The Washington herald., 1910-06-12
Px RupoLPH DIE zAPP.

Everybody is prepared 10 celebrate the
birthday OF "Old Glory" which falls on
Tuesday. in a manner BETTING the occa-
sion A flag in itself is peculiar thing.
Where In the world is there another OBJ
ject, meaningless lin itself. that has sig
nifled so much, or served so greatly in
the dramas of national life as the flag?
One tradition says that the Saracens
first carried an orthodox standard into
battle. and this gave the idea, as they
gave so many others. 10 the Crusaders.
But. obviously, the flag is far older than
this, and it is interesting to note It's
development from the first inanimate OBJ
ject borne aloft on a staff. so as 10 be
generally visible. down 10 the eomplicat-
ed blazonry Of a royal banner ia our
present age The Egyptians thus car
ried before their hosts the figure of
sacred animal on a spear. and the As
synans. as their carvings prove. inspired
the hopes and conferred the attentions OF
their soldiers In the same way.
The royal standard of the Persians for
many centuries was a blacksmiths
apron, and It is said local prince. In
passing a herrnit's cell on the way 10
battle one morning. asked the inmate for
his blessing. or something expressive to
put on that artless cogniZance. The her
NIT. possibly a little touchy. as even
saints will be when disturbed at break
fast, threw the chieftain the fiat round
cake he was eating, which was duly add
ed to the apron--hence the Persian ''sun. "
| The lion was an obvious afterthought
The Turks used horses tail. the rank
Of a pasha being known by the number
/ OF tails he carried, and probably this
suggested the much bifurcated pennon
OF early Western chivalry, familiar TO
every one who has studied the Bayeux
| tapestry or early illuminated missals.
In the Middle Ages, devoted to display
and military arrogance. the flag stood
| in relationship TO the great captains
| array as his personal armor stood TO him
| self: II insured recognition in the melee.
and supplied a rallying point for the
| fighters such as nothing else could have
/ done. This led TO an etiquette Of flags,
which apportioned shape and size 10
! every rank of the peerage, from the royal
| standard itself down through varied
array OF banners, gonfalons. pennons. en-
signs, and other bits OF red rag" and
kept the heralds' college busy, besides
supplying the poets with admirable local
| eoloring for their battle pieces. Does not
/ Scott tell US In some famous lines:
Then fell that spotless banner white,
| Lord Howzrds LION fell;
But stin Lord Marmi0u's falcon tea
With watering fight WEils fercsr greS
Around the battle yell,
Here, IL will be noted, the whole gis'
and point OF the fight centers in the pen
| mons OF the leaders, and of the same vita
Importance OF the flag there are innu
merRble instances in medieval literature
When the Douglas unfurled his stand
ard at Otterburn, q nag. by the way
which IS still in existence, he declared
and thought not without reason. that th'
mere sight Of that FAMOUS cloth would
put the English host to rout. And ever
IN comparatively modern and prosai'
times the belief that a dreaded captain
was beneath a certain emblem has suf
hced 70 turn the scales of battle. Thus
in the French war OF 1871. the French
Rear Admiral Sarcy. when cruising with
six frigates in the Bay of Bali, came IL
sight OF five OF England's Indiamen-ont
OF them the WoOdford. Capt Lennox
They were homeward bound, and all rich
" laden. and 10 all appearance they has
no chance OF escape, when Capt. Lennon
rescued them by an act OF great judg
ment and presence OF mind. He first 0
all hoisted on his own ship flag whicl
the French admiral knew well-that 0
the British admiral Rainier, blue, at IN
nizzen: and he made all the other ship
in his company hoist pennants and en-
signs TO correspond. But ne did more.
He detached two OF the Indiamen I
chase and reconnoiter the enemy. an
as these advanced toward the Frenc
accommodating frigate. the Cybele. tn
latter completely deceived made ali sa
to Join her cOnsorts, on which the Frenc
admiral believing he was in the pres
ence of a powerful British squadron
made or with his frigates under all sal
and Cant. Lennox and his cOnsorts com
pleted their voyage IN safety,
The flag. indeed, preserved its glamou
long after the time when 1t was tn
cynosure of conflict. the emblazone
meteor OF victory, as Milton calls il
There never was a more disastrous re
treat than that Of Napoleon's army fror
Moscow. Yet there were but fe'
French "coIors" among the spoils gath
cred by the Russians on the steppe
where General Winter" as one Of tn
Cars grimly called the icy blasts whic
laid low the French veterans Of man
campaigns, spared a mere remnant @
the great army. For the color guard
were most touchIngIy faithful TO thei
sacred trusts.
When these men, who had faced IN
ainchingly many a storm Of bullets, say
death by cold and hunger staring Their
in the face, they tore the colors fror
their STATS. made 8 fire with the latter
burned the colors. mixed the ashes Wit
the water of melted snow, drank then
and lay down 10 die But where were tn
colors? Saved from the enemy. The col
ors are not merely so many yards Q
silk. They represent TO soldier wha
is noblest in his country's history an
institutions. Their loss. under circun
stances short OF heroic. IS an eternal dis
grace TO the regiment losing them. Onl
death can excuse the color guard froI
defending them; and when the guar
has been shot or cut down. others shout
be ready 10 stand by the nag.
In the navy vessel never strikes he
colors except to acknowledge defeat. Fo
this reason, when in that great sea du'
between Paul Jones Bonhomme Rich
ard and the English Scraps. which Taste
far into the night, the ensign was shC
away from the halliards, Lieut. Staffor
! plunged into the sea after 1t. and, bray
ing a double death-he was, in fac
wounded while swimming -saved 1t an
set il again; and 1t was the Scraps whic
finally struck The Cumberland weT
/ down in Hampton ROaGs with color
flying: and when the old Kearsarg
| which sent the Alabama TO the bottom
struck on Roncador Reef. in the CARL
bean Sea, and her crew was obliged |
take to the boats. the ensign was le
fluttering in the breeze.
The first European banners unfurle
upon the shores of the New World,
which there is any authentic accoun
are those OF Columbus, who landed @
the small island of San Salvador, Oct,
Der Il, 14s2. His son writes that Columbu
dressed in scarlet. stepped ashore, ar
planted the royal standard of Isabel
emblazoned with the arms of CASTLE an
Ieou-a white flag with green croi