The Van Buren press., 1900-06-30
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Oriuin of the Flag of the United
States-Maker of the First
"OId Glory"

On June IA, 1777, the continental
congress in session in independence
hall, Philadelphia, passed a resolution
declaring that the flag of the United
States be 13 stripes, alternating red
and white that the union be 13 stars,
white in a blue field, representing
new constellation" The origin of the
stars is uncertain 1t is said by some
to have been due to three stars in
Washington's coat-of-arms. More
probably it arose from some patriotic
speech or poem of the time, in which
appeared the very natural comparison
of the rising states with the stars OF
new constellation. 4
The story of Betsy Ross has been
often told, yet, says the Chicago
Standard, it deserves to be remem-
bcrcd, as one Of the great services
rendered by women to the cause OF
liberty The story goes-and it is
probably authentic in its main fea-
tures-that shortly after the passage
of the resolution by congress com
mittee, appointed to attend to the
manufacture of flags after the pat
tern adopted, sought the humble
abode of Mrs. John Ross, familiarly
known as Betsy" for that purpose.
The house is still standing in Arch
street, Philadelphia. Mrs. Ross was
hag-maker to the government; and as
many important things were done, in
those days, in low-ceiled rooms, with
rag carpets and humble furniture. the
committee, accompanied by Gen.
Washington, probably felt no lessen.
ing of their dignity in this visit They
explained to Betsy he new design,
which she readily comprehended, and
then left her to her great task. Did
Betsy know how great n thing she
was making as she stitched the
stripes and stars of bunting in their
place? Was II iust 80 ordinary job
of sewing, or did she have prophetic
glimpse of far distant scenes of tri-
umph where that flag and Others like
it were to float? Nobody knows. But
the flag was soon made, and was hoist.
ed on the flagstaff above old Inde-
pendence hall Our national fortunes
were made. We had flag.
The flag with the 13 stripes and the
10 white stars in circle on n blue
field was carried all though the war
and for years afterward. When states
began to be added to the union, how
ever, the number 13 became less APP
propriate. 1t was felt that the new
states might regard themselves as
sighted IL they had no recognition
in the national colors. So in 1705 two
new stars and stripes were added, for
the new states Of Vermont and Ken
tucky; and in following years the
same process was continued as the
nation grew, until in 1918 the flag
had become somewhat distorted. II
had 90 stripes as well as 20 stars, and
its shape was therefore less graceful
Congress decided, therefore, by reso-
luton approved by President Monroe,
April 4, 1918, that the stripes should
be reduced to the original 10, while
the stars should be increased in nun.
Der from time TO time as new states
were added, This arrangement was
suggested by Capt Samuel c, Reid,
veteran of the war Of 1912, This
flag was first displayed on the capitol
at Washington April 10, 1915 The
plan has been unchanged since that
time, but stars have been rapidly
added, until the number Is now As.
After the admission OF new state,
the addition of the star is made on
the following Fourth of July; that is,
IL is on that day that all the army
posts, the government vessels and the
public buildings all over the countr,
first hoist the new flag.