The record-union., 1896-11-01
old LADIES' PATRIOTISM.
Flag Raising Yesterday at the Marguerite
Home.
Interesting and Inspiriting Exercises
Mrs. Adams Recites brakes
Address.

yesterday at o'clock there was a flag
raising. It was not Of any political
significance whatever. The ioea of
providing flag and a Flagstaff for the
home originated long time ago with
Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Smart, two Of
the aged inmates, and they have
worked on it for several weeks and Sc
cured, with the aid of other inmates
and several friends contributions to the
flag fund from men and women of all
political shades Of belief The day for
the raising of the flag was fixed for
October 31st, quite time ago.
At the appointed hour there had as
sembled a large concourse of invited
guests and the officers and governors
of the home which Mrs E. Margaret
Croker founded and endowed, and that
has proved such blessing
The exercises opened by call to or
der by DR.. G. l.. Simmons, who intro
Guced Rev. A. c. Herrick, who sent up
an appeal to God for his blessing upon
the home, upon it's inmates, upon the
Nation and the State, and upon the
starry banner of freedom.
The assembled company, led by
select choir then sang America"
Next Miss De Laguna recited the ia
| nous poem Barbara Frietchie."
Dr. Simmons then addressed the COM
pany as follows: Ladies and Gentle
men: 1t Is requested by the ladies of
the home that it shall be said that this
event has no political significance what
ever. They have long felt that this in
stitution should have a new and beau
tiful flag of the Union to float over its
doors. They have succeeded in carry
ing out their wishes. 1t is intended
that this flag shall serve, If that were
necessary, to keep alive In their hearts
love of country and pride in its banner.
1t is the American idea which they de-
sire to perpetuate, loyalty to the insti-
tutions of freedom.
THE American flag, as you are all
aware was originated about 1877.
When the matter came before Congress
and 1t was resolved to fix upon a flag
TOR the new Nation, many designs were
submitted for approval. First the col
ors were decided upon, the red. the
white and the blue. Then the Idea of
the stripes was born Of the considera-
ton. Then John Adams arose in Con-
gress and proposed that on the blue
field there should be set contellation
OF stars representing the thirteen d.
visions Of the country. and that as each
new State was born q new star should
lie added. That idea was adopted and
so the flag of freedom came into our
lives.
John Adams was a patriot, and all
who bear his name are proud of IT.
There is one lady Of his name in the
home, and she, with Mrs Smart, origi-
mated the movement that gives the
home its flag. She is very age1, but
despite her years Mrs. Adams has con-
sented to recite a patriotic selection on
this occa sion"
Then arose the tall form Of Mrs.
Adams. Her bent figure Strengthened
IS she faced the company and her gray
FAIRS trembled on temples flushed by
patriotism as he recited with feryor
and depth Of feeling that many q
younger person might be proud of, and
thrilled her hearers as in voice strong
and musical, though trembling with the
weight Of years:
When Freedom from her mountain hight
Unfurled her standard to the air
she tore the azure robe Of night
ana set her stars of glory there!
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric Of the skies
ana striped its pure celestial white
with streakings Of the morning light
Then, from his mansion in the sun.
She called her eagle bearer down.
And gave into his mighty hand
The symbol of her chosen land
Flag of the seas, on ocean wave.
Thy star shall glitter Ger the brave;
When death, ,careering on the gale,
nd thn hill
And fr1ehted waves rushed wildly back
Before the broadsides' reelng rack.
Each dying wanderer of the sea
small look at once to heaven and thee
And smile to see thy splendors fy
In triumph DER his closing eye
Flag of the free hearts hope and home
BY angel hands to valor given
Thy stars have lit The wekin dome
Ana all thy hues were born In heayeni
Forever float that standard sheet,
Where breathes the foe but falls before NC
WITH Freedoms soil beneath our feet
And Freedoms banner streaming DER us,
Ihere was many a moist we and
r.any rising in the throat as the
patriotic old woman closed the inspirAd
address to the flag with a voice fervid
with patriotic devotion and her tramb-
ing right arm uplifted toward heaven.
as II invoking the blessing of Almighty
God upon the land she loves so well
Just as she concluded Mrs. Smart
pulled the cord that loosened the stay-
Knot, and the stars and stripes went
out OF its hiding to the end of the new
fiagstaH over the main entrance. Az
its graceful folds kissed the southern
breeze the sunlight broke through oh
securing clouds and bathed the glory
emblem in a flood of golden hue and
all the people applauded, and a few old
pioneers mopped their eyes and vainIy
endeavored to hide their emotion by
vigorous trumpeting into their hand
kerchiefs, while the younger men and
women fastened to applaud and strug-
gied to conceal the feeling that sur-
charged every heart.
1t was indeed one of the most touch
ing. dramatic and inspiring of scenes.
unpretentious, simple. ardent, glowing,
and in every breath and plaucit, pat
r:otic.
AS the guests ceased their applause
the choir broke out with that immortal
hymn to the flag, THE Star Spangled
Banner" and in the chorus all voices
joined, the shrill trembling treble of the
old ladies being distinctly heard.
The company was then dismissed and
not one Of all of them regretted that
he or she had attended the flag rails
ing at the Old Ladies' Home.
EvERYBODY's COLUMN.
Under this heading the "Record-Union'