The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-14
FIRST NATIONAL STANDARD
 WAS A CAT ON A SPEAR

A Socialist once referred to the United States flag as "a painted rag on stick" The speed that misguided agitator made in getting out of town would make him eligible for place on the Olympic Marathon team. Re- formers have learned that they can att tack constitutions and courts, and presidents, and kings, but that a na- tlonal flag fs buzz-saw, metaphor. ically speaking, that it is well to lei alone. Today h Flag Day in the United States. and will be marked by special exercises in practically every city of the republic, and particularly in the public schools. The Stars and Stripes became sthe official emblem of the United States 135 years ago. to- day, which disposes of the popular theory that Old Glory was the inven- tion of MT. George M Conan.
 Although special flags existed in some of the colonies prior to the American Revolution, it was the ban ner that was carried to victory in the colonial wars against Spain, France and the Indians. Most of the early flags of the colonists were patterned after the Union Jack of the mother country. The Grand Union Flag, raised at Cambridge in 1776, was the first used by the American Army that had thirteen alternate red and white stripes. the number symbolic of the thirteen colonies. Many flags were the early days of the republic. One of them, designed by Thomas Paine, was composed of all the colors of the rainbow, symbolizing peace. The Stars and Stripes design, however was officially adopted on June 14, TIT. Later. with the admission of new States, the number of stars on the blue background gradually in- creased, and on the Fourth of July next two more, for Arizona and New Mexico. will be added, making forty eight in all. This Is likely to remain the national flag of the United States for many years to come.
 It ts probable that the first flag was carried by the Saracens in their battles with the Crusaders, the lat- ter adopting the idea. which thus spread over Europe. Long before that there had been national standards, however. as the ancient Egyptians carried before their hosts the figure of sacred animal on a spear. A stuffed cat impaled on a stick was the forerunner of the banners now in use. In the days of the old Persian empire a blacksmiths apron was car- ried aloft at the head of the army, while the standard of the Turks was a horses tail.
 Today flag is the most revered of all inanimate objects, and the world is full of people who would willingly die for their colors Even the "emanci- pated'' anarchist. who boasts of hav- ing discarded all superstitions, gets his greatest enthusiasm from. looking upon the flag when it is red. There is something about 8 flag that
 ''Shoot. if you will, this old gray knob, but spare our country's flag" we sob.
 Today is the centennial of the birth of Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Toms Cabin" ac- cording to number of supposedly re- liable refernce works. Other author ities", however, give the birth date of Mrs. Stowe as 1911, instead of 1912, while still others alleged that she was born in 1914. Rev. Charles B. Stowe. of Pittisfield, Mass, is the only survivor of Mrs. Stowe's children, the last of her daughters, Miss Eliza Tyler Stowe, having died three months ago at Simsbury, Conn.