Evening star., 1900-06-14
HONOR THE FLAG
Children of Public Schools Engage
in Patriotic Observance.
ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL BANNER
Government and Business Buildings
Display the CoIors.
OLD GLORY IN THE AIR

The tiny voices of children were uplifted
in patriotic praise throughout the city
this afternoon, when. at l 80 o'clock, ex-
ercises commemorative of Flag day were
begun in all of the graded public schools.
For years past such services have been
held on June IA, the anniversary of the
adoption of the American tri-colored stand
ard the teachers having had a general
understanding in the matter. This year,
however. through the efforts of the Society
of the Sons of the American Revolution,
attention to Flag day and to the signifi-
canoe of it's celebration has been officially
directed by the school authorities. In con-
sequence the day has been suitably OBJ
served in all of the buildings and by all
grades of the public school system of the
District.
While to the schools has been left the
principal feature of the observance in
Washington. there are many evidences out
side the educational circles that the day
is not forgotten. The display of the ma
tional coors in Washington today is per-
haps greater than on any preceding Flag
day since the appropriate celebration of
the occasion was suggested by the pa
triotic societies. Flags are flying from
the staffs of practically every public build
ing in the capital, including all of the gov
ernment institutions and the mercantile
establishments. In many instances an
elaborate scheme Of decoration has been
followed out. and the entire fronts of
number of edifices mass of red white
end blue The artistic effect is quite beau
tiful in such instances.
On the streets many pedestrians are
wearing on their coat lapel miniature
silken flag starred and striped like the ma
tional ensign. All sorts of vehicles are
also displaying small flags.
On River Front.
tbo a
willing observers in the persons of ship
masters. Many of the vessels in the har-
Dor are gay in bunting. Three or four
large schooners are decked with the signal
flags of the international code, presenting
a picturesque and altogether beautiful ap-
pearance.
The institutions of the District govern
ment, the fire engine houses, police sta
tions. the municipal building and the public
schools are all flying their largest and new
est flags in honor of the day. Superintend-
ent Powell of the public schools issued yes
terday instructions to the teachers to call
attention in some manner to the anniver-
sary of the birth of the flag. leaving to
their discretion the method of celebration
and the manner of decorating. Through
DIR. F. r. Lane, director of the high
schools, the order was promulgated in the
higher institutions. DIR. Lane directed that
attention be called to the day at the begin
ming of the school session. and mat the
the teachers should be given just before the
close Of school hours. The interior and ex-
terror of most of the school buildings are
prettily decorated.
On the government buildings flags are
flying at each staff. over the main en-
trance of the State War and Navy building
an immense thirty-siX-foot ensign floats in
the humid summer breeze which is drifting
through the District today. 1t was run up
by direction of Superintendent Baird of the
navy. The Treasury Department is dis
playing some very handsome flags. In fact.
every structure occupied by any depart
ment or branch of the government service
Is today surmounted by the national ban
ner. in some instances by several. In
Vulnerable private residences are display
ing the flag, expressive of the patriotism
OF their occupants.
The School Programs.
In the public schools the programs for
the afternoon celebration were made up of
patriotic songs and recitations by the
pupils, and, In a majority of cases, an ad-
dress by teacher principal. In the
colored schools elaborate programs We're ar
ranged at each building. and a number of
well known speakers of the race We're in
vited to deliver the addresses. The colored
students We're most enthusiastic in their
exercises, and entered into the spirit of the
occasion with commendable vim and inter-
est. At all of the schools the salute to
the flag was feature of the ceremonies
The theme of teachers and invited speakers
was, of course, the flag. Its history was
recited and its full meaning explained.
1t was June A. 17T, when Congress
passed a resolution that the flag of the
United States should be thirteen stripes,
alternate white and red. that the union
should be thirteen stars (white) in a blue
field, representing new constellation
General Washington, Robert Morris and
Colonel Ross had been appointed com
mittee to consider the matter They took
a rough sketch of the proposed flag to
Mrs. Betsy Ross, proprietress of an uphol-
stery store in Philadelphia. The stars in
the original drawing were six-pointed or
English. Mrs. Ross changed them into the
hve-pointed French star. and so they have
remained ever since. The many beautiful
instances of love and patriotism that have
ever surrounded the ensign of the America
since that time were related to the school
children today. The child is naturally in
terested in stirring bits of history, and to-
day all paid the closest attention to what
was said to them by their teachers
Pupils Pledge Allegiance.
AT the Colored High School today the
program consisted of the singing of Amer
lea by the pupils number of recitations
and an address by Mr.. Lewis II. Douglass
The pupils made pledge of allegiance and
the exercises were closed with the singing
of the Star SpangIed Banner" Superin-
tendent G. F. T. Cook of the colored
schools has always taken great interest
divisions especially arranged and carefully
prepared programs have been given for
several years Among the outside speakers
In the colored schools were Dr. L. L.
Thomas, at the Garnet Mrs. j. NJ Layton,
at the Slater; James NJ. Ricks at the Ban
neker; Rev. D. f. Rivers. at the Jones:
Mrs. Rosetta Douglass Sprague at the
Douglass, and former Gov. P b. s. Pinch
back. at the Logan. where Capt T. S. Kel-
ly presented each pupil with a small flag
as he has done for the past few years.
A prayer for the country was offered in
most of the schools.
During lunch hour the employees of the
bindery OF the government printing office,
unoer direction Of Capt. Dennis Toomcy,
sans the Star Spangled Banner" during
which exercises hundreds of flags were
waved by the ladies. The Cowboys Quar-
tet sang several well-chosen, patriotic
songs, and there was a recitation, Our
Flag" by Mr.. Toomey, which received
great applause. The exercises closed with
A AsCNANGE' AKEAST