The herald., 1896-06-28

must have played no part in the make
up of the hardy statesmen of those Gays.
and their courage in hosting banner
in which the number thirteen was SO
conspicuous has been proven by history
to have been well directed.
Since March 1, factories all over the
country have been turning out flags at
a terrific rate. The Fourth of July al
ways means a busy time for nag manu-
facturers, but this year there is an un-
usual impetus to the business, for not
only is there a national campaign on,
but a brand new flag is to be presented
to the country. The white star which
represents the new state of Utah and
which makes the forty-fifth in the blue
field, will be officially added to the flag
on July 4th. Utah has been state for
some months, but by long established
law of congress- the star OF a new state
can only be added to the flag on the
Fourth of July following it's 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 viii first see the light
of day on Saturday next. The new regu-
lation 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 -thirty-second inches The
decoration of the top of the staff 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. The
new design places the forty-fifth stal
in the third row, making the first, third
and fifth rows consist of eight stars
each, and the second, fourth and sixth
of seven each.
OF MISTY ORIGIN
Much of definite character pertain
ing to the origin of the Stars and Stripes
has been lost in the comparatively brief
space of time which has elapsed since
the inception of the flag. Who origin
ated the design is a matter of conjecture
and this fact, or lack of fact, HAS beer
seized upon by fanciful minds to weave
many pretty stories. Every school boy
is familiar with the dainty tale de-
scribing the vision of the fu-
ture 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 connec,
that christening robe with the delibera-
tions of congress on the subject. An
other claims that the family crest of tho
WaShingtonS, with it's stripes and three
fiye-pointed stars at the top had con
siderable to do with the design of the
flag. Washington, however, was mod
est man and was not in the habit of pa.
rading his familys glory before the ma
tion so it is quite probable that this was
merely coincidence.
Long before the war of the revolution
the powerful East India company o
London had established a trade post OF
Manhattan island, and the flag of thi
concern had thirteen stripes, alternat