The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-13
Birthday Of
Old ell ry
ny FnEDEnIC \. ytAs,<,v.

Mn oiO1y H
by FREDERIC j. IIAsI<1N.
One hundred and tllrty-onc years
ago Tomorrow Congress, representing
the thirteen Federated Colonies, leg
islated "thnt the dag OF tile thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, al-
ternate red and wllitt; that the union
be thirteen stars, white In a blue field,
representing, new constellation On
that day the Stars and Stripes was
first flown as Il government flag by
John Paul Jones on the Ranger. The
flag lad already been IN seini-o official
Us almost z year thrifty Betsy Ross
nation, ensigns that were they now IN
existence would be worth their weightl
in gold
1t was not until September 3, I'LL,
question vas made public through, the
press. though word OF the new law
had reached Colonel Ganseyoorts com-
mer boy lad made q nag after the
prescribed pattern. For. the white he
took two Old ammunition shirts; . Ter
the red re reausitionea on M. the e, w,ss
petticoat; for the blucS-he used an
old .-coat that had been captured at
Peekskill. On August g., 1777: the first
flag was that fought in defense OF Fort
Schuyler.
This was our first battle flag. To-day
the nation supplies to Its defenders
that are made not OF shirts. petticoats
and Jackets sewed by the clumsy nns.
ers OF q patriotic drummer boy. but o.
bunting shat has borne stern chemical
and physical tests: that has been cut
and sewed by hundreds OF experts: Last
year to the army of the United states
there were furnished 1907 storm and
ags 4 pos. af se
ceding year there had been issued 1876
storm ana recruiting naEs. a5S ~, post
FLAGS and forty garrison flags. These
Comfortably around the United states
and give her the appearance of giant
harlequin.
zach battleship Of me Am ssr t nasS
tener than tits. The majority Of those
are signal nass. though each ship
uring thirty-fxe by. thirteen feet; Tho
cost OF tho fags for each battleshlp
lis about $4,000, no small item In Uncle
SAINTS bill tor equipments. especially
seven hrst and second-class bnttleships
| in commission. Besides these tnsrr are
cruisers, torpedo boats. torpedo boat
destroyers. submarine, monitors, ;. I gun,
Il
and receiving ships. some 2s5 all told;
that must have a goodly supply OF
bunting for everyday use and lot
dress-up occasions. For these naval
worth OF material every year pays
SIT 900 in wages and produces an aver
| age of $4,000 fiags OF 4os different pat
lterns.
| The material of which the flags for
general service arc made must stand
severe tests The navy. uses about
5000 yards year for Old Glory alone &c,
grade. The bunting Is Americansm made;
| II must be all wool and nineteen Inches
wide. 1t is washed for twenty-fonr
next day given like treatment. With
salt water. Then for ten days 1t is
exposed to the weather, thirty hours
of sunshine being stipulated. And that
be proved. for there are storms to be
| weathered and sIxty-miie gale can
whip average cloth to ribbons. strip
of bunting two inches Wide must nave nave
| proved On the testing machine. TWO
inches of filing must stand forty-hye
| pounds. when the bunting has been
proved it is given over TO cutters ard
land make the flags. $50
The Presidents nag REQUIRES the
most time ard money am non = the na,
Navy Yard. IT takes woman. work
ling daily n whole month to make one.
The design is the United States coat
Of arms on a blue field. q and "a; az M az
embroidery done with silk at 80
! pound each flags costs pretty penny
when done. II is the foreign nags that
ling. for. as each battleship must have
Its quota, Uncle Sam must have them
on hand. The Iatin-American repub-
les have gass that cost Erseat aea.
scapes, seascs pes. floral collection and
cabalistic designs, keeps one woman
| busy for sixteen days and costs Uncle
sam $3.50 Gern,anYs eagle aus ana sfr nn
ever the white elephant Of sian. !. y
4 made. Uncle sam must hand over a Sss,
Mexsos serRsnt-sagle , aes,gn
limited states flag. thirty-six by. nine
|teen feet costs the government only
i $40.
!. official ana semi-ofHcial, no census
4 could ever BE- taken. Every embassy,
! legation and consulate abroad has ITS
I quota; every custom holse. pos, once
ling that in any way touches the ma
! tion or a Commonwealth has its SYM
boil OF liberty. or the, more than hall
la million public schools OF the United
OF the spirit OF patriotism which they
! foster. Other educational institutions
4 companies of State militia, patriots
organizations. business houses. clubs
private residences. seagoinE vessels o.
every character. all displaying flags
]. brings the total number In daily use
Z FAR into the hundreds OF thousands. Big
: factories turn out countless numbers
! every day. During campaign Years
the output is greatest IN private fac
tories, for every speakers stand, every
II train bearing political delegates, every
hotel housing political bodis sit m ~
!, blue patriotism when occasion de-
2 mapds
: for advertising purposes during tbs
7 past fifteen years a movement has beer
$, Undertaken by the American Flag IS;
Q ISOLATION. the Sons OF the. American
!, Revolution, the Daughters OF the Amer;
Z lean Revolution and the trades union;
z Ito secure national and State legislation
! for the protection OF the nag again1s
g such degrading uses, While legisla
! sentiment has been awakened thu
3 flag. is receiving more reverence.
The first time the stripes design va Ss
9 fla q was. when twas flown from Pros