The record-union., 1897-02-20


| The room was crowded to its utmost
capacity. The exercises were carried
out according to the programme pub
lished heretofore in the Record I'm
ion" and without particle of friction.
| 1t was notable that the children took
| deep interest in all that went on,
amounting at times to enthusiasm. The
| programme possessed the high merit OF
not being too long and not too heavy
and of being Tree from rigid formaEty.
One feature in it was cery beautiful
and inspiring. 1t seems that some time
ago the boys and girls resolved to
| buy for the school a handsome new
American flag. They each contributed
one cent. that being resolved upon that
| there should be a feeling of perfect
equality of interest in the flag. In the
midst of the programme this flag was
! dedicated. The ceremony was moved
and very beautiful, and the spirit and
interest manifested by the children was
something to inspire older hearts and
make hearts beat faster.
The flag bearers mounted chair, and
as they looeened the ribbons holding its
folds, and waved it from handsome
polished staff, the entire school arose
and saluted "Old Glory" first with the
hand to the forehead palm down, next
with the right arm extended forward
and upward the palm of the hand up
ward, then with three or four appro-
pirate gestures, while the lads floated
the stars and stripes over their heads,
and all the children recited the dedi-
cation:
Il pledge allegiance to my flag and
the Republic for which it stands.
I'VE give our hearts to God and our
country.
| One country, one language, one flag.
Fling forth the banner and let it
rise.
Cheer, oh cheer, as it spreads to the
| skies.
"Hurrah; Hurrah, for our school and
our country's cause
| AS the last word was uttered the chill
dren with spirit and enthusiasm united
their voices in a patriotic song.
| The scene was so dramatic and in
| spring, SO genuine ,and sincere, that
]. \. Woodson, who had been selected
to speak to the children, discarded his
prepared effort, took fire from the
scene and told the children the story
of Virginia girl who many, many
years ago married a young Virginia
| farmer a soldier of the Republic.
Within a few days after the wedding
| the young man was taken captive by
the British and confined in an old
building far down the James River as
as prisoner Of war.
There he lay many weary months,
csin irin RIIf
| bride, resolved to minister to him,
mounted the family horse and without
side-saddle or bride rode almost 100
miles, alone, by might and by day, to
reach her husband The British Off
GERS were so impressed by the courage
and devotion of the beautiful young
woman, that they secured parole for
the soldier and sent the young couple
| away rejoicing.
In a few days thereafter there was
born to them a son. The great grandson
of that boy, a mere lad, many years later
was taken by the hand to the tomb at
Mount Vernon, and there looking down
through the iron grating of the old gate
in the brick arched way upon the dust
of Washington, the story of the war for
freedom was told over to him. and the
recital made of the part his family had
in it. There the first principles of pat
riotism and loyalty to his country and
its flag were instilled into his heart And
mind.
The speaker felt that as he was that
lad, he had right to boast that he was
an American, and be proud of his coun-
try He wanted every boy and girl to
81 10 oIr. 70
true and loyal to the death. to the sacred
obligation they had just taken beneath
the folds of the stars and stripes.
He then explained in simple terse SEN
tences, what Government is, the neces-
sity for Government; the distinction be-
tween being ruled and being governed; ;
the Necessity for obedience to law as Sc
curity for our liberties, and the solemn
duty of all to obey the laws and respect
constituted authority. These things
were made as lucid for the children as
possible by the speaker; very homely il
lustrations by and comparisons being
made with things rules and conditions
with which children are familiar in their
homes and in the school.
SUFFER- GRAMMAR.
LeSSOilS Vi dlliOllSfil lIolli tie Lille
of George Washington" was the subject
of the address delivered before the
pupils of the Sutter Grammar School
by Grove F. Ekins, General Secretary of
the Y. NJ. C. A. He said:
When we turn back the pages of seW
|country's history and live over again the
days of our grandfathers we catch a lit
tie of their spirit of patriotism and are
bitter citizens thereafter. BY compar
ing the inauguration Of General Wash
ington to the Presidency with the inau-
uration Of Major Mckinley about to take
place we realize more fully our indebted
ness to revolutionary patriotism for our
progress. Patriotism blossomed in its
purity and fullness in the life of him
whose birth we are now celebrating.
Washington was a patriotic boy. He
was not a prodigy, but boy with all the
vim of life and the ambitions of a boy
plucky and honest Boy patriotism con-
sists in doing the boys tasks whether
work or play in an honest, straightfor-
ward way"
The speaker then drew a picture of
Braddock's defeat in the wilderness and
Washington's mastery ability in cover
ing the retreat Of the English army,
showing his unselfish spirit and heroic
action.
He then spoke of Washingtons do
mestic life at Mount Vernon as "the life
of a good public-spirited, private citi-
zen; a prosperous farmer and a perfect
gentleman who esteemed public duty be-
fore private gain. Washingtons life as
Commander-in-Ch of the American
army, was a constant fight against odds
He fought not only against the great
est and most powerful country on earth,