Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-13

crimson and white, It floats In rainbow ra-
Glance upon the winds OF blood-wrought |
spected and feared abroad: the type of all
that Is highest and hottest in human aspi-
rations-emblem Of all that is brightest and
best In human achievements.
June Ia, TIT, was the day that the flag
was born. The American Congress, that
day In session in Independence Hall in Phil
adeiphia, Resolved. That the flag Of the
thirteen United States be thirteen stripes
alternate red and white; that the union be
thirteen stars white in blue field, repre-
Sentfng new constellation"
So much we know, and nothing more OF
how the flag came to be just the beautiful
thing that 1t is Not a scrap Of writing or
print has come down to us to show who
selected the stripes, the stars or the COM
plnation OF red. white and blue. There has
Deen world OF conjecture about 1t, but
me fact remains that the flag We call "Old
Glory is both fatherless and motherless SO
far as Its colors and design go.
When nsa., Freedom: from her mountain height.
CT injured her standard to the air
She tore the azure robe Of Night
And set the stars Of glory there.
The milky baldrick Of the skies
And striped Its pure celestial white
With streakings OF the morning light"
1t is not difficult for one who loves the
broad stripes and bright stars of the flag
to believe that it really came to us as a
heaven-born inspiration. A woman's deft
fingers made the first flag, and all the flags
OF the country for nearly sixty years. Bet
sey Ross Of Philadelphia who made the
ruff1ed shirts that Washington wore, was
selected by the committee to work out the
design of the flag as prescribed by Com
gress George Washington. Robert Morris
and a Col. Ross were appointed a commit
tee to have this flag made.
A mythical story is told about the refusal
OF MRS. Ross to cut the six-pointed star
suggested by Washington. it being, she Is
reputed to have said. the English star and
O re ont s,f horo
star which she did cut is the regulation
star OF all heraldry. 1t can be cut with one
snip or the scissors. So can the four six
and eight-pointed stars.
The Special Flags.
How many of you know that the Presi-
dent OF the United States has a flag?
what is the revenue pennant like?
Can you describe the flag of the Secretary
OF the Navy, or that of the Secretary of the
Treasury?
What does the flag look like that flies at
the main when Dewey sets sail?
would you know any of these flags IL YOU
were to meet them in the street? Is it very
patriotic in this day, when our boys and
prothers, our sons and their sires are at
sea, not to know the flag under which they
sail, perhaps to the unknown shores whose
horizon reaches to eternity? Why not make
an exhaustive study of the American flag?
1t will prove to be fascinating and inspiring
us We'll rags are not so many yards OF
bunting or silk; they stand for principles
They represent to their countrymen all that
is honorable and enduring, all that is noble
and elevating, in the countrys institutions
and her history.
Indifference to the flag that protects the
home is akin to contempt for the institu-
tons that have fostered that home. Con-
tempt for national institutions breeds
treason and anarchy, and anarchy threat
ems ruin OF republican forms Of govern
ment For this reason, if for no other, love
and reverence for the flag should be taught
the little children Of the land from the mo-
ment they are old enough to be attracted
by its bright hues.
The rust red and yellow flag Of Spain. the
banner Of Ferdinand and Isabella. carried
by Columbus was the first nag that floated
on the winds Of the new west world. From
that day till Old Glory was born sixtyfour
flags Of varying designs had claimed the
allegiance Of the people in the new colo
MES.
Despite these ancient banners. the Amert-
can flag is the oldest national flag in the
world. 1t is older by twentyfour years
than the flag of England, older than the
flags of Denmark, France, Austria, Russia,
Sweden, Norway, China, Japan, Holland
and Germany. The flags OF these countries
can scarcely be termed national" as they
usually change with the dynasty.
Entered the Family Of Nations.
On the 4th day Of July. 1776, the United
States entered the family of nations. At
that time there were about 700 independent
governments in Europe alone. The United
States has outlived the majority Of these.
On the 4th of July, 1777. when the Flower
flag Of the free floated for the first time
above the new nation, scant 3.OO0,OOO peo-
pie occupied a narrow strip of country
along the Atlantic Seaboard. from Portland.
Me-, to Savannah. Ga, engaged IN DOUBT
full struggle for life. liberty and the pur-
suits of happiness" star for each state
and state for every star was the way the
growing Union was symbollzed In the con-
stellation of thirteen on the blue field.
July Fourth, 1885, the young nag proudly
Haunted its bright colors above nation
which had carved its independence out OF
the strongest Of the old world powers, ana
which had extended it's domain as far west
as the Mississippi river and as far south as
the French possessions in Louisiana and
the Spanish Floridas.
July Fourth. 1871, saw two stars added
to the constellation by the admission Oh
Vermont and Kentucky
July Fourth, 1903, saw the whole or the
vast territory of Louisiana under the nag
which had advanced it's dominion to the
south as far as the Gulf of Mexico and to
the line of Spanish possessions on the
west.
July Fourth, 1922 saw the Floridas un-
der the flag and our boundaries rounded
out to the seas on the southeast.
July Fourth, 1915, saw Texas under the
flag.
rounded out to the racine on the west
July Fourth, 1855, saw the states in re-
bellion back in the Union, the government
serene on It's sure foundation and thirty
eight bright stars in the unsullied union
of the nag.
July Fourth, 1867, saw the immense do
main of Alaska-as large as France, Ger
many and Austro-Hungary put together
added to our territory. Today, the R5th
anniversary of the birth Of the flag, and
the 126th year of our independence. sees
the American flag representing world
power. On that flag are forty-f1ve stars.
and nearly $4,000, 600 of people dwell under |
its folds in peace and happiness. Its benef-
tcent liberty-inspiring colors billow above
thousands Of the islands Of the sea. Over
Porto Rico, with 5000 SQUARE miles of ter |
ritory and $4,000 people Over Hawaii. |
with 6, 40 square miles of territory and |