The National tribune., 1896-11-05

Growing Demand for Patriotic Literature.
eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty"
Annie Wittenmyer's Call for Alert Patriot
ism.
FLAG SALUTE.
Ceremonies for the SchooIroom and Flag Raising
Outside.
Mrs, E. v. Sargent, Sandy Hill, N. Y, and
many others, are asking for the rituals Tor the
flag salute as given within the schooiroom anu
without =,
In Difference to these demands the flag drill
and salute, originating with Col. George I.
Balch aud largely in use in the schools OF this
country, where flag salute is used, is herewith
given. Following this is the ceremony TOT nag
raisings outside, over schoolhouses, or at poll
raisings, by Capt. Wallace Foster, Indianapolis
THE BALCH SALUTE.
The pupils having been assembled and being
seated and the flag borne by the standard bearer
being in front of school, at the signal (either by
q chord struck on the piano, or in the absence
of piano, from a bell, each scholar selzes the
seat preparatory to rising.
I'd Signal The whole school rises quickly, as
one person, each one standing erect and alert
Sd Signal. The right arm is extended, point
ing directly at the flag as the flag bearer
should be or the platform where all can see the
colors, the extended arm will be slightly raised
above a horizontal line.
4th Signal. The forearm is bent so as to touch
the forehead lightly with the tip of the fingers
of the right hand. The motion should be
quick, but graceful, the elbow being kept down
! and not allowed to stick out to the right. AS
the fingers touch the forehead, each pupil will
exclaim in a clear voice, We give our heads !"
emphasizing the word heads.
5th Signal. The right hand is carried quickly
to the left side and placed fiat over the heart
with the words "and our hearts" uttered after
the movement has been made.
L hand
| quickly, but easily, to the right SIDE AS soon
as the motion is accomplished all will say to
| our country"
9TH Signal Each scholar. still standing erect,
| but without moving, will exclaim: one
| country" Emphasis on country.
| 9Th Signal. The scholar, still standing notion
| less, will exclain: /" One language" Empha-
| sis on language.
9th Signal. The right arm is suddenly ex-
| tended to it's full length, the hand pointing to
| the flag, the body nclining slightly forward,
| supported by the right foot slightly advanced.
The attitude should be that of intense earnest
ness. The pupil reaches, as it were, toward the
flag, at the same time exclaiming with great
| force: lone fag!"
10th Signal. The right arm is dropped to the
side, aud the position of attention is recovered.
18th Signal. Each scholar seizes the seat pre-
paratory to turning it down.
10Th Signal. The school is seated.
Flag-bearer. The color bearer grasps the staff
at the lower end with his right hand, and a foot
or more according to tho length of the staff
above the end of the staff with his left hand.
The staff is held directly in front of the middle
of the body, slightly inclined forward from the
perpendicular. At the fourth signal the flag
| will be dipped, returning the salute; this is
done by lowering the left hand until the staff
is nearly horizontal, keeping it in that position
until the 10th signal, when it will be restored
to its first or nearly vertical position.
WALLACE FOSTER FLAG DRILL.
In using this ritual the Principal of school
i will appoint or detail one school standard
| bearer" aud four to six school c0lor-guards,"
| whose term of service will be one week. New
details are to be made on Monday mornings.
Standard-besrers and guards are to be selected
| as far as possible from scholars who I'LL the re.
auiremcnts of q good little citizen in dcport-
ment, ETC.
The duties of standard. bearer and color
| guard are displaying the flag at morning colors
and of striking it at evening colors. This is
executed in the following manner:
Fifteen minutes before the hour for opening
the school the assembly call will be sounded by
the drummer. At s:45 a.. m. the school stand
ard-bearer and bis guard will assemble at the
| Principals Office, and after selecting the flag
to be used for the day according to the state
of the weather.. will march in body by twos,
in an orderly manner, the standard-bearer in
|
foot of the flagstaff.
Arrived at the spot the flag will be properly
unrolied and attached to the halyards, with the
assistance of the guard. All being in readi-
ness, the colors will be hoisted to the staff head
by the standard bearer, and the halyards Sc
cured to the cleats.
This done. the stand ard bearer will give the
order, Salute the Flag" whereupon he, his
guard and all the scholars, who in the mean.
time have assembled on the lawn or sidewalk
will face towards the colOrs and salute them
the bows uncovering the head by lifting their
hat or cap in true American style, the girls sa
luting by respectful and graceful bending Of
the head and upper part Of the body, aud the
drummer beat the salute to the flag.
This act Of respect performed, the guard and
scholars will return to the main hall and join
their classes in time for the general assembly
of the school at a. N.
Five minutes before the hour for smissinf
the school the standard-bcarer and guarG
: should be permitted to leave their respective
classes and assemble in the hall, then march t.
! the foot of the flagstaff, detach the halyard
. from the cleats, and free the flag ready fol
hauling down. As soon as the great body o
children are outside of the building the faI
will be lowered by the color-bearer, and as i
E reaches the ground he will command, SALUTE
: the flag /" and all the scholars present will sa
lutte, as was done in the morning
The guard will then carefully fold and rol
mp the flag and carry it to the place of deposit
If it is wet it should be spread out to dry in
suitable place in the care of the janitor. Tn
school standard-bea should understand tina
upon him rests the responsibility of raising an
lowering the flag at the precise time appointed
no matter what may be the state of til
weather, as the whole school will hold hr
accountable for the fidelity with which tn
duties of the trust so imposed arc fulfilled.
Should the weather be stormy or unfavor
able it is not intended or expected that tn
school should take part in the exercses-onl
the standard bearer and guards
On all National holidays or State occasions
when the flag will be flying, it will be the dut
of the Standard bearer and guard to raise tn
flag in the morning and lower it in the even
ing at sundown or 6 o'clock p. m., and on Dect
ration Day raise the flag at half. mast and lowe
it at SHUTDOWN.
In the case of the death of scholar
teacher the flag of the school should be III
furled at half-mast as a mark of respect to til
memory of the scholar, teacher, or principa
The same honors should be generally observe
by all the schools in the death of a gener
officer of the schools, which would includ
10 members of the Board of School Commissioner
> High School, Public Library, ETC., the flag
I, flags remaining at half-mast until after ii
aI funeral.
SALUTE THE FLAG.
!, By Kate Bropnee Sherwood
s Hail, farest flag land ocean,
Setting all the world in motion!
., Awake! awakc
l. Salute the hag
ar Its stars so bright its stripes so fair;
es Awake. awake!