The Globe-republican., 1904-06-30


ally allowed that as military genius
he transcends all others. Americans
and his admirers the world over
might well rest content with peholo-
ing their ideal citizen acclaimed WIN
universal consent the unique hgure
in the annals of human veal, Industry
and peace. Yet l do not think 1t woulo
be hard to show that even in military
genius he is still without peer
But the arts of peace, not war, Is
our theme, and we shall therefore
leave the question Of military genius
to a more convenient season and ad-
dress ourselves to the subject IN
hand: Washington and the American
flag. This naturally falls under the
threefold head-Washingtons Ances-
try, the Evolution of the Flag, and the
Symbolism Of the Flag"
First, Washington's Ancestry 40
far as historical research mas YET
reached back, Washington's ancestry
has been located In Durham, in the
north Of England. From Durham some
of the Washingtons migrated to Lanca-
shire. Then we find them settling in
Northamptonshire, in the reign OF
Henry VII. From Northampton the
great-grandfather Of Washington emil
grated to America in or about the year
1867. The pursuits followed by the
Washingtons may be summed up
under the church, the army, the law
and the farm. 1t Is around this last
that the most interesting and roman
tic incidents of the family gather, and
Northampton is the scene Of the vary
ing vicissitudes that eliminated in the
emigration of Lawrence Washington
to Virginia.
For three generations the Washing
tons lived in Northampton, taking
rank with the gentry Of the county,
and there they made more than one
alliance with the nobility Lawrence
appears to have been family name
among the Washingtons. The uncle
Of the first historical Lawrence was
Sir Thomas Kitson, one of the great
merchants who in the reigns of Henry
VII and Henry VIII, developed the
wool trade of England.
Althorp, in Brington parish, was
the seat Of the Spenccrs, and the
Spencers were connected by marriage
with the Kitsons, and therefore with
the Washingtons. Lady Spencer Of
that day was a Kitson, daughter OF
Washingtons uncle, and therefore
first cousin to Lawrence. But the rec
tor of Brington, the Rev. DR., Leyton
became, through the Spencers @ friend
of Lawrence, and as Dr. Leyton was
Cromwells prime commissioner Tor
the dissolution Of the monasteries, he
had it in his power to help his friends
And he did helm Lawrence Washing
ton by the grant Of Sulgraye in North
ampton where the Washingtons lived
for three generations. Lawrence was
interested in civic matters as well as
rural. and became for a time the
mayor of Northampton. At the end Of
the third generation the Washingtons
failed, so they sold Sulgrave and went
to live in Brington, Here the eldest
son married half sister Of George
villiers, Duke Of Buckingham.
The Washingtons sided with the
King (Charles ~ in the civil war, and
one of them, Sir Henry, attained great
distinction for his dash and bravery
in his operations against the Cromwell
lians. He led the storming party at
Bristol and it was he who so gallantly
defended Worcester, His bravery was
such That an expression Of his became
proverbial in the army. When any
great difficulty arose it was customary
to say, Away with it! quoth Washing
ton"
The emigrant, who was knighted by
James l., spent his younger days ii
Brington. In the parish church there
are two sepulchral stones Of absorbing
interest to every American. One witt
the date 1916 Is over the grave of th'
emigrant's father, On it appears hi
arms "impaled" with those of his wife
The second covers the grave of al
uncle, and has on brass a simpl'
family shield with the extraneou
crescent appropriate to a younger son
But that which is of transcendant in
terest to very American citizen is tina
here on the tombstone Of the dea
are emblazoned emblems sacred to
great nation and which thrill the sou
of a mighty people; the embryo Of tn
National Flag-the Stars and Stripes
The stars on the shield have thi
peculiarity, they are five pointed
whereas six points are the genera
characteristic Of heraldic stars. 0
the coat Of arms are three stars an
two horizontal bars or zones wit
alternate gules and white'-gule
being the word in heraldry for red
a vertical position. Here we discovf
the nucleus, the fons ct orlgo, Of tn
American Flag.
Three years ago, when spending
heightened vacation in England, | ha
charge Of a parish not far from Brin
ton. It was a source of never failin
qualification to visit Gods Acre"
stand close to the ashes of the dea
to mediate upon the origin Of tt
American Flag, to delight in the di
% +bo btddnn manning of 4