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

on his trade in the same little old house on Archst
and she, assisting him therein, well adapted
the task The room in which the work done.
eleven by sixteen feet in size. Is 1t then. The
rough, board flooring IS unchanged the blue Dutch
tiles of the fireplace nearly all originals though
of the restored ones being freSher of face were
deity abstracted by a patriotic but absent-ninded
worshiper not many weeks ago. Let him learn from
this that he stole restored ones, and feel reore and
other things as best he can
The rough pastcred walls and ceiling still remain,
though wallpaper constitutes anaChroniSm on one
side and gas-Jct has replaced the candles by which
the fair Betsy worked All around the house a great
commercial civilization has thrown up buildings
which have nearly crowded it of existence and
modern Fire Department rescued it in the nick of
time from fire At the back little than month ago.
None the less, II remains, thanks to the Flag House
Association. of the interesting of historical
souvenirs, and shortly will be presented the nation.
The actual face of Betsy Ross, however will forever
remain or less obscure Like those of some other
famous characters, her portrait is a theoretical
posrte. Events took their way and more than
century passed before it occurred TO any artist that
the birth of the flag had never been painted This
artist was Charles H. WeiSgcrber The subject being
admirable, he sought for picture of the central
figure. but was to be had. The only available
material lay descriptions of her and daguerreotypeS
of her four daughters. History declared her have
been dark OF complexion, auburn to hair short and
plump to figure. and twenty-four years old.
With these substantial facts and the four daguerreo-
types Weisgerbcr'S brush limncd a composite Betsy
Ross, which duly submitted TO the assembled
descendants, criticized by those who had her
and modified accordingly. 1t was then used in the
wclknown picture, The Birth of Our Nations Flag"
showing Washington, Morris, Ross and herself dis
playing the flag that she had just finished which had
the place of honor in the PennSy wanna Building the
Worlds Fair of 1903. There great demand
for copies of this picture that the sold them by
thousands. Thence arose plan by which half the
proceeds of such sales be devoted the rescue
of the house and the American Flag House and the
Betsy Ross Memorial Association" was formed with
such wel-known those of DR. Morgan Dix
DR.. Fctterolf of Girard College, John Wanamaker
Geleral Howard, DR. Henry c. MCCook and many
DINERS charter members.
Up to date nine hundred twenty-five thousand
copies of the picture have been sold by the association
at ten cents each To purchasers from all States and all
countries The Purchase Fund exceeds twenty
two thousand dollars and when it reaches twenty-five
thousand the transfer of the property will be made
to the Association under the existing option and
the gift of it made to the nation. The hope of
the Association is that Congress Will purchase the
adjoining property far the adjacent streets and
thus leave the house in the center of ornamental
square measuring four hundred feet by four hundred
feet as an enduring national memorial to the flag.
Mr.. Canbys indignant denial that Mrs Ross was
directly indirectly in any way affiliated to a