Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-20

Y LEI
This took place at the residence Of
Mrs. Ross, arelatiye Of Col. Ross, in
Arch street between Second and Third,
where Gen. Washington and the COM
mittee completed the design and en-
ployed Mrs. Russ TO execute the work.
The house, is still standing mo 239. J
Mrs. Ross was atterward Mrs. Clay
poole. Her maiden name was Griscoin,
and according to the fashion OF the
times, she was called Betsy !"
Betsy" Griscom had, before the revo-
luton, acquired some knowledge OF tine
"uphclder' trade,'' as il was then
oalled-an occupation s. nonymous with
that of the modern upholsterer--and at
the time mentioned was carrying on
business on her own account In her
little shop. One day, probably be.
tween the 23d Of May aud the 9Th OF
June, 1777, during which period Wash
ington was in Philadelphia, there came
to her the commander in chisf, Hon.
George Ross, and other gentlemen,
mombers OF Congress, who desired to
know whether she could make them a
flag according to a design which they
would produce. She intiInated her
willingness to try. The design was for
a flag of IL red and white stripes, alter
nate, with ulion, blue in the field
apangled with 10 six pointed stars.
Mrs. Ross expressed her willingness TO
make the flag, but suggested that the
stars would he more symmetrical and
pleasing to the eye IL made with five
points, and sne showed them how such
a star could be made. by folding a
sheet of paper and producing the pat
tern 10 single cut. Her plan was ap-
proved, and che at once proceeded to
make the flag, which was finished the
next day. Mrs. Ross was given the
position OF manufacturer OF flags for
the government, and for some years she
was engaged IN that occupation. The
business deacended 10 her children, and
was carried on by her daughter, Clar-
issa Claypoole, who voluntarily re-
pushed it on becoming a member OF
the Society of Friends, lest her hBndi-
work should be used in time o. war d"
The first official action taken in re-
gard to national flag Is TO be found
in the proceedings OF the Uontinsntal
Congress Of tina l4th Of June, 1777, when
the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the flag of the United
States be 10 stripes, alternate, red and
white; that the union be Il stars. white, IN
blue field, representing new constella-
ton.
This continued to be the national
flag, the ID stripes and the 10 stars
representing - States, until two New
States" were admitted to the union !;
Vermont on the 4th of March, 1871 and
Kentucky on the lst of June, 1892,
when Congress passed an act, January
18th, 1894, making an alteration in the
flag of the United States, which pro
yided that from and after the lat of
May, Ammo Domini, 1895, the flag of
the United States he 10 stripes, alter
nate red and white. That the union
be 10 stars, white, in blue field. Z"
No further action seems to have been
taken respecting the flag until the sub
Jeot was brought to the notice of the
House OF Representatives, on the 9th OF
December, 1916, by Peter II. Wend-
over, a representative from the State
of New York, at whose instance COM
mittee was appointed who made re-.
port, which, however, was not acted
upon, and the subject dropped with the
session. At the next session il was
renewed by the same gentleman, who
again made report upon the subject,
in which he said: "The committee
are fully persuaded that the form se-
leoted for the American flag was truly
emblematical Of our origin and exist
ence az an independent nation, but
they believe, however, that an increase
in the number of Statss IN the, union
since the flag was altered by law,
sufficiently indicates the propriety of
such change in the arrangement of
the flag, ss shall best accord with the
reason that, led to its original adoption,
and sufficiently to mark important
periods of our national history" Re-
ferring TO the alteration made 10 the
flag by the act of January 18th, 1884,
be says: 1.-THE accession Of new States
since that alteration and the certain
prospect that at no distant period the
number of States will be considerably
multiplied, render it, in the opinion OF
the committee, highly ipexpedient to
increase the number OF stripes, as every
flag must In some measure, be limited
in size. That under the circumstances
they are led to believe TO alteration
could be made more emblematical of
our origin aud present existence than
to reproduce the stripes to the original
number Of 10 to represent the number
then conteDding for and happily
achieyeing their Independence. And to
increase, the stars to the number of
States now in the union, and hereafter
to add one star whenever new State
shall be admitted. y
The recommendations OF this report
were adopted by Congress and embodied
in the following act, which was ap-
proved April 4th, 1918;
An act to establish the flag of the United
States. ss.s
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America In Congress assembled: That from
and utter the 4th day of July next. the flag
of the United States be ID horizontal stripes,
alternate red and white, that the union be
20 stars. white In a blue field.
Sec. 2. And be II further enacted: That on
the admission of every new State into the
union, one star be added TO the union of the
flag; and that such addition shall take
effect on the 4th OF July then next succeed
ing such admission. 4 April 9TH, 1918, Stat.
4l5.)
The stars Of the flag represent the
idea taken from the constellation Of
Lyra which signifies harmony. The
blue Of the field was taken from the
banner OF the Covenanters OF Scotland
likewise significant of the league and
covenant of the united colonies against
oppression, and incidentally involving
vigilance, perseverance and justice.
The stars were disposed 10 a circle sym
bolizing the perpetuity of the unicn,
the circle being the sign of eternity.
Both the 10 stripes and thestars showed
the number Of the united colonies, and
denoted the subordination of the Statps
to, and their dependence upon the
union, as well ms equality among them
selves. The whole was blending OF
the previous banners, namely, the red