The times., 1901-06-15
HAIL TO THE STARRY FLAG
Old Glory's Proud Natal Day Fit
tingly CommemOrated.

Young and Old Acclaim the Emblem
of Freedom, Which Has Waved
Triumphant in WHr and Now
FIoaIs UnsuIIicd in Days of Peace.
All Washington yesterday paid homage
| to Old Glory. IT was Flag Day. the 0c-
casion set aside in COmmemoration OF the
date upon which Congress officially adopt
ed the Stars ard Stripes as the national
emblem, and the Capital was ablaze with
the red, white, and blue. The threaten
ing skies and drizzling atmosphere failed
to flch from the banner any of its beauty
and as though proud Of the natal OcCa-
siou's anniversary it fared from petard
| and fluttered from tower that all people
might see 1t and admire.
Nearly every citizens coat lapel con-
tanned a tiny tri-color in honor of the day,
I while thousands of children displayed
miniature banners. Few windows were
without some semblance of the flag. The
eye greeted it everywhere. People of
every class and nationality freely did
homage to it. On this one day In the year
the true meaning of the starry bit Of
bunting which has done so much to
make America the foremost continent and
the United States the greatest country
in the world was made apparent. Flags
have flown on other occasions, but on
this the banners were eloquent.
Aside from few business blocks on
Pennsylvania Avenue and + Street the
glad colors were everywhere Some build
ings were masses of stars and stripes. but
nearly all had flag. great or small In
the residential sections the desire for
general display was really gratified, as few
opr f,Ia Of - 10
The desire Of the founders Of the day was
gratifed to a full measure yesterday, and
all the world might have gazed in amaze
ment at the proud display of the national
flag made in Washington alone.
Nearly 5000 school children paid tribute
to the flag in the local public schools dur
ing the afternoon. Patriotic music and
flag OratOry were the features. The halls
In which the exercises were held were
ablaze with flags and each scholar was
presented with a little banner. These
were used with striking effect during the
saiutes to the flag, with which, in each
case, the ceremonies were closed. = Grand
Army veteran was detailed to address each
OF the schools, and the children were
taught reverence and patriotism by the
men who had taken arms that Old Glory
remain unsulied. The addresses teemed
with good advice and sound American
sentiment, calculated To bOde i'll 10 anyone
free
The exercises at the National Theatre
last night We're the climax of the pro-
gramme in honor Of the emblem of the
Republic, the first formal observance of
Flag Day in which the citizens Of the
Capital have participated. In its most
gorgeous and spectacular display of cal
cum light ana color and stage hXingS,
the playhouse never presented Il prettier
or more attractive appearance than that
which was beheld last night in its dec
oratIOnS Of red white, nd blue. In grace
ful folds the starry banner was suspended
from the balconies, festoOned in tastefus
designs upon the boxes and draped upon
the stage, where there sat nearly 800 chill
dren from the graded schools Of Wash
mStOn, who waved their flags in widest
prOfusion at every mention of the national
emblem. These little ones. dressed in
gowns of white and holding alOft the
cOlOrs, formed a beautiful background to
the stage setting, with the representa-
tiveS of the Government and the dis
tinguished citizens Of the city occupying
seats before the footlghts Of red. white,
and blue. With the spirit Of enthusiasm
and patriotic fervor they sang the
tiOnal anthems while the audience saluted
and cheered the bit of bunting which
stands for American liberty and its In
stitutiOns.
The ceremonies were most imposing and
intended TO inspire respect and love for
the CoUntry's flag. There vas no more
impressive part OF the programme than
that in which Hilary 4. Herbert, ex-Sec-
retary Of the Navy, was the central fig
ure. He spoke as an ex-Confederate sol
dicr who had fought against the flag
which he was last night called upon 20
honor
There was almost breathIess hush over
the house as he began by telling of the
day in 1862 when, z Confederate prisoner,
he had been asked by a Union officer to
attend church where the Union flag was
displayed. 4 refused 10 enter" said Mr..
Herbert, "and returned to my cell. I
thought of the Romans marching their
prisoners under the yoke, as token of
sUbjugation. and ! looked upon the offer
to march me under that flag as a DELHI
crate insult l was sensitive. taking UNI
bragg perhaps where none was intended;
but | was prOud-prOud as LuCifer-prOud
of the Confederate flag and fully deter
mined never to acknowledge allegiance to
the flag of the Union. Little did I think,
then Mr.. Chairman. that the day was
coming when l should accept gladly, as
have accepted from you, an invitation to
do honor to that flag. and that l should
come to say, as ! do here tonight That
is my banner; l am proud Of 1t as it floats
on land and sea; proud OF II as the en-
blem Of the might and majesty Of a re
united Republic
This expression on the part of former
foe Of the flag was received with an ex-
preston Of applause which interrupted the
speaker for several minutes. 1t was just
the sort of sentiment which the audience
wanted TO hear.
The programme Of the evening began
with SOusas march, THE Stars and
Stripes Forever" rendered by the full
Marine Band under the direction Of Lieut..
| w. II. Santelmann, which was followed
by the invocation by the Rev. Dr. Teunis
s Hamlin. AS befitting to the occasion
the children sang America to the ac-
compartment of the Marine Band, and
as they concluded there marched from
the wings to the centre OF the stage, from
opposite sides. a squad Of artiilerymeu
| from the barracks, and one marine, bear
| ing two huge flags and planted their en-
/ blems side by side Then the children
| and the band rendered Our Flag" con-
Guiding with the salute repeating in uni
son as they did SO: We pledge allegiance
! it stands; one nation, inseParable, with
| liberty and justice for all
ChaDin Brown, Chairman of the EVeCu-
/ tive Committee. which arranged the pro-
gTamme for Flag Day. and under whose
auspices the exercises were held then in
! troduced Commissioner If. B. r. Macfar-
land IS the chairman Of the evening. In
! doing so Mr.. Brown spoke of the inau-
guration Of the movement. which had re-
/ suited in the observation OF the day, and
| said that the result showed that the
| spirit and sentiment of the people were
! in accord with the object
| While We have no stronger basis or
/ foundation for this movement" said Mr..
| Brown, than this sentiment of the people
! OF the country, yet, after all, beyond the
| necessary labor to ClOthe and feed our
| selves the basis and framework Of al
| most every salUtary movement or reform
| IS sentiment. 1t is sentiment that gives
| us this beautiful city, our cOmfOrta bic
| homes, our stylish and appropriate attire.
| 1t is sentiment that establishes our chart
| table institutions, uplifts the dOwn-trod-
| den, and protects the weak against the
| strong. In fact. Il is to sentiment that we
| II is sentiment which distinguishes civili-
] tigu from ba rlJd rlSn.