Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-16
OUR C0UNTRY'S FLAG
Increasing Interest in the
Stars and Stripes.
EFFECT OF FLAG DAY
THE UNION JACK OF THE NAVY
AS TT IS.
Borrowed From the English - Colors
To- L.
EFFECT OF FLAG DAY
Borrowed From the English - Colors
First Worn as Jacket, the Flag
Was Called a "Jack"

Was Called "Jack."
The United States flag has been the theme
of speech and story for more than a CEN
fury. Although much has been said and
written of it's inception, adoption and mean
Ing, the American people seem never to
tire of the subject, and the members of
Congress and the heads of the great execu-
tive departments at Washington con-
stantly receiving communications request
ing information respecting the national en-
blem.
Perhaps unusual interest has been arous
ed among the people because of the more
general observance of Flag day in the pub
lie schools, or they have been brought to
think of the flag and for what 1t stands
by the enlarged Importance of the United
States as world power resulting from the
| war with Spain. The inspiring strains of
Sousa's STARS and Stripes Forever" too,
have doubtless contributed in no small de-
| gree in arousing interest in the subject, but
the long deferred acquiescence of the pub
| lie in the adoption of Francis Scott Keys
beautiful Star Spangled Banner" as the
national anthem appears to have been the
finishing touch necessary to stir the heart
| and pulse Of the masses of the people to
proper appreciation of their beautiful aud
symbolic flag.
AS Authorized by Law.
Quite recently Senator Hoar addressed an
autograph letter to the War Department,
requesting, in behalf of most estimable
lady of Massachusetts, teacher in one of
the public schools, full description of the
American flag as authorized by law and
custom; the lawful number of stripes, and
| the proper color, and what the Union Jack
| means; also requesting information as to
what is the lawful American coat-of-arms
Replying thereto the Secretary of War
transmitted copy of memorandum pre-
pared under the direction of the quarter
master general of the army. descriptive of
the several flags carried by the army OF the
United States, together with description
of the Union Jack and the seal of the
United States procured. respectively, from
the Navy Department and the Department
| of State.
All this official information has been en-
bodied by Mr.. James H Churchill of the
Secretary's office into q circular letter
which is now Invariably used in responding
to requests for information regarding the
flag. the Union Jack and the seal OF the
United States. According to these records,
the American Congress in session at Phil
adelphia, Pa, established by its resolution
adopted June IA. 1I77. national flag as
follows:
"That the flag of the thirteen United
States be thirteen stripes alternate red ana
white in blue field, representing a new
constellation"
Use of Thirteen Stripes.
The use of the thirteen stripes was not
new feature, as they had been used, In al
ternate white and blue, on the upper left
hand corner of a standard presented to the
Philadelphia Light Horse by it's captain In
the early part of ITS, and, moreover, the
Union flag of the thirteen united colonies,
raised at Washingtons headquarters at
Cambridge, January 2, 1910, had the thlr-
teen stripes just they appear In the nag
this day; but it also had the crosses OF st.
George and st. Andrew on blue ground IN
a corner, instead of the thirteen stars NO
satisfactory evidence has ever been pro-
duced to prove that flag bearing the union
of the stars and stripes had been in public
use prior to the resolution Of June, 1777.
1t is claimed that Mrs john ROSS OF
Philadelphia was the maker of the first nag
combining the stars and stripes. Her de-
scendants assert that a committee of Con-
gress, together with General Washington,
engaged her In June, 1776, to make flag
from a rough drawing, which, at her sug-
gestion, was redrawn by General Washing
ton with pencil, in her back parlor, and
the flag thus designed was adopted by
Congress.
Although the resolution establishing the
flag was not officially promulgated until
September 3, 1777, it is well authenticated
that the stars and stripes was carried at
the battle of Brandywine, September IL,
1777, and thence forward during all the bat
ties of the revolution.
The ship Ranger, bearing the stars and
stripes, commanded by Capt. Paul Jones.
/, 1777, and her flag received. on February
IA, ITS, the first salute ever paid to the
American flag by foreign naval vessels.
Unchanged Until 1895.
The flag remained unchanged until May
1. 1895, when, in consequence Of the adj
mission of Vermont and Kentucky into the
| Union, Congress provided that 1t be
changed to include fifteen stripes, alter
| nate red and white, with a union Of fifteen
| white stars on a blue field.
This was the national banner from 1875
| to 1918, during which period occurred the
| war of 1912 with Great Britain.
By 1918 five additional states, Tennessee,
| Ohio Louisiana, Indiana and Mississippi.
| had been admitted into the Union, and
| therefore a further change in the flag
seemed to be necessary Congress. after
much discussion, decided, on April 4, 1878.
| that after the Fourth of July next follow
| ing the flag of the United States should
| consist of thirteen stripes, alternate red
and white, with union of twenty white
| stars field of blue, and that upon the
admission of each new state into the Union
| an additional star be added to the flag, to
| take effect on the 4th day of July next fol-
| lowing.
One Star Added.
Thus by a wise provision of legislation
! the original form Of the flag emblematic of
| the thirteen states of the revolution, was
perpetuated, and the addition Of one star
as each state was admitted to the Union
gave proper recognition to all the states,
| and makes the flag a significant emblem
| of the growth and power of the country
without alteration of it's original design.
In the war with Mexico. the national flag
| bore Twenty-Five stars in its union; during
| the civil war, thirty-f1ve; and since July 4,
| 1896, by the admission of Utah, the num-
| Der has been increased to forty-fve stars.
| No law has been passed relating to the
arrangement of the stars in the union but
| in accordance with an agreement arrived
| at between the War and Navy departments
| 1t has been decided to place them in hori-
zontal rows across the blue field, but not
| always in vertical rows, the latter arrange
| ment being governed by the number of
| stars to be inserted.
The national flags hoisted at camps and
forts are now made of bunting of American
| manufacture but it was not until after the
civil war that the proper kind of bunting
could be procured in this country. 1t is be-
1