The Washington times., 1910-11-05


A recent contributor 70 the Mail Bag
department Of The Times. referring to
the neglected condition in which she
found the grave Of Barbara Frietchie. at
Frederick. Nd. made an urgent plea
that some fitting memorial should be
erected In honor OF the heroine
That Dame Barbara nonOgenarian
when the alleged nag incident occurred
was loyal 10 "OId Glory" 10 one WILL
OF course. question And, although
there may be. as claimed by certain
critics. some Of the apocryphaI, mingled
with more OF less Of the veracious. IN
The Whittier poem. testimony Will not
down, it appears. as to the fiag-waving
episode
As a BIT Of testimony favorable 70 the
TACT that Barbara Frietchie did display
the United States flag in a manner to
excite the resentfuI attention OF the
Confederates. let me quote the follow
ing from the June. 1910. number OF the
Confederate Veteran:
True Story Of Barbara.
Every one has read and thrilled 70
The story OF Barbara Frietchie as told
by John G. Whittier, and Southern
hearts, as well as Northern, have glow
ed al the heroism OF the gray-haired
woman who proudly hfted the shot-rid-
died flag and cried. as she held II aIoft,
ner noble plea for the saving OF the flag
SIZE held dear The Atlanta Consutu-
ton has this 70 say Of the story:
The poem Is indeed a classic, and
Is read with pride by every one who
counts himself a man
But along comes Capt Frank Mey-
ers' who says that Whittier was rnlsin-
formed, and that there is far more
poetry than truth IN his song.
Inc Confederates We're In possession
OF tredericktOwn. and was al the time
a sergeant in the Sixth Virginia. as we
passed the house one Of the soldiers
hOuceo the flag stuck I'D on the corner
ana called 10 me, Sergeant. LET me
shoot IL down told him, No as we
hao positive orders not 70 disturb a
thlng IN the town As we passed BY
she came out on the porch and waved
the nag al US We only laughed GOOD
hd-tuT edly- Not one Of US tried 10 bother
.ler ano II was not necessary for stone
waA JAG son 10 say a word. That's ali
mere Is 10 II; but, you know, a man can
write a poem and establish a fact"
No Criticism Now.
Considerable sectional feeling Vas NJ
curse, engendered during that cs-.i
strife. but Barbara Frietchie Is nor
now going 70 be seriously criticised
just because, mayhap. as a late South
ern writer puts 1t. the danes +o7s,7a
seemed 70 work overtime when car-
tam Confederate soldiers proposed TO
remove the flag alleged 10 have been
Hying from her window mean criti-
c-snls BY the broad-minded whose SYM
Path.es lie with the Lost. Cause"
NaTrOW-minded knockers can be
found on both sides We prefer n
stand with those on the one side who
have no adverse criticism 10 Offer a.
TO the acceptance by Congress OF Lees
effigy for Statuary Hall. IN the CauitoI
Very few, indeed, OF the G. a r fan
10 lndOrse such Congressional action
We believe. too. that not only would
the majority Of the Confederates and
sympathizers with the Lost Cause
Endorse the project OF a Barbara Friet-
Gle memorial. but would be willing.
also, 20 financially further the same.
Reverence To Flag.
As editorially said in a recent issue
OF lne FEeoerlch Dally News anent the
subject Of a memorial shaft TO Dame
Barbara:
THE name OF Barbara Frietchie
stands for reverence for the flag. II
for nothing else, her memory should
be Derpetuated-'
II would seem most appropriate that
at Francis Scott Keys native place
Frederick, Md-,-where may be seen a
handsome monument dedicated 70 the
memory Of him who gave Us the pa
triotic lyrics Of The Star-SpangIed
Banner" some memorial shaft should
be erected to Barbara Frietchie as one
who. during q later war. cc1spicuously
venerated that banner
With a country reunited under a COM
mon flag, we, as said. before, believe