The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-09
BUYING AN AMERICAN FLAG.
a TASK LESS SIMPLE THAN ONE
NIGHT SUPPOSE.
That Is if Won Insist UpOn Having tho Right
Number Of Stars In the Field Chronicle
OF a Won ans Long and Anxious Search
for a Gift for a Departing &c 1eiSner

NNNsR $3.50
for a GIFT FOR a Departing &c felEner
On the deck Of an outgoing steamer re-
Gently stood a passenger who was leaving
this country after having spent eight
pleasant and profitable years here. In
his hand he bore a little American flag
with forty-hve white stars on its blue silk
field.
The flag was a parting gift from one OF
his American friends, but little did he dream
what trouble il had cost her TO get it. The
trouble arose from the fact that she had
insisted upon having a flag with the right
number Of stars.
At the outset she had trouble in finding a
store that dealt in American flags at all.
Try the Oriental store" was the advice
she received at one big store.
But she RESENTED the idea that the de-
mand for the American flag was greater in
the Oriental store than in others, and re-
solved to get il at an American store if she
had TO hunt for it all the afternoon. Finally
she did find a shop where they sold Ameri-
can flags. But they were wee, little. cheap
! cotton affairs with thirty-six stars printed
in the field.
But l want the right number of stars,
and haven't you u better Hagf" she asked.
Those have the right number Of stars
~rejoined the salesgirl.
-Oh, no, we have more States than that
They re all alike, madam, said the sales
girl, az she counted the stars on another
flag. This is the right number"
Are those all you have?" asked the GUS
toner.
Did you want a silk fag?"
The customer said she did, and the sales
girl showed some.
These are all damaged, she am ounced.
but you ran have them cheap. These
have more stars. They nave foIty-eight."
That lumber Of stars not being salts
factory, the woman went TO another store.
Up in the fancy work de paTtment they
showed her little three inch flags on sticks.
In another store they had flags a size larger
on sticks, all with thiIty-siX stars. In
another store they did not have any flags,
but advised the woman to try the toy store.
That seemed more hopeful. The youth
Of the land was still loyal, at least.
The toy store was pretty well supplied
with flags Of several small sizes. but they
were all ON sticks, and they all bore either
thirty-six or forty-eight stars. In sheer
encouragement the woman Contided her
trouble TO the toy store man, and he was
genuinely sympathetic.
He asked her to wait while he looked the
matter up. When he returned he had dis
covered that there was a store near by that
made a special point OF handling flags. and
ne was SURE size WOulu utlu Nllul suC dIllrt
there.
In a very subdued state Of mind she went
10 the store. Yes, the flags were on one OF
the uppe floors. She swore eternal loyalty
10 that store as she came in sight Of the
counter for there they we're, OF all sizes and
good material. even bunting flags.
She asked for a silk about a foot in lcngth
and the salesgirl produced one Immediately.
But, alas. it had only thirt y-siX stars. The
customer explained that for the purpose
Tor xphsnh fhn Aan IN M uJnnf0I ~ vlG do
sirable that there should be the right num-
Der Of stars.
After a search the salesgirl found a
slightly larger flag with forty-eight stars in
the corner.
BIT that is not right either" demurred
Why. yes it is. This is the newest flag
we have"
But how many States have WEI" For
the woman had begun seriously to wonder
il she had been keeping up with the times.
-Forty-eight " replied the salesgirl posi-
lively.
But are you sure? l do not think we
have so many"
How MANY States nave WEI" the sales
girl called to the hOorwalker, who happened
to be passing.
Why. how many stars are there on that
1ag?" returned the noorwalker.
"Forty-eight."
Then there are Gorty-eight States
but there are thirty-six stars on these
other flags the woman objected.
Is that so? Just wait a minute"
The floor walker disappeared and pre-
sently reappeared with another fioorwalker.
"How many Stat ~ have WEI" he asked
the second floor walker.
why. ] don't know as How many
have we, Mamie?" he appealed to the sales
woman.
"Forty-eight." she affirmed stoutly.
"Fortv-eight. madam. She knows" the
second floor walker said reassuringly to the
customer.
But she knows from counting the sta. $
on the Gag, and am positive hat that is
not the right number. " objected the GUS
toner.
why. how many did YOU think there
were?" asked the ioorwalker.
Il thought there were 70 t%y-five."
"Oh, we had forty-lve ever so long ago.
There are the Philippines and the Hawaiian
Islands and Cubs since then
But they are not States" objected the
customer,
the flag? And Oklahoma, too"
They are still Territories" interrupted
the customer.
Put the Cuban islands, aren't they States
ever since the war;
The customer looked at him in astonish-
ment to see IL ne was really speaking
seriously, and then she explained that they
were not.
well, now, ] am disappointed in Teddy
IL he did not put those islands on tho rag,
the hoorwalker remarked. lapsing into a
ocular mood. What was all that war
for?"
IF you really want 10 know how many
stars there should be | will find out for you,
for there ia a man here who is a regular
crank on such subjects i~nterposed the
first ioorwalker.
Presently he brought up a fine looking
gray haired man and explained 10 him that
the customer wanted to know how many
stars there should be on the flag. The
elder man hesitated and blushed.
Il would not have supposed that ! could
not tell you he said. Il lave not been
keeping up with current events very we'll
lately. should say, perhaps, forty-six.
How many are on the fag?"
~Forty-eight," announced the salesgirl
e~mphatically.
But l am sure that is wrong, ventured
the customer.
Il should not nave said there were so
many. The last | actually knew about il
there were forty-ive, but it seems to me we
have added another State or two since"
How many stars should there be on the
flag, sonny" demanded the ~jocular floor
! walker Of a small palefaced cash boy who
was passing.
"Forty-hve," replied the boy instantly.