The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-10-24
be considered incapable Of natntion.
are in reality quite respectable per-
mers.-Peterson's Magazine.
HOLD OF THE FLAG ON THE HEART
Meaning OF stars and Stripes when Seen
Mt Rome After "a Long Absence

mt Rome After "a Long Absence.
How many people fully realize what
the flag of their country means to
them? How many know the place 1t
actually holds in their affections? 1t
may be safely said that the number
Is very small. One has to be away
from home to get the full meaning OF
1t. Here, where the flag Is every
where, It is treated more or less light
ly; Indeed, the average man gives it
no thought at all. A traveller, Morgan
Williams of Chicago, recently dis
courscd entertainingly on this sub
ject II was just after the relief of the
legations Mt Pekin.
Il can at least partially appreciate
the thrill that the first sight of the
Stars and Stripes floating over the
relieving force gave the Americans
who had been waiting so long for sue
cor" he said. "Of course, never was
hemmed in for weeks by n cruel horde
as they We're, and the flag could not
have the same significance for me,
but had been for year without the
sight of IL and when my gaze first
rested on II / had to gulp down some
thing that rose In my throat. When |
left home had about the same rever-
ence for II that the average American
has, and while | was travelling really
hadn't given II much thought. | had
no special longing to see It; at least
no such idea had been formulated in
my mind. Nor had | been especially
homesick. OF course, a man who has
been long away wants to get back to
bis native country, but | was used to
travelling and took my enforced alb
srnce phllosophically.
ON this occasion ! had been In Afrl-
ca. not In the wllds. you understand,
but still far enough away from the
usual corusc of travel so that my
eyes had ut no time lighted on the
lag that previously had been most
familiar to me. II so happened that
| lid not see Il until ! reached Paris
IN my way home | saw other flags,
but not thu stars and Stripes and, as
| snid before. | was not looking for II
and was not conscious of any anxiety
to see 1t. | &uew that | wanted to get
hack to the United States. Then sud
denly one day the old flag met my
gaze. There was sLme sort of Ameri-
can celebration IN Paris. and the Red
Write and 2luc was waving from a
window. | stood stock still for Il
pi'nute, while u lump rose In my
throat; then | Jumped into the street
threw my hat up in the air and gave
wild. Western yell that must have
made the nh ives think | was crazy.
II was only piece of bunting, of
course, but | never saw anything be-
fore or since that 80 thrilled me. !
simply couldn't help yelling, and 1t
was immaterln, 10 me how big fool
seemed to make OF myself so long ms
G1ve that flag enc good rousing
cE er.
"That's why | say that the man who
has never been away from the flag is
unable to appreciate what 1t means to
him or the affection that he really
feels for It. One must see 1t In a
foreign land to gain any conception Oh
the hold IL has on his heart. And If
the mere sight of 1t so affected me
under these circumstances what must
glimpse of 1t mt the head of Il relief
column have meant to the Americans
In Pekin? II was more than the mere
assurance of relief, and | venture to
say that the hest of them never Will
be able to put their feelings into words.
There nI, some emotions that are be-
yound description, and principal
among them are those inspired
In the breast of true
patriot by the first glimpse of
the flag Of his country after he has
been long time without seeing K or
when il comes as banner of hope in
time Of danger and privatlon."-New
York Sun.