The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-01
Hon. PETER II. WENDovER.

A great deal has been said as to the history
of the first flag and Washington's connection
with the same, but no mention has been made
thus far in these columns of Peter II. Wendover,
of New York, who designed tho present flag
and drafted the bill which WAS adopted. 1t
will he remembered that the first flag had 70
stripes and - stars, and that the stars In the
blue field were placed in "a circular shape be-
ing l3 in number. This is the flag which was
used from June IA, III, to May ], 1875, and
was known as Wash!ngtons flag.
MAY /. 1895 was the date when the flag was
changed to ID stripes and 10 stars, in order to
represent the two new States which had been
aided to the original l3. This Is the Tag which
was used in the ar.of Sl2, and which Francis
Scott Key saw floating from Fort Mcileniy,
when he wrote The Star-spangled Banner"
1t was known as the Bradley flag.
As new States were added they also clamored
for representation as part of the Stars and
Stripes. But as there was no room for them
without destroying al harmony and proportion
OF the National emblem and making OF 1t
movable ensign. it was proposed by Hon. Peter
II. Wendover TO return to tic original IL stripes
and place a star in the field for every State IN
the Union or that might en- Ter the Union. This
bill which became a law June a. 1913, read as
follows:
aSec. !. Be it enacted that from and after
the 18th of July next the flag OF the United
1
and white; that the Union have 20 stars, white
| in blue field"
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted that on
| the adm mission of every new State into the
| Union one star may be added to the union of
| the flag; and that such addition shall take
effect on the Fourth OF July next succeeding
! each admission"
This flag is known as the Wendover flag, the
| flag which onr brave Union boys christened
| Old Glory in the great conflict of 1e6l'65.
An account has been given the Loyal lone
| Workers of the woman who made the list flag,
| and picture of her house as it now stands III
| Philadelphia has been printed. Herewith is
| given picture Of Mrs. Betsy Ross herself, in
| the costume of the Colonial period, the same
| costume which is seen in pictures of Martha
| Washington, and which, in its sweetness and
| simplicity would even now be fitting cost ume
for the daughters of Republic.
1t is known that Martha Washington, before
| the Revolution, wore the rich costumes of the
| court OF King George, but that after the Rev0-
| luton, and when the country became a Repub-
| lie she discarded her royal attire believing
| that in a Democracy where all classes are Oh
| AN equality before the law a simple style OF
dress should prevail. That George Washington
shared in this opinion is shown in the fact that
| his first inaugural suit was made OF wool,
sheared, dyed, woven, ana made into garments
at his home in Mount Vernon.
Mrs. Ross, who made the first flag for COM
| miitee consisting OF Gen. Washington, Robert
| Morris, the fnancier OF the Revolution. and
| George Ross, her uncle was then a pretty
| Young woman of % She it was who changed
| George Washiugi tone design of "a six-pointed
star to that of a fve-ponted one, cutting it
out in the presence of the committee with Il
single snip of her scissors showing her fine
sense of artistic proportions. Sho had an eye
| 10 business as well, having made the Govern
| mcnt flags for 90 years thereafter. She was
three times married, aud died in 1885, at the
age Of 81, at her home in Philadelphia.
THE BIRTH OF THE FLAG.
By Ola Bel Hotham.
written for THE NATIONAL TRIBuNE.)
| Apanippe of Heiicon. could but sip
| Thy clear flowing water. whose magic inspired
| Those who drank It OF old, might then write An
| ode
BY the power of the water agleam on my lip
| While my soul overfowed
| With passion swift swelling,
And the warm words gushcd forth too intense fol
calm telling.
But why write all this? am only n mortal.
Aud IS n mortal my verses must write;
tFor the days have gone by when the sons and the
daughters
Of HELMS DRINK deep of Boeotia's famed watcrs.)
And whether my words have the power to excite
As they would had drank OF Mount HeliconI
l still must speak on. We have now reached thu
| portal
Through which We must pass to the time which
| sing.
. The time which sing! Oh, that long ago time,
When the bright spring Of freedom all smiles
bnbbled up
! On the storm beaten shore. and with musica
chime
Ripr.ed with its message whose portent di
vine
Men heard with rapt souls! Then they lifted th
cup
Filled with water potent Il seemed like rar
wine,
And they drank and felt Liberty's Hfe-givin
thrills
= Arouse them TO passion.
. They looked on the spring-it had grown to al
: That never the might of the tyrant could bridge,
: Whose waves ridge upon ridge,
/. Flung themselves wrongs rocks with impetu
motion;
They locked on the sky aud they saw a brigL
fash ia