New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-12


remember that the Stars and Stripes not
included among the eternal verities. Whenever
we Justify sing that 1.-The Star-Spanged Banner for
ever shall wave with n mighty accent the
'v-er"-it is somewhat chilling to think that there
time when they not only did not wave but had
not been and had not been thought of.
1t was in Philadelphia, of course, that the first
human eyes saw our first national banner of red
white and blue, because Philadelphia enjoys far
than her proper share perhaps of the hOnors of
the nations early history; and the familiar little old
house at No. 279 Archst, holds story which has not
yet been well clearly told the need of the
occasion demands
Until W. J. Candy comes to the rescue the full
truth will probably not be known. Diligently
gagged in compiling all the discoverable data upon the
subject he promises that the WRITER'S who have
concocted all of myths concerning Betsy Ross
shall be put eternay shame and the truth be craven
upon its enduring marble speak.
Mr.. Candy however, is eighty years of age.
As the grandson of Betsy Ross, and the posscssor OF
records accessible no one else he is the natural
historian of his famous grandmother but his work
progresses slowly, and the nation waits
II you wish to a mans eyes blaze with honest
Indignation ask Mr. Candy if this noble woman was
actually the daughter OF pirate captain Yet this
only has been said but repeated in thousands Of
copies OF "bcst-seing book, to the lasting shame
OF romance-writing and OF national history.
The design for the flag ndubtably the work of
General Washington. Despite great deal OF fanciful
evidence the subject the component parts Of the
flag all appear in the Coat-ofirms OF the Washington
family One scarcher in hcradic traditions finds both
star and stripe in the original shield OF the De WcSs
ingtons - them down to the different coorcd
and stripe OF the "Wcshyngtons". finds them
complete in the original OF the Washing
tons; and ampihcs them into a shield for Washington
himself which IS identical with the ornamental shields
now nationally used for decorative purposes on the
Fourth of July That there is some truth in this is
proved by the tablet over the gateway the English
country-seat of the Washington family which now
centuries old shows and stripe craven and placed
there long before born
Having drawn the design for the flag with the blue
ground, the white stars and the red stripes duly
marked General Washingon's question was as
to what should be selected make the first
emblem. George Ross, member of the Congressional
Committee and of the sgncrs of the Declaration of
Independence, naturally suggested, for which
Will appear later. his niece by marriage. Betsy.
Given the design, that spirited promptly
went to work. Instead of the costly silk, as
might have been the case, the first flag worked
in bunting which furnished by Uncle George
Having will of her she promptly altered General
Washington design in at least important respects
He had drawn sixpointed stars Finding that she
could with clip of the scissors, a fivc-ponted
star from folded white cloth she made the thirteen
stars hvepointed. The General had scattered them
irreguarly over the blue field: but she thought that
they would look better in neat circle and so arranged
them. Thus did woman's will make history
With the dilgent haste which characterized the
events OF the time the flag completed and
one bright June morning General Washington ac-
companied by the Committee Robert Morris and
George Ross called The house Archst to inspect
flag which to become great the ewes of nations
and mighty upon all seas. The beautiful banner
eight by twelve feet in size duly DISPLAYED The
Committee report favorable, Congress greeted it
with acclaim, and by resolution, June A. 1777
the flag was officially adopted and nationally born
The selection of Mrs. Ross for the work was natural
first, because she was notable patriot and second
because her husband an upholsterer He carried