Middletown transcript., 1898-07-16
M1DDLETowN. DEL, JULY 16, 1898
THE STARS AND STRIPES.

1uOg&u W0 are LILO JOuuSCo' Va WV
great nations, our flag is older than
that of any of The others. That OF
England dates, in its distinctive form
Of thu union jack, from the formation
of the United Kingdom in 1901. The
French tricolor was adopted in 1874. |
The German and Italian banners are
no older than the existing regimes of
those countries, and the Spaniards first
established theirs in 1855.
The flag used by Washington in IT'S.
at Dorchester Heights was called the
Benjamin Franklin flag, having been
desigred by him. 1t had thirteen
stripes, red and white, blue field with
the st. Andrews cross (white) and the
st. George, cross (red.)
Paul Jones made the first public use
Of the present national flag. He ran it
up to the masthead of the Ranger at
Portsmouth, and put to sea at once to
prove himself terror to English mer-
chantmen.
The flag was first raised IN land dur
ing the campaign resu lting in the cap
ture of Philadelphia by Howe.
The flag was first saluted by for
eign power at Quiberon Bay, France,
February IA, ITS. The salute was
given by Admiral la Motto, represent
ing the French government, and the
flag was aboard the Ranger, Paul Jones,
captain.
Our flag was FIRST displayed in British
ports on the ship Bedford of Massa-
chusetts, Capt. Moore. in the Downs,
February 3, 1888.
The blue flag with white stars is the
union jack. When it is hOisted at the
bow of one of our men of-wdr in port,
| it is a sign that the vessel is in ship
shape.
Betty Ross. who made the flag which
was designed by Washington, chose the
five-pointed star, because shp was too
patriotic to use the six-pointed one,
which is displayed in English heraldry.
Tie six-pointed star is seen on our
coins.
Reckoning from the date of lis birth,
June IA, 1777, our national colors are
in their one hundred and twenty second
year.
The observance of the anniversary of
the origin of the American flag began
in 1886 and originated in Boston.
By an old law of Congress the star of
new State can only be added to the
flag on the Fourth of July following its
admission.
MANUFACTURE AND USE OF THE
FLAG.
The regulation government flag,
which flies from every government
building in the nation, is five feet six
inches long by two feet four inches
wide.
All the flags used by the United
States navy are manufactured at the
Brooklyn navy yard The fag-makers
are now SO busy that work is going on
night and day with double forces of
workers. In times Of ..eace the meas.
uring room is used as ballroom by
the officers Of The Brooklyn navy yard.
The best quality of bunting for flags
is made of alpaca wool, the thread of
which is very long, aud makes in con.
sequence, a very strong thread in weav-
irg, Which is not easily frayed by the
wind.
Formerly all The flags was made by
hand, but nov the long stripes are
: sewed together on machine; all the
stars are put on by baud and certain
number of stitches are used for each
point, and the star-stitcher must not
vary from this mathematical accuracy
There is no right or wrong side to a
l flag, therefore every fig needs ninety
two stars-folty-si for each side.
: Thirty stars are cut out at a time with
a cold chisel and big iron-bound
mallet.
For many years Ben Butler manu-.
faetured very fine bunting at Lowell
Mass. He did not make Old Glory
but he made the buntir g for it, and
the manufacturers used to say" Butler
. shows he's patriot by his bunting
r it never Sits"
9 There are three ways Of making
Q flags; they are wJven, printed on fast
presses like newspaper, or sewed.
r The cheapest flag is made Of muslin
Two by three inches, and costs only i
S cents gross.
j. The most expensive flag is made o.
e silk, about forty feet by sixty feet, ant
v costs 500. A number of flags cos
2 $3.50 and $500 and you can pay $1,000
g for one. A man in Texas, who wa
S worth half million, once proposed t,
3 have flag made which should TAX
! half his fortune, to show his respect TO
Q the colors of the country, where he hat
: found prosperity.
: FLAG RECORDS.
3 Americans buy $4,000, 900 stars AM
stripes eash year, and more than 100,
- - 000.0 900 flags are displayed on th
:. Fourth of July. Fully a million dis
O appear every year. Nobody know
= where they 90 to. Like Mr.. Isaaci
they 60 into the "cold clear night.
and that is sll that any body seems t
know.
Western cities buy more flags tha
!. eastern towns, and Chicago never hs