The times., 1901-06-14


National Theatre This Evening.
| CID Glory flies in the breeze today with
a special meaning This is its birthday.
one hundred and twenty-four years
ago the Continental Congress. by its
enactment adopted our flag and created
the ideal around which the patriotism Of
all citizens of the United States revOlves.
| During nearly a century and a quarter
midst storm and stress. peace and war
the Stars and Stripes have foated in
many a breeze as a symbol of independ-
eTce and liberty. For the first time
since Betsy Ross put together the thirteen
stars on blue canton and the thirteen
stripes alternating red and white, the
citizens of the District Of Columbia make
special holiday to DO honor to the
national standard.
Worship of the flag belongs as much to
the younger as to the older citizens The
children of the District of Columbia will
today be given their first opportunity to
join in the public veneratiOn of our
countTy's colOrs, and will initiate a Gus
tom already long used in many States of
the Union
The Grand Army Of the Republic is
largely responsible for the establishment
Of Flag Day, and its observanc in the
District this year was brought about large
" through the efforts Of the Department
OF the Potomac. The Board of Education
heartily co-operated with the veterans,
and as a result special exercises will be
held today in nearly every school of the
District. Recognizing the fitness of
G. A. r. man to tell the moving and
patriotic story Of the flag the board has
permitted that a veteran snail address
the children in each school room. The
ceremonies at all the schools win begin
at O'Clock. In the majority of instances
the exercises Will be simple, the address
by the old soldiers forming the principal
feature. The novel celebration has
aroused great interest on the part of
school children. Scarcely a child will
participate in the ceremonies but will
carry a small flag or ribbons of red, white.
and blue Patriotic societies have joined
in the celebration of the day. Several
thousands flags have been donated by
these orgauizat tions. Today the school
children viii receive them from their
teachers.
The Flag Day committee of citizens, of
which Chaplin Brown is chairman, has
from the first requested that the business
public join in observing the day and as
sist as much as possible by displaying
flags from private dwellings and places of
business. This idea has met with general
appreciation and ready compliance. Today
the downtown streets will present an in
spring picture Of patriotic coloring.
The celebration by the children of the
public schools will be but a part of the
days exercises. The great public demon
stratinn win take place at the National
Theatre this evening. Commissioner X.
B. F. Macfarland. who Will preside VIII
be introduced by Chaplin Brown. The
Rev. TeuHis s. Hamlin. Of the Church of
the Covenant, viii pronounce the invoca-
ton. Brief speeches will be made by
Frank W Hackett, Assistant Secretary
of the Navy; Gen. James c. Breckenridge,
Inspector General of the United States
Army, and Simon Wolf. THE Star Span
gled Banner" viii be sung by Mrs.
Thomas c. Noyes. The Rev. D. J. Stat
ford, Of St. Patricks Church, viii pro-
nounce the benediction. Admission TO the
exercises will be by ticket, which may be
obtained from II. W. Samson, at the head
quarters Of the Flag Day Committee,
Room rs, Hotel Normandie.
Because of the quarterly examinations,
which take place today. Flag Day eXer-
cises were held yesterday at the high
schools. The programme at the colored
High School was prepared by R. II. Ter
rell, the superintendent All the students
participated.
Mr.. Terrell opened the exercises with
brief address. in which he explained the
true significance OF the occasion and the
real patriotic impulse which halloWs
Sllken banner.
The school then rendered America. %
after which /. NJ. Hershaw, Of the Cen
eral Land Office. delivered an address on
the United States homestead laws. The
aaT..s IL.
the principal, who has been urging the
boys who graduate from the school to 90
West and gain title TO lands by settle
ment rather than remain in Washington
and struggle for q living.
NJ Hershaw said that his subject was
appropriate lnasmuch as If there were no
territory there would be no flag. lie eX-
planned the workings Of the land laws, and
showed clearly just how any cplpr,a
youth might begin life out West and lay
the foundation OF great fortune by dill
gence. There was neither color nor creed.
he said. as far as the land laws were
concerned, and the colored man had an
equal show with the white man.
The Rev. J. II. Bradford delivered the
flag Grafton. He began with the story Of
the flag, telling Of the first made by Betsy
Ross. He related the deeds Of daring and
sacrifice which had been accomplished in
the defence of the Stars and Stripes and
urged the youths present TO be ever ready
10 go 10 the front when the sauctity Of
the flag was threatened. lie outlined the
principles OF patriotism and closed with
tribute to the nag.
This was followed by the salute TO the
Tag by the pupils Of the school. After
singing When the AIists Have Rolled in
SplendOr' and God Be With You TIL We
Meet Again" the exercises closed with
prayer by the Rev. J. IL. Bradford
AT the Central High School. the prin-
cipal address was delivered by Israel w
Stone, Commander Of the Department of
the Potomac, q. A. r. A. S Purham was
the orator at the Eastern High School. |
Major ROmeyn spoke at Western High ,
school, and D. W. Classic at Business |
High School.
The ladies Of the George II. Thomas Re |
lief Corps viii hold their annual Flag Day |
exercises this evening at o'clock in !
Northeast Temple, Twelfth and II Streets /
northeast. The programme viii consist |
Of q drill BY children, music. recitations. /
an address, and a reception by Uncle /
sam to representatives Of foreign ma /
uons. The exercises will be open 10 the /
public.
The following members Of the C. 4. r !
have been selected by the Board of Edu- /
cation 10 speak in the schools designated: /
First divisIon-Adams School, Il. f. Full |
Ter; BeTrct School, l.. G. Wilson; Dcnni- |
son School, Edward Webster, Force |
School Arthur Hendricks Franklin |
Robert n. Hill; Phelps School q. G. Pot !
win; Thomson School. J. II. Blodgett
Second divisiOn-Abbott School, J. w |
Abel, lexington School, F. =. Crisp; Hen
ry School. q. GernaId; Morse School. VIII
liam +. Rogers; Polk School, II. B. Moul-
ton; Seaton School, William Lamborn;
Twining School. w. II. Proctor; Webster
School. VI. NJ. Lewis.
Third division-Brent School, Samuel
Ecight; Carbery School, n. y. Adams;
Hilton School, Dr. Thomas Calver; Len
lox School. A. r. Tasker; Mccormick
School, Dr. +. II. Grant: Maury School,
DR. H. A Dodson; Peabody School G.
H. Ross; Towers School. j. Burroughs; !
Wallach School. Rev. y. X. Miller.