Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-07-16
MORE PATRIO .

AlC luAh vi pau AbAipAAlt " AoNhN'
the lack OF demonstration of patriotic
feelings in Americans has been 8
source OF unfavorable comment
among foreigners for many years
The lack of respect of things of
national or patriotic nature seems
to have been steadily on the in
crease for many years and the pre-
diction has been made that nothing
snort of war will arouse the Ameri-
can people to true love of country
and show of patriotic feelings. There
mas been just cause for these critic
'sms, Our nations birthday has
been made the occasion of riotious
noise, drinking, carousing and a
general good time. rather Than the
commemoration of great event.
July A. instead of being day
sacred to the memory of the great
est event in the history of human
liberty has been allowed to degen-
crate into scramble to make q
noise, create disturbance, have a
fire or do som ething disgraceful and
which would not be tolerated in any
other country on any day. or III
America on any other day, than that
which should be the most sacred in
our yearly calendar,
An Englishman recently remark
ed that in no other country than
America is the national air played
without marked reverence. He said
II do not wish to compare America
unfavorably with England, for
love America and would not under
any consideration go back TO my
own country to live, but there are
some things | notice and ii grieyes
me. In England when band starts
to play God save our gracious ma
Jesty. the King" every hat is lifted
and every head uncovered. II 1t is
in the open air and a man refuses
TO take off his nat it is knocked on.
If it is indoors every one rises to his
or her feet and stands, with uncov-
cred head while the air is being play
ed We may doubt the graciousness
of our king sometimes, but English
men the world over, stand with I'M
covered heads, when the national
air is played. How different in
America. A band may play The
Star Spangled Banner" My Coun-
try 'Tis of Thee" or Hail Column
bia," and the people pay no more at
tention to it, as rule, than If they
were playing rag-time. We know
Americans are patriotic and that
they will fight for their country, En-
gland knows that to her sorrow. but
| hope it will not be necessary to
have a war in order to keep our pa
triotism alive and instill into our
hearts respect and love for the flag
and our national hymns.
The writer has frequently noticed
and commented upon this lack OF
respect for the national airs, and he
saw a pleasing sight in Spokane re-
Gently, when Libretti's great band
gave an open air concert in Natator-
ium park There were probably 81
000 people seated and many standing
in the park surrounding the band
stand. Many airs were played and
finally the band played Dixie" That
there were many southerners in the
crowd was shown by the vigorous
hand-clapping throughout the au
dience. Finally the band struck VI
The Star Spangled Banner" and
hand clapping greeted the first few
bars. Then some one rose and be
fore third of the piece had beer
played the big audience was stand
ing, the men with uncovered heads
The piece played was medley an(
when the national air had been fin
ished the audience was again seat
ed.
Later in the evening the bant
played My Country 'Tis of Thee,
and before half dozen bars ha,
been played the audience stood. with
out an exception, and the heads wer
uncovered until the entire air wa
played through This was comment
ed upon by many persons present a
an encouraging sign that our patriot
ism was not dead. but merely dor
mant Americans cannot afford L
have foreigners comment upon thei
lack of respect for the flag or the ma
tional airs and ii is indeed encourae
ing TO see the changes being mad
in this respect.
1T is 4 ROTTEN MESS