The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-02

WHICH mas seen city grow from lts
birth to be one of the largest in the
world; which has seen the greatest
nation of the day founded and develop
ed into its present splendid brilliancy
and strength; which was visited by
the most famous men of that nations
early days. and which gave that ma
ton it's fag-a flag now greeted by
seventy millions Of people with pride
and Joy.
1t was to the Arch Street house
that, in the early part of 1777, the
committee appointed by Congress and
authorized to design suitable flag
for the nation" came. Previous to
that year the standard Of the Unit
ed States was an affair of uncertain
individuality and mongrel type. A
Congressional committee had made a
banner Of the kings colors together
with thirteen alternate red and white
stripes. all Of which were supposed to
signify that the colonies were united,
yet acknowledged the rule OF the
rule Of the mother-country; and this
arrangement received q martial sa-
lutte when flown. in 1776, at Cam.
bridge. Mass. But the union with the
cross Of st. George was not pleasing
to the patriots eyes and Is scarcely
more worthy of the name American
flag than the colonial flags bearing
pine-tree emblems and the like which
- 4 IL. IL
during the early part Of the struggle
for independence. independence. the
inspiration of the patriots, needed an
emblem from which should be strick.
en- all that reminded them of King
George and his rule.
And SO it came about that the
sketch, drawn roughly with pencil,
which General Washington presented
to Betsy Ross as a pattern for the
new flag on that day in May, 1777,
showed no trace of the English cross.
The thirteen stripes remained, but in
the union were thirteen stars of white
on a blue field.
We can imagine that Betsy was de-
lighted when she heard that to her
had been delegated the duty of making
the flag. And yet it was quite proper
that she should have been chosen for
the work. She was accounted the
most skilful needlewoman in the coun-
try. She was a dressmaker and, 1t Is
said, had made many of the fine ruff
fled shirts which Washington wore. 1t
was little inconsistent. however,
hninp nj no nf
friends, it should have been her lot
to make the banner under which thou
sands of men should fight and die in
defence of their countrys integrity.
But Betsy showed herself more
than good worker with the needle
| For, it is related on excellent evil
dence, she was the only one who no.
ticed an oversight made in drawing
the design for the flag, and proposed
change which was carried out. The
pattern for the flag presented by the
| committee bore siX-pointed stars, and
| these were the stars employed in
British heraldry. Betsy suggested
that, instead of six points, the stars
on the new flag should have FIVE, and
she showed how readily these latter
could be fashioned by folding square
of paper and making single cut with
the scissors. The proposition met
with instant favor, and the flag she
made was adopted by Congress June
IA, 1777. The act authorizing its adop-
tion read as follows:
Resolved, That the flag of the thir.
teen United States be thirteen stripes,
alternate red and white; that the
union be thirteen stars, white in
blue field, representing new constel-
lation."
In September following, the adop-
ton Of the flag was officially promul-
gated. Previous to the latter act Con.
gress issued an order on the Treasury
to pay Ella lbs. I'd. to Betsy Ross for
the making of the flags for the feet In
the Delaware. The contract which
she obtained thus was held in the
family by the next generation for
time, but, on account Of the prejudices
of the Society Of Friends against war
fare, her daughter, who took up with
the work soon after, relinquished the
task in so far as flags for war-vesgels
were concerned. AS an additional bit
of interesting history 1t is noted that
1t was a number of women with pa.
triotic instincts who. In 1777, made
the first American flag displayed on q
vessel. the banner they made In the
summer Of that year being hoated
form a small boat sailed UP and down
the Schuylkill River by the famous
Captain Paul Jones.
The reason for choosing stars and
stripes as the distinctive marks of
the American nag Is somewhat doubt
full. The weight Of opinion seems In
favor Of the idea. however, that, In 30
far as the stars are concerned, they
were suggested by the Washington
coat of arms, which bore on the upper
part of its shield three stars. But as
the stars thus shown have but fve
points an acceptance Of that theory