Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-08

congress patriotically resolved: That
the flag of the United States be thir-
teen stripes. altcrnatively red and
white: the union be thirteen stars
white in a blue field, presenting a new
constellation" 1t has been surmised
that they were introduced as a com
pliment to Washington, on whose coat
of arms both the stripes and stars APP
pear. but this is only speculation
Still. the Father of his Country had
much to do with the origin of the Stars
and Stripes. 1t vas lie, assisted by a
committee, who directed the prepara-
ton of the first design. They called
upon Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, No. 239 Arch
street, Philadelphia, between May %
and June /, 1777, and requested her tc
prepare a flag. Washington had q
rough draft in which the stars were
six pointed. Mrs. Ross proved that
the five-pointed ones would look bet
ter, and her suggestion was adopted
She had the flag finished by the next
day, and it was received with great
admiration wherever displayed. She
was a manufacturer of flags for the
government for many years. While
I was in Philadelphia on recent oc-
casion her place of residence was
pointed out to me.
The flag of 1777 differed from that
of today only in that it had but thir-
teen stars in the field, which were ar
ranged in the form of a circle. The
blue field, it is believed, was taken
from the banner of the Scotch COven-
anters, to signify the league and COW
enant of the united colonies against
opposition, and symbOliZing vigilance
perseverance and justice. On Sep
tember 3, 1777, the flag was officially
promulgated at Philadelphia, and eight
days thereafter was carried in the bat
tie of Brandywine.
An important change was ordered by
congress to take effect on May |, 1895.
Then and after the flag was to contain
fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, and
one of each was to be added with the
admission of every new state. The ad-
ditional two were displayed because OF
the admission of Vermont and Ken
lucky. The Constitution, known as Old
Ironsides, was the first ship to carry
the fifteen starred and striped banner
to sea under canvas. 1t soon became
evident that, with the continual addi-
ton of new states the beautiful SYM
metry of the flag in time would be de-
stroyed. Hence congress on April 4,
1918 restored the number of stripes to
thirteen, and ordered that new star
should be added on the 4th day of July
succeeding the admission of every new
state. "Old Glory" now shines with
forty-six stars, and on the 4th of July
next two more stars will appear, rep
resenting the states of Arizona and
New Mexico in this bright constella-
ton.
Although we are one of the youngest
nations, our flag is among the Oldest.
The flag of Great Britain, as it at pres
ent appears, was adopted in 1901; that
of Spain in 1885, while the tri-color of
France, also of red, white and blue,
took form in 1894. Portugal did not
adopt it's present flag until 1880; Italy
in 1S4S, and the German empire in
1871. Our banner it may moreover be
said, has Eeen through more battles
and has waved over more victories on
land and sea than any other flag in the
world No European flag has had so
many to die i'm it's defense. More than
a million men have laid down their
lives that "Old Glory should float
aloft, and millions more stand ready
to rush to its defence against assault
from any and every quarter.
1t is a great thing to live today. No
age in the history of the world has
witnessed so many achievements on
the land, on the sea, and in the air. OF
all the nations Of the earth, ours is not
only the youngest, but the greatest in
achievement, in art, in science, in
commerce and in the up-lift of human
ity This is, indeed, the land of the
free and the home of the brave" Not
only is this the greatest age of the
world in which to live, but, we think,
the greatest place in which to live is
the North American continent, and the
greatest place on that continent, South
Carolina, and the greatest place in
South Carolina, Walhalla, the county
seat of Oconee. We trust the last
clause i'm this declaration will not in
volve us again in internal warfare with
our neighbors, far or near.
In conclusion, we wish to cOngrat-
ulate the pupils and patrons and trus-
tees of the Walhalla High School on
it's able corps of teachers, under the
supervision of it's new superintendent
May the ensuing year be the best in
it's history. Let the Stars and Stripes
and the Palmetto float together, SYM
bolizing the unity, and the strength
and the glory of our state and nation,
at home and abroad. May virtue. and
happim IS, and freedom. and peace for
ever follow where they twain shall
lead the way.