The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-04-08
OUR NATIONAL EMBLEM
Indian Corn Advocated as a Fit
ting Symbol.
STRONG CLAIMS PRESENTED.
Mrs. George Cnbot ward Suggests
Tint the Federation of women In
America should work For It's
Adoption-says Some Action should
He Taken Before TbnnksEiVinR.

United states to adopt "A national en-
blem, aud the history Of our country
points TO the Indian corn or maize. as
entitled to that distinction" said Airs,
George Cabot Ward the other day to
reporter of the New York Tribune in
discussing the claims of various flow
ers that have been mentioned in this
connection.
"The reasons for choosing the corn
are so final thnt it seems to me impos-
sibe that any one who has heard them
should consider for a moment propo-
sition TO adopt a flower, however beau.
tiful," continued Mrs Ward Corn
formed the principal article of food for
the early settlers, and but for it they
would have died of starvation. II is n
divine gift. for God never gave It to
any other country. this being the only
one 10 which il is Indigenous. Although
# will grow anywhere. it is distinc-
lively of American origin and has
doubtless grown here for ages"
Flowers. Mrs. Ward thought, might
be beautiful aud appropriate for state
embems in the localities where they
have a special Significance in connec-
tiOn with the history of the state, but
no flower, she said. could bring for
ward claims that would entitle it to
become national In its symbolism. One
of the strongest points advanced in ia.
vor of the corn is that it can be grown
with equal facility in all portions of
the United States.
1T grows from ocean to ocean and
from the lakes to the gulf" said Mrs.
Ward I'm this connection. ut is said
that only persons who have visited the
south and the west can realize what a
powerful factor it is in our civilization,
nourishing as it does in both hot and
cold climates. The harvests of the
corn are the glory Of our country.
Another point in its favor as com
pared with any flower is that our great
country should have n life sustaining
emblem. People come here from every
country i'm the world to earn their liv-
ing, and think of the benefit it is TO
the poor, for as a food il is within the
reach of ALL"
In Plymouth the people have a Gus
tom by which they commemorate the
sufrerings of the pilgrims and at the
same time acknowledge their debt of
gratitude to the corn. When Forefa-
Tiers day is observed, they hold din
ner and each guest finds laid beside
his plate few grains of the parched
corn to which the first settlers owed
so much.
Advocates of the Indian corn feel as.
sured that 1t will only be n matter OF
time before its claims are acknowledge
ed. In nutriment it is ranked next to
wheat and rice. The early settlers
subsisted on it. with the occasional ad.
dition of salt pork. Mush and milk
was considered a wholesome diet. and
samp was looked upon as a delicacy.
The coarse cornmeal required only the
addition of water and salt to be baked
into n light and sweet tasting bread.
4 recent speaker before the National
Society of New England Women re-
ferred with the greatest enthusiasm to
the hOmely fare of those days, saying
that samp cooked as our grandmoth.
ers used to prepare 1t was dish which
for fine flavor and delicacy could not
be exceeded by the cooks of today.
The Puebos esteemed corn as the
most valuable gift from the gods, and
quaint legends are connected with their
history of it's origin. Longfellow in
"The Song of Hiawatha" refers TO II
as this new gift OF the Great Spirit
Whittier in The Corn Song" extols its
kaauty ond usafulnaas and s,thar nnats
have written in its praise.
To decoration ON marble. bronze oil
any metal 1t is especially well adapted
say those who have seen IL put to this
use. II appears sculptured on severa
pillars OF our national capitol, and its
sharply defined outlines would, ii Ii
said, reproduce effectively on our cur
rency.
Mrs. Ward expressed the conviction
that IL women would agitate its adop
ton Indian corn would in a short time
become the national emblem.
"The matter has been allowed Il
drift too long" said Mrs. Ward. "Th'
women of America should arouse L
their duty in this matter and lend thei
influence TO have some definite step
taken. The National Society of New
England Women has given the IndiaI
corn n conspicuous place on its badge
and am glad to know that the organi
zation appreciates its Importance.
81 understand that at the biennia
20 be held in Los Angeles this sprinI
ciubwomen from all over the Unite'
States will be represented. There coul'
be no better opportunity than that Il
bring the matter before women iron
every part of the United States, AM
any action they might take would AZ
tract widespread attention. Some step
should be taken before next Thanks
giving day. and when we give thank
for the blessings of the year the In
dian corn should be acknowledged a
one OF the greatest OF these"
Housebont Hotel.
A company is about to open house