The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-04-20
ORIGIN OF MILITARY SALUTES
They Were to Show That q Persons
Intentions Were PeaCeable

naval dignitarieS as well as other
forms of greeting originated in the
desire to show to the person saluted
that the saluting person was unarmed
and could do the other no injury.
This was a very important matter
in the olden days when most people
went armed and violent encounters
were quite common. When any one
approached another II was necessary
to assure the latter that no harm was
intended, and this sign of good faith
was made by the newcomers hand
ling his weapons in such way that
they would be useless for immediate
action.
The present courteous raising OF
the cap or hat had its origin in the
removal of the basinet, or small
metal helmet, an act which showed
an absence of fear by leaving the
head of the wearer open to attack
and which likewise occupied his right
hand, SO that he could practically
make no assault.
The dropping of the swordpoint to
the ground now as when the sword
was in more active and ready use
makes the weapon temporarily Of no
service, says st. Nicholas. The
bringing of arms to present" in sal
utation of superiors is custom Of
precisely similar origin.
The ancient custom of entering the
presence of royalty uncovered like
wise originated in the desire for safe
ty. So also did that of retiring back
ward from the royal presence. In
either case the person admitted to
the throne, with his swordarm occu-
pied in holding his helmet, could not
easily reach or use his weapons.
These precautions in medieval times
were very necessary, when 1t Is con-
sidered that the king, prince or duke,
being seated, would not be able to
defend himself Immediately or even
readily against sudden attack.
The word Salute" itself has the
idea of safety" in it, as it comes di-
rectly from the Latin salus, signify
ing health" then welfare" To
salute" Is to wish health and safety.
The root of the word goes back to the
sanscrit sar, which meant to pro
tect" or guard"
Naval salutes are interesting to
landsmen as we'll as to jack tars. The
artillery salute is the survival of one
of those ceremonial practices which
formerly had some definite meaning,
and is meant to signify not an honor
to the flag or representative of
friendly nation, but also that the ves-
sci saluting has no hostile intent.
Shotted guns fired by the full arm
ament of the ship were used In the
seventeenth century, as II to say:
Now every gun is empty and we are
unarmed." Blank salutes became the
eighteenth century fashion, but like
many other customs of that polished,
formal period, were carried to a
ridiculous extreme.
When in due time 1t became the
practice to give a special salute for
certain rank or occasion the odd num-
Der of guns-in which all salutes are
measured-was selected in order that
the salute might open as we'll as close
on the "honor" side of the ship, the
vessels starboard. When the United
States first attained national stand
ing the existing national salute of
fxIynn alnnta1 in
cordance with the usage of other,
countries by our army and navy.
So in international usage the ma
tional salute for every country is of
twenty-one guns; while the American
national salute, used in our own
country, is one gun for every State,
forty-siX guns now being fired on
state occasions. The earliest instance
of this domestic salute was that
which history records as given at the
raising of the first American flag,
when Captain John Paul Jones fired
thirteen guns, one in honor of each
of the thirteen original States.
The number of guns fired in an ar
tillery salute varies in accordance
with the rank of the officer or person.
age saluted. The Presidents salute
is, of course, twenty-one guns. Ad-
mirals of the Navy, Generals of the
mirals of the Navy, generals of the
Army, Governors of the States, Am
bassadors from foreign countries, and
Justices of the Supreme Court are sa-
luted by a salvo of seventeen guns.
Salutes gradually diminish in the
number of guns fired until they reach
the lowest grade, seven for junior
commanding officer or our Consul at
a foreign port.
Custom varies in European coun-
tries, but all foreign rulers have more
powder burnt in their honor than is
consumed in the American Presiden-
tial salute. King Edward and Queen
Alexandra are saluted with salvo of
fifty-one guns, and members of the
royal family and important state and
military personages receive a fewer
number, the details of which are of
course set by law. Kaiser Wilhelm
outranks any other contemporary
eoyoroion boiro co1utad hv tho Ioro-