The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-04
Origin Of the Stars and
Stripes and the Part
Played by Beauti-
full Betsy Ross.


Its mute eloquence needs no aid to in
terpret its significance Fidelity to the
Union blazes from its stars, allegiance
to the government beneath which we
live is wrapped in its folds.-IIdward
Everett Hale.
When Widow Ross made the original
flag of this nation she was young and
handsome, the mother of two bright
children, and her home was in Arch
street in the city of Philadelphia. The
manner in which she received the COM
mission, the success with which she
carried out its details, and the general
praise awarded her skill. are all mat
tiers of history-and it is a history
worth the telling.
The beautiful supplement given with
today's Herald by one of Chicago's
most brilliant artists, portrays fully
the fitting climax to the making end
''borth of the American flag"
1t is a proud moment for the Win
some widow, now affectionately known
by the people whose flag she wrought.
as Betsy Ross. The committee ap-
pointed by congress, having no less a
person than the father of his country"
for chairman. with Colonel Ross and
Robert Norris as other members, were
grouped about her. the sun streaming
in upon the silken folds of the new flag
causing its bars and stars to glisten
and reflect in the polished fiooor of
the quaint old room.
The artist, John A. Hagstrom, pic
lures an impressive scene. 1t is evil
dent that George Washington was
pleased with the flag. History hints
that he made the sketch of Mrs. Ross
to work by and there is no word to be
found indicating that any change was
made from the original finished flag,
unfurled by the widow. he seems to
have met the exact requirements of the
committee and in return for their wrapt
interest in the result of her handiwork
her face beams with gentle satisfaction.
1t was on Saturday, June Il, IVY, that
the American congress passed a resolu-
ton STIMULATING the specifications of a
national flag. The resolution recited
that the flag of the thirteenth United
States be thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white; that the Union be thirteen
stars with a blue field, representing
new constellation
This has been accepted as having
been the first legislative action of which
there is any record for the establish
ment of national flag. 1t is not re-
corded that any discussion or debate
ATTENDED this action, a. seems that
the Stars and Stripes became officially
the distinguishing feature of the en-
blem of the republic without any def
mite premonitory signs. The birth of
the idea OF the flag is shrouded in more
mystery than its adoption. The earliest
suggestion of stars as a device Cor the
emblem, is found in poem published
in the Massachusetts Spy on March 10,
IVA. in which is the line The American
ensign now sparkles a star" The first
instance known of the use of the tfir-
teen stripes upon an American ban
ner is found upon standard presented
to the Philadelphia Troop of Light
Horse in 1775, and which is now in the
possession of that troop.
There are many theories as to the ORR
gin of the suggestion that these two
ideas should be combined in the en-
blem. Some have supposed that the ar
rangement of stripes was borrowed from
the Dutch, or from the designating
stripes on the coats OF the Continental
soldiers. Others have asseted that both
stars and stripes were suggested by
the coat OF arms of Washington. which
contained both. A less practical ex-
PLANTATION is contained in the theory of
one writer. who said:
Every nation has its symbolic en-
sign-some have beasts, some birds,
some fishes, some reptiles-in their ban
ners. Our fathers chose the stars and
stripes-the red telling of the blood
shed by them for their country; the
blue, of the heavens and their protec-
ton; and the stars, of the separate
states embodied in one nationality, e
PluriDus Unum.'"
There IS no accompanying data which |
make satisfactory any of these expla- I
nations, or the countless others which /
have been advanced at various times.
The truth probably is that the whole
was blending OF the various flags used