The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-20

A handsome American flag, 1Ox15 feet
in size, was raised to the top of an
eightyfive foot Flagstaff at No. %
school on Wyoming avenue, Green
Ridge, yesterday afternoon. The flag
was presented to the children of the
school by Lieutenant Ezra Griffin post,
G. a. r., and it was raised with i'm
pressively appropriate exercises.
No. 2S school was recently rebuilt
and is now a commodious and hand
some structure with the most up-to-
date ideas in school building incorpor-
ated in it. over 400 pupils are enrolled
in the building.
The greater part of the exercises took
place in the main corridor on the first
floor of the building, which is large
enough to seat several hundred per-
sons. The attendance exceeded the ac
Commodations.
Soon after 9 o'clock the members Of
Griffin post, headed by the Thirteenth
Regiment drum corps, arrived at the
school. Several of the members of the
post carried the flag. At 2.30 Prof, II.
l.. Burdck, principal of the school,
opened the exercises and announced
that the school children would sing
Freedom and Union" A prayer by
the chaplain of the post, Rev. Mr..
Scott, of Elmhurst, followed.
EX-Sheriff A. +. Stevens, commander
of Griffin post, was then introduced by
Prof. Burdick and on behalf of the
post presented the flag to the children
of the school. In starting he referred
to the fact that there had been some
adverse criticism on the action of the
board of control in rebuilding the
school, but after a serious considera-
| tiOn of the matter he was convinced
that the very best thing under the cir
Cumstances had been done by the
board.
\ PATRIOTIC EFFORT.
His address was an intensely patri-
otic effort. He eulogized General Grant
| and said that in every school in this
| country his life should he carefully
| studied. The public school pupils
| should also be taught the nature of our
| country and its institutions, together
| with the privileges that are guaran-
| teed by our constitution, to the end
| that they may become better and more
! patriotic citizens.
do all our teachers understand our
! government; are they prepared tc
! teach the pupils their rights and privi-
| leges in this great land?" he asked
| But teachers are not the only ones
| who do not always understand and
appreciate the constitution. There are
a great many men who would deny
| their neghborS equal rights and
| privileges because of difference in re.
| ligiOus belief. These men in many
| cases are sincere and honest, but they
| do not know our government or the
| spirit of our institutions. ! would have
the teacher tell the pupil the cause oi
the late war and the great principle:
| then fought for and | would say to tn,
board of control that if the teacher!
do not give attention to teaching th'
rights and responsibilities of citizen
ship the coming voter will not be abb,
to exercise his rights intelligently a
either primary or election
we hear every now and then tn,
idle babble that the old soldier is loot
ing the treasury l do not look upol
the men who were disabled for life il
the service of their country as lOoter
or beggars; they are the preferred
creditors of this great nation and s.
every patriotic citizen considers them.
THE FLAG PRESENTED.
In presenting the nag to the chfldrei
Mr.. Stevens said: Let us teach then
to love, honor, cherish and protect tha
flag in the future as those who cam
before them did in the past" A reel
| to s'1tba Eloor ,Noc criN-.r in riY
tied manner by Master Walter Stevens
the 7-year-old nephew of Commando
| Stevens.
y. J. Jennings, president of the boar
of control received the flag on behal
Of the children and the board. He re
ferred elouuently to the flag and wha
it stands for and the necessity of cul
tivating a love and reverence for it ii
the young. He praised the energy Con
troller Charles S. Jacobs showed il
securing such a model structure an
said the adverse criticism occasionally
heard against the erection of fine schoC
buildings comes from persons who ar
not acquainted with the subject c
modern school construction.
Professor George Howell and Georg
Mitchell, CX-prcsident of the board o
having not only substantial but ornat
school buildings where pupils who's
home surroundings or environment
are not of the best may get ideas o
culture.
After these remarks the children an
spectators repaired to the open al
where the children gathered around tn
flag pole, the members of the pos
forming a line in the roadway facin
the poll. The big flag was raised b
little Everett Jacobs, son of Scho
Controller Jacobs, and as it climbe
l the mast the children sang the "Sta
Spangled Banner" The open air exel
, Ciscs closed with the salute to Il
: flag.
ANOTHER PRESENTATION.
After those present had returned |
the building the exercises We're resun
ed. Miss Florence NJ. Bower, on beha
of the class of '9S of the school,
= which she is a member presented
silk flag for Grammar A room in
very neat address. The response VIZ
i by Professor Burdick, who accept,
the flag for the room.
Il (nbaV ,,nr,haYo 81.