The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-03

tors. As / entered the ground 1 saw
a large group assembled around an old
tomb of Mary Chiffon, the first white
woman that ever set foot on American
SOIL. Each head was bowed in respect
OF her whose sacred ashes were undis-
turbed. A policeman gave me a piece
or the tomb hat had fallen off.
looked around far my g~reat-grand
motners grave, and under the shadow
OF the old Kings Chapel. / found it.
The slab was worn n gray. 1t had
STOOD the tempest of ages, a monument
to her who. while here on earth, had
done her duty nobly and well.
i kneeled and wept and mourned for
her who had administered to the wants
OF those who will never be forgotten
In the old colonial times. when hard
ships and privations stared them in the
face. She. too, had been loyal to the
odd Flag" the stars and stripes. She
was born in Boston in 1857, as was also
my grandmother. I have her old smell
ing bottle, and carry the same name,
Jane" that has been handed down in
our family for five generations. My
grandfather fought in the war of 1872,
and my husband i'm the late American
war with the boys in blue. With health
impaired, he proudly returned owing
"Old Glory" with the same ardor our
ancestors loved the same old flag. and
III my father a not been a cripple for
life, he, too, would have thought IL the
greatest honor on earth to have de-
Tended the stars and stripes that our
loved, our nobl relative, Betsy Ross"
designed and made. and continued to
make for go years of her life.
III war should be declared let us
never falter. but give the cup of cold
water to those who are thirsty and
weary a days march nearer home.
When we shall bivouac upon the other
shore and see tho hosts that hox-, .lo-.
in prison pens n unknown raves"
bhen shall their memory be sweeter as
we see ngel choristers and hear them
singing my Country IT'S of Thee"
and above them all shall noat a ban
ner. the stars and stripes. / fancy /
hear all heaven welcome them and
there shall be one, a beautiful woman,
clad in a white robe, bearing in her
hand a banner with the words, Betsy
Ross, the nations friend"
EMILY ROSS PERRY.
The stars and stripes of to-day is a
growth from an inspired birth. The
flag came into existence on June Ia.
1117, one year after the battle of Lex
ington, n the place of it's birth was
the hous of Mrs. Betsy Ross, at 239
Arch street, Philadelphia, a two-story
structure, that is still standing and
looks good for another hundred years
of life. The house was built in 1852. and
N"N "a oNOllI IT'D
material that was in use by the builders
of those days. But the subject is the
flag and not Betsy Ross house, al
though the latter is interesting enough
in its different way.
In the spring of 1777. a committee
was appointed by congress ito design a
suitable flag for the nation" Accom-
panied by General Washington, the
committee visited Mrs. Betsy Ross and. |
giving her as a model a pencil sketch
made by Washington, they requested
her to make a flag in accordance with
the design. Betsy Ross assisted the
committee with suggestions of her
own, and when the result of the COM
bination of ideas was submitted TO con-
gress. the latter adopted it at once as
the flag of the union.
The act by which the flag made by
Betsy Ross was chosen as the emblem
of the United States is as follows:
Resolved, That the flag of the 10
United States be 10 stripes, alternate
red and white, with 13 stars. white in
a blue field"
An act. passed by congress on ApriI
4. 1918, provided that on the admission
to the union of a new state one star
should be added to the flag, the addi-
ton to be made on the Fourth of July
Following the admission of the state.
flag represent the original number of
n the stars the number of
comprising the union.
When General Washington first met
Betsy Ross she was a sweet-faced
who conducted a dressmak-
ing establishment in Philadelphia DUR
ing the week and on Sundays attended
the Quaker meeting place in the neigh
borhood of her home. She was an ac-
complished needlewoman, and Wash
employed her TO make the fine
embroidery that was worn as shirt ruf-
Hes nv tho HlnhfpG nf thAaa lnn
1t was at the suggestion of Betsy
Ross that George Washington and the
members of the flag committee hanged
he six-cornered star to a fve-cornered
)ne. Betsy pointed out that the star
With the six corners was the emblem in
use by the English heralds, while the
1~ve-cornered star was favored by the
French, Dutch and Germans. When
committee had agreed upon every
ietail of the design for a flag. Betsy
Ross was told to go on with the work.
In May, l17I. congress made an order
IN the treasury to pay Betsy Ross eIi
rs. I'd. for flags for the fleet in the
river. She then received the
to make all the government
and held it for many years. One
II her daughters, Mrs. Clarissa Wilson,
to the business. and contin-
led making iags for the arsenal and
yard for a while, but, being a
Friend. and consideration on the subject
war, she gave up the government
'ontracts, but continued the manufac-
ure of flags for the merchant; marine.
Betsy Ross was married three times.
Ter third husband being John Claypoie.
descendant OF Oliver Cromwell. Her
maiden name was Grisccm. Her grand
Andrew Griscom, brought over
tricks from England. and with them I
'uilt the first brick building in Phila- ]
From authentic sources IL !
.ppears that Betsy Ross before her
enjoyed a national reputation I
5 the finest needle worker in America. |
Mention Of the stars and stripes as I
coat-of-arms was BIZ {