The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-01
WEST SIDE EVENTS.
Flsg Raising at No. l9 School at Jack.
son Street and Rebecca Avenue.
Very Interesting Exercises.

''This is the prettiest flag raising
thatI ever have seen" said Superintend-
ent of Schools Geo. Howell during the
exercises at the new No. 10 school yes
terday afternoon when handsome
"Stars and Stripes" was presented TO
the school by the joint effort OF Camps
1888 and 17S of the Patriotic Order
Sons of America, and Camp SO of the
Patriotic Order of True Americans.
1t was indeed a magnificent sight. The
new building is built upon an elevation
fully forty feet above the level OF
Jackson street, which it fronts, and Re-
becca avenue, on the eastern border,
slopes gradually in line with the sew
eral terraces in front of the imposing
structure. The tapering flag pole, fifty
feet high. and painted white, is placed
in the southeast corner of the spacious
ground around the building and the
whole premises is enclosed on the east
and south sides by 4 retaining wall
built Of stone.
The structure itself is squarely built
with protruding main entrance in
the middle Of the Jackson street front.
This entrance part is square and eX-
tends uniformly to the top where a
bell-less bellfry forms to four cor
nered cone. The facing of the front Is
Of white brick with dashes of red color.
AN INSPIRING SCENE.
With these natural beauties add the
color given TO a scene by the presence
of about 1000 people densely crowded
in front of the building, the mass
reaching to the farthest sidewalks on
two sides, and then, again, stationed
about the flag pole were three hund-
red school children in holiday attire
and carrying small flags; with the
members of the band in bright uni
forms and shining musical instru-
ments: two hundred persons from the
patriotic societies all wearing regalias
and rosettes of red, white and blue
with these in the mind fair picture
of yesterdays scenes will be presented.
The speaking was done from the middle
platform between the three flights of
stone steps. When the flag was raised
the school children sang the Star
Spangled Banner" accompanied by the
band. AS the colors crept up the pole
the crowd cheered and the men in the
crowd reverently doffed their hats.
The flag itself is very handsome. It's
dimensions are 20X3O feet. The three
camps which gave the flag have been
arranging for the event for several
months past. Camp 33, Patriotic Order
True Americans, is composed of ladies'.
Mrs Ellen Davis Is president.
Present at the exercises were: Revs.
Roger Israel, A. l.. Ramer, j. Il. Sweet
and II. Bell; School Controllers Mitch
ell, Schriefer, Jacobs, Francois, Davis,
Jennings and Langan.
OPENING THE EXERCISES.
The exercises opened at 345 o'clock,
when Albert Davis, chairman of the
presentation committee. introduced the
Rev. j. L. Sweet, who offered an in
vocation. The reverend gentleman
prayed that the blessing of the AL
mighty would fall upon the doings of
the day. Led by Professor C. b. Der
man. who has been in charge of the
rehearsals, the pupils of the school
sang MY Country 'ris of Thee" The
singing was simply Il pretty scene in a
magnificent drama. Crowded around
the yet 1lagless pole the children sang.
Master George Marsh, age Is, an at
tendant at the school. made the address
OF welcome. The little fellow stood up
on q table and. though owing to the
noise, his voice could not possibly have
penetrated beyond the first twenty
rows, yet it was Il clever little speech.
He expressed the pleasure of his fell
low schoolmates and their teachers for
the gift. He also thanked the board
of control for the comfortable building
In which they are located.
After Master Marsh had concluded,
David j. Davis, orator for the camps,
made the presentation speech. Mr..
Davis is we'll known in pa riotic soci-
ETY. circles for his eloquence and power
of delivery. He won prize for speak,
ing at the Erie convention. His speech
yesterday was laden with patriotic
sentiments and 1t called for a compli-
mentary remark from Superintendent
Howell, who afterward spoke. After
the presentation speech the flag was
raised amid much enthusiasm.
THE FLAG ACCEPTED.
Superintendent Howell accepted the
flag in behalf of the public school or
ganzation of Scranton. His short ad-
dress was the most delicate Of the day.
He said. in beginning: God has made
in the sky no greater work Of art, no
grander sight than the uplifting of that
flag which We have seen today" During
the remainder of his talk he paid trib-
ute to Old Glory, said that it meant
more than a mere emblem for q coun-
try; 1t stood for a country's history, for
lives sacrificed in that countrys de-
fense, for struggles. and these strug-
giles, these sacrifices We're written in
the flags folds. WOrshippers of that
flag are not merely taught allegiance