Mexico Missouri message., 1908-02-06
BORN IN AUDRAIN.
Lived IA Years in China-Talks
to School Children.

W. X. Roberts, editor OF the
Sunnyvale (Cali. Standard, whose
mother and other relatives reside
southeast of this city, made a
speech at a flag raising the other
day which we print below; il
should interest many of our Au-
drain county readers:
ADDRESS OF Mr.. ROBERTS.
Boys and Girls-I am told you
bought this flag with your own
money because you wanted to see
a nice new flag floating over the
public school. Now, this shows a
very patriotic spirit, and that you
love your flag aud your school and
that you want to see both in good
condition. Do you know that the
American flag is the most repre-
sentative flag in the worldi The
reason that is each star represents
great state. The flag of Washing.
ton represented but thirteen states,
but our country has grown since
then, and now we have 46 states
represented by 46 stars on the flag.
Take the English for comparison,
which shows the cross of st. An.
drew and st. George. Well, st.
Andrew and st. George may have
been all right, but they were only
two people. Ours is not the flag of a
king. or a president in particular,
but is your flag and mine, for one
Of its stars represents California.
Or we might compare it to the flag
of Russia which has the holy cross
for its emblem. But that cross
only symbolizes the Greek church
and perhaps not one.third of the
population Of Russia belong to
that church. For the millions of
Mohamedans, Buddhists and 9th.
err religionists in that country that
flag means nothing but the rule of
the Car. Consequently they feel
no love for it and will insult it
with IMMUNITY. Then, we might
consider the Japanese flag. which
shows q bright red sun as its EN-.
blem. But Japan has no monopoly
Of the sun. The sun belongs to us
as much as to the Japanese. Fin.
ally, there is the Chinese flag, with
its hideous dragon trying to swal.
low the SUI. Now. who can feel
any affection for a flag like that
To look at it is enough to make
anyone have bad dreams. Some
Of You may sometime travel or live
in foreign country and il you do,
it will give you much pleasure
whenever you see the stars and
stripes. For about sixteen years
! lived in China, aud during a
part Of the time was a long way
inland where an American is sci.
dom seen and where sometimes a
whole year would pass without my
once seeing the American flag.
For a while, however, | lived at
Hankow, large city on the Yam
gize river, which you have likely
been taught to call Yangtzekiang
But kiang, or chang, as the Chi.
nese generally say, simply means
river. II yon say Yangtzekiang
river you are saying river twice
once in Chinese and once in Eng
lish. Well, while / was living at
Hankow Admiral Bob Evans one
day came there 10 a big American
cruiser. AS on men of war ships
there is custom for the band on
board to play the national anthem
when the flag is being hauled up
to the top OF the Flagstaff in the
morningand when 1t is taken down
at night, l found much pleasure in
going to the river at these hours
while Admiral Evans was in port
to see the flag and hear the band
play the Star Spangled Banner.
Just here / want to say a few
words about Admiral Evans. 4
found him a quiet, unassumiug