Newark post., 1911-06-14
THE EVOLUTION OF THE FLAG

I five pointed star with an exhibition of
| how to do so with one clip of the scis-
sors. MIR. Spaid demonstrated to the
| audience just how this is done.
The flag as made by Betsy Ross was
adopted by Congress on June 14th, 1777.
A discussion of it does not seem to have
| been taken up by the newspapers before
August of that year.
Here Mr. Spaid paused to consider the
| first appearance of the flag in battle. He
| told of New York's claim that it was first
christened at Fort StaniuX on August
3rd, l777 and he was willing to admit
that they did use an improvised flag of
that pattern, made from an old skirt, a
soldiers coat and some scraps of white
cloth. This in no way interferes with
Delaware's claim of being the scene Of
the initiation of real Betsey Ross flag
The claim is strengthened by the follow
ing !Aicts: When the British sailed
southwark Washington hastened to place
himself between their forces and Phila-
delphia. AS the Continental Army pass
ed through Philadelphia the records re-
cord that bands were playing and flags
flying.
The entire army bivouaced near Kia-
mensi From this Washington sent a
small force southwark who encountered
the British at Cooches Bridge Not more
than AZ or 43 men were killed and the
affair is considered by historians too
slight to be even recorded as a skirmish
But as it was the first engagement since
the distribution of the new flag C'Con-
sress promulgated the flag on September
Srd, l777'D we have every reason to sup
pose it was first used right here.
There are several flags supposed to
have been made by Betsy Ross still in
existence, one of which is owned by an
old soldier of Wilmington.
1t was soon discovered that the adding
Of both star and stripe for each new
State would spoil the beauty of the flag.
In 1918 Congress fixed the number of
stripes thirteen, each State to be repre-
sented by star, which is placed on the
Union of the flag the Fourth of July fol-
lowing the admission of the State into
the American Union.
Such is "Old Glory as it now stands.
This term was first applied to the Stars
and Stripes by Colonel William Driver,
loyal Union man, who lived during the
oi'ii val III 1NdSnVllle, tennessee. He
was known to have 10 yards of bunting
IN his possession, but the Confederate
searchers were unable to discover it in
his home. When the Union troops en-
tered the city he ripped open the quilt
on hic bed, took from between its folds
the bunting and giving it to the old SOL
diers said, place Old Glory on top of
the Court House steeple and I'll die
happy"
The speaker illustrated the meaning
of the flag to us very forcibly by repre-
senting a Newark hoy engaged in busi-
ness in China. Suppose him settled in
that far away land, the proprietor of a
little store representing capital OF
$500. Suppose there should be a Boxer
uprising, and the little store looted, the
boy going to the minister and asking to
have his losses made good; the Chinese
government refusing to handle the mat
ter, the message to our Secretary os
State, the consultation with the Secre-
tary of War, the sending of one battle
ship of ten battleships, until the griev-
ance of that plain American citizen is
| righted. This gives us slight idea of
the protection with which the flag sur
rounds us.