The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-14
served in the National museum in Wash

served in the National museum in Wash ington.
 The British early notice the evolution of the flag. In ''The British Register of 1776 is an account of flag that antici- pated some of the features of our present national emblem. "'rhe rebels burnt the Kings speech" runs the chronicle, and changed their colors from a plain red ground to a flag with thirteen strilAs, as a symbol of the number and uni6n of colonies" Many have believed that Wash ingtons arms lent much to the general idea of the flag, as there are three bars across the 'scutcheon and three stars in the upper portion. This resemblance, however, is no doubt a chance one for the flag embrace the colors and some of the charac cteristics of all the state flags, and might by chance be likened to many flags or shields in certain points of de- tail But in it's general effect it is dis tinctive, individual and impressive. Not very long ago when some patriotic ocoa- sion was being observed in a Montreal school the teacher sent one of her pupils out to buy flag, meaning of course the English Union Jack. Get the very pret- tiest you can find,' she cautioned the boy. When he came back he proudly unrolled the American flag, saying trumphantly, See thisl It was the prettiest of all!' This is sentiment that is shared by many millions of people.
 Francie Scott Key, during the war of 1872, watched the folds of Old Glory ripple and sway over the grim walls of Fort McHenry until night and the mists shut out the inspiring sight. Knowing the persistency of the enemy and how small was the garrison at the fort. he sat through the night waiting, and penned the words of the Star Spangled Banner" The flag which fioated over the fort still exists, having been kept by the fort $ defender, Colonel Armstead, and pre- served by his descendants
 At the time of the war with Mexico there were twenty-nfne stars on the blue field of the flag. During the civil war it showed thrty-fve. Today there are forty five. Three of these stars owe their places on the banner, so 1t is said, to a young physician who went out to the far northwest in 1S36 This man was Dr. Marcus Whitman, who with his bride and another newly married couple, made the trip of 3500 miles from the east into Oregon, travelling by wagon for seven months. and setting up the United States flag in South Pass in the Rockies, July 4, 1886. Seeing the possibilities of Great Britains acquiring the Oregon country he journeyed back to the east In lS42 Through his ntercession congressman took up the matter, and thus the three stars, Oregon. Washington and Idaho, were saved for the flag
 Flag Day, as an Institution, is the youngest of the American holidays. The governor of New York, through the in- fuence of the Sons of the American Revo- lution, first took the matter up and pro- vided that on June IA, 1897, the flag of the United States should be displayed on all the public buildings in the state. Phila- delphia, through the efforts of the Colon ial Danes. arranged for its observance at the same time. and through the ener- getic work of the Daughters of the Amer ican Revolution, the desire to honor the flag publicly has spread until the spirit has been imbibed by almost every large American city.
 Tomorrow-The Birthday of Arkansas.