coun-
try have been turning out flags at a terrific
rate The Fourth Of July always means
busy time for nag manufacturers, but this
year there is an unusual impetus to the
business, for not only is there a national
campaign on, but q brand new flag is to be
presented 20 the country. The white star
which represents the new State of Utah.
and which makes the forty-ffth in the blue
field, will be officially added to the flag on
July 4. Utah has been a State for some
months, but by a long established law of
Congress, the star of new State can only
be added to the flag on the Fourth of July
following its admission to the Union.
THE NEW FLAG.
These new flags have been distributed to
every government building in the nation
to the war ships. the military posts. and
they will first see the light of day on Satur-
day neTt The new regulation government
flag is five feet six inches long by four feet
four inches wide. The field is two feet six
inches long by two feet four inches wide
The width of the stripes is reduced to four
inches. The staff is nine feet in length and
the distance between the edge of the flag
and the first row of stars is two and nine
teen birty-second inches. The decoration
OF the top of the stan is the spear head as
at present, and pendant from the spear are
tassels swinging from two golden cords. a
heavy and rich gold fringe decorates the
edges. Tie new design places the forty-ffth
star in the third row, making the first,
third and NTH rows consist OF eight stars
each and the second. fourth and sixth of
seven each.
OF MISTY ORIGIN.
Much os d definite character pertaining
to the origin Of the Stars and Stripes has
been lost in the comparatively brief space
OF time which has elapsed since the in
ception of the Tag. Who originated the
design a matter Of conjecture, and this
fact. or lack Of fact. has been seized upon
by fanciful minds to weave many pretty
stories Every schoolboy is familiar with
the da nty tale describing the vision of the
future flag OF the nation in the heavens;
the patch of blue with the silver stars
cleaning brightly and the long streaks of
red and light gray sky.
Another says that the christening robe
of Washington was of white satin with
lining of red and blue satin. This may have
been true, but it takes a wide stretch Of the
Imagination to connect that christening robe |
with the deliberations of Congress on the |
subject Another claims that the family !
crest Of the Washingtons. with its stripes ,
and three hye-pOinted stars at the top had |
considerable to do with the design OF the |
flag. Washington. however was modest
man and was not in the habit of paradlng |
his famiiy's glory before the nation so it |
is quite probable that this was merely a |
coincidence.
Long before the wer Of the Revolution /
the powerful East India Company of London I
had established trade post on Manhattan |
Island. and the flag Of this concern had |
thirteen stripes. alternate red and white, |
with the cross of St George on a white
canton This flag was familiar to ell Of the
old New Yorkers. and 1t may be that it