The National tribune., 1910-06-02

National Convention of the Woman's
Relief Corps took up the active work
of teaching patriotism by appointing
a Committee of the Teaching of Patri-
otism in each of its 5000 Corps, and
later changed the character of the
work by appointing a Patriotic In
structor in each Corps. Since that time
patriotic work has assumed gigantic
proportions.
The Grand Army of the Republic,
following in the footsteps of the Wom-
ans Relief Corps, took up the work
III Denver in 1905.
At the National Convention held in
Buffalo, n. Y, in 1897, the w. r. c.
introduced flag ritual in their work,
which has increased the interest in pa
triotic instruction, and thousands of
silk flags are being used in every State
where the W. r. c. has planted its
loyal standard of Fraternity, Charity
and Loyalty" This ritual work has
tended to increase the placing of flags
in school rooms
In summing up the great patriotic
work accomplished by the Woman's
Relief Corps. it can be truthfuIly said
that no other woman's organization in
the world can show so much. That
there may be no doubling brothers or
sisters in other patriotic organizations,
1t may be well to give few statistics
to prove the bold assertion made herein.
been unfurIed in and over the public
and private schools of our country.
In 1893 there were not 10000 chill
dren saluting the Flagi To-day there
are at the least calculation, 100000
children honoring the Star Spangled
Banner in the morning exercises in
opening the schools. This glorious, pa
triotic achievement has been accom-
plished by the Woman's Relief Corps of
this country.
Through the influence and teaching
of our splendid organization, many new
patriotic features have been introduced
and indorsed in nearly every State in
the Union, and by many of our most
prominent educators. The Grand Army
of the Republic at the Denver National
Encampment adopted patriotic teach
ing and appointed instructors, and have
taken up the work vigorously, after
rejecting II 10 years ago. great
patriotic wave has swept over the coun-
try, its circles started by the Woman's
Relief Corps. Three years ago, imme-
diately following the election of Mrs.
Donald Mclean as President-Generalo of
the Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion, that splendid body of women took
up the patriotic work inaugurated by
the Woman's Relief Corps.
All patriotic organ iZations would like
to claim the institution of this work,
but it belongs first to these two vet
erans of the war of the rebellion. The
Woman's Relief Corps simply proved
up on the claim staked out by them.
The Story of the Flag.
There is room in this country for but
one Flag, and the Star Spangled Banner
must head the procession or il cannot
march. The American Flag floats to-day
the wonder of the civilized nations.
Just a century and SO years ago its
bright folds We're flung to the winds of
heaven amid the execrations of the
English and the jeers of half a world
To-day its 13 little stars are mul-
tiplied to magnificent As, and
upon its dominions the sun never sets
With never the loss of star, but with
constant gains; with no stain upon q
stripe of its crimson and white, ii floats
in rainbow radiance upon the winds OF
blood-wrougiIt freedom, loved and
venerated at home, respected and
feared abroad: the type of all that is
highest and holiest in human aspira-
tions-emblem of all that is brightest
and best in human achievements
June IA, 1777. was the day that the
Flag was born. The American Congress
that day in session in independence
Hall in Philadelphia, Resolved, That
the Flag of the 13 United States be
13 stripes. alternate red and white;
that the Union be Is stars, white in &
blue field, representing a new constel
lation.'
So much we know, and nothing more
of how the Flag came TO be just the
beautiful thing that it IL. Not a scraI
of writing or print has come down L
US to show who selected the stripes
the stars. or the combination of red
white and blue. There has been a worlC
of conjecture about il, but the fact re
mains that the Flag we call "Old Glory
Is both fatherless and motherless, 8,
far as its colors and design go.
1t Is not difficult for one who love
the broad stripes and bright stars o
the Flag to believe that It really cam,
10 us as heaven-born inspiration. 4
woman's deft fingers made the frs
flag and all the flags of the countr,
for nearly so years. Betsy Ross, o
Philadelphia, who made the ruffleC
shirts that Washington wore, was Sc
lected by the committee to work ou
the design of the Flag as prescribed b
Congress. George Washington, Rober
Morris and Col. Ross were appointe
committee to have this Flag made.
A mythical story is told about tn
refusal of Mrs Ross to cut the six
pointed star suggested by Washington
II being, she is reputed TO have saiC
the English star and the remnant O
heraldry." The five-pointed star whic
she did cut is the regulation star of al
heraldry. 1t can be cut with one sni
or the scissors. SO can the four si
and eight pointed stars.
The Special Flags.
How many of you know that III
President of the United States has
nag?
What is the revenue pennant like?
Can you describe the flag OF the Sec
retary of the Navy, or that of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury?
Why not make an exhaustive stud