The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-13

Io1v-Prisoner of Husband Who
Died While in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
pInce of the National Standard
Doubtless in the numerous celebrations
OF Flag Day tomorrow in the public
schools. the origin of the National ensign
and the significance Of its bright contrast
ing stripes. field of blue and white stars
VIII be explained 4 hundred and twenty
four years ago Congress adopted the Stars
and Stripes as the flag Of the Colonies
It Is quite natural to revert then to the
first flag the one that Betsy Ross made
in Philadelphia. acting uader the advice
Of Robert Morris. '-F-iuaucier OF the Rev
oIutIon' Col George Ross OF Revolution
airy fame, and the Immortal George
Washington himself
Birthplace of Old Glory" IS the large
sign which stretches its length beneath
huge flag on the front Of a quaint old
house at % Arch Street, Philadelphia
Here it was thai Betsy Ross met the com
naittee of Congress which ordered from
her the first flag Thu memorable coun-
Gil was held in a little back parlOr. with
age-stained oakeu floor, and an old IA
shi0HeG open fire place
The house is now one of the points of
Revolutionary interest IN the Quaker City
The Betsy Ross Memorial Association
maintains It. on the walls OF the little
ParIor hang many historical mementos-
Prominently displayed is the acknOwI-
edgemeut of Admiral George Dewey Of
the receipt Of a certificate of member
ship in the association. and IN a case
hanging on the wall a hit of the ensign
which blew over the Oily mpia at the battle
OF Manila Bay.
The story Of the conference and the
birth of the flag has been often told The
Committee suggested that the flag be
made with thirteen stripes, alternating
red and y hite- \ blue canton was 10 &C
clIDy an upper corner and thirteen white
stars, each for a colony were to be
ranged in q circle upon this field of blue
The idea was novel Never had there
been q nations ensign So pregnant with
meaning Ro.ert Morris and Colonel
Ross were members OF the committee
but Washington merely accompanied
them Their idea was that the stars
should be the six-poiuted star Of English
heTaIdry- Betsy Ross cana of Quaker
stock, but she had the blood and nerve
of a warrior.
When the English six-pointed star was
suggested, she seized . pair of her UDh1l-
STEERING shears and deity folded a piece of
paper. Snip. snip" and she produced a
perfectly formed five-point star
Much better she argued was the FIVE
point star. which was used by the Dutch
and the French, good friends Of the colo
nists. than the star Of Britain, against
whom the fag was soon to wave in chaI-
Ienge and defiance. The gentlemen eager
y assented to the ChsnSe. and departed.
after CALAMITY compIi-entirg the famed
needlewoman on her skill and enthusiastic
interest in her task
Il vas in June IN the first week Of the
month Of roses, that tne committee called
on Betsy Ross Her needle must have
fairly flown in the meantime Before
June i the first flag. every stitch sewet
by hand. was completed Just I24 years
ago tomorrow was thu date when Con,
gress adopted the Stars and Stripes as thc
standard Of the colonies Under its folds
were afterward to wave the ''RattIesnak,
flag" with its warning: Don't Tread OF
Ne and the Pine Tree flag, which had
formerly been the ensign OF the coIonis-s
from various States
Betsy Ross vas awarded the contract
for manufacturing the flags for the Gov
eminent This contract she held for NAM
years. After her death it descended Il
her daughter by her third husband (sh,
made three matrominial ventures. CIar
issa Claypoole Wilson But the daugh
ter was member Of the Society o.
Friends, just as were Betsy Ross pa
rents She had scruDles about making
articles which might be used in warfare
Consequently she gave up the right O
making II the flags for the army and
navy. Now the flags are made anywher,
and the whir of machinery in huge fac
tories as the coIoTs are turned out witt
almost incredible rapidity. has quite de
stroyed what romance there might have
been, had a descendant Of the maker o.
h. fret aacy far -rrrt
them till today
The flag made Betsy Ross historical
but romance played no small part III he1
life The fact that she was married
thrice would naturally convey this i'm
preston
Betsy Ross was born IN the City o
Brotherly Love in 1752- Her maiden name
was Elizabeth Criscom. her father and
mother Samuel and Rebecca Grfscom
Her mothers maiden name was Rebecca
James and was accredited with being
descendant of the man who built the frs
house of bricks in Philadelphia The pa
rents were members of the Society o
Friends They did not favor the suit o
young John Ross who besides being
member of the Church Of England, press
ed his claim for their daughters hand
with an ardor which made them fear y,
would not be averse 20 the fierce confic
Of war
But the demure Betsy was not TO b.
restrained She ran away with her lover
was welded. and soon after was confirm
ed in the Church OF England She be
came q member Of Christ Church Of Phil
adelphia where she w0rshiped all he
life and where now a plate engraved
Mrs Elizabeth Ross N9rshipped Here.
On the door Of a pew marked ~ show
that Robert Morris and other patriot
were not the only ones known to fam
who attended services under the roof @
Ole Christ Church.
John Rcss was an uphoIstereT- and tn
runaway couple made their home at NJ
s. now No %, Arch Street, Philadel
ph!a BETSY was an expert nee1leWOmaI
and helped her husband greatly with IN
finer portions of his work
Sorrow soon visited the house jon
Ross died before he had been marie
many years. Betsy Ross had in tn
meantime made the FIRST flag, and Ia
been awarded the contract TO make more
She piled this trade and many com
mand bore TO victory against the red
coats the cOloTs which were the pro
Cett9usiug ROYAL Headache Tablets for .
toF1us Of headache A safe, prompt cure.
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