The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-07-11


This morning as | passed into the
/ land Office, the flag dropped me a
most cordial salutation, and from its
ripping folds / heard IL say Good
morning, Mr.. Flag Maker,
II beg your pardon, Old Glory, J
said, you are mistaken. | am not
the president OF the United States
nor the vice-president. nor member
/ OF congress nor even a general In
the army. ! am only a government
| clerk"
Il greet you again. MIR Flag Max
Icr replied the gay voice, Il know
you Well You are the man who
worked in the swelter OF yesterday
STRENGTHENING out the tangle of that
farmers homestead i'm Idaho"
No, | am not | was forced TO con
fess.
Wei, perhaps you are the one who
| discovered the mistake in that Indian
contract in Oklahoma
No, wrong again, said
We'll YOU helped 10 clear that pat
ent for the hopeful inventor in New
York, or pushed the opening OF that
new ditch in Colorado, or made that
mine in Illinois more safe, or brought
relief 10 the old soldier in Wyoming
No matter, whichever one Of these
benefcent individuals you may hap
pen TO be, give you greeting. Mr.
Flag Maker"
| was about 10 pass on, feeling that
7 was being Knocked, when the flag
stopped me with these words
You know. the world knows, that
yesterday the president spoke word
that made happier the future OF TO-
100000 poems in Mexico, but that act
llooms no larger on the flag than the
struggle which the boy in Georgia is
making 10 win the corn-club prize
this summer
Yesterday the congress spoke a
word which will open the door OF
Alaska, but a mother In Michigan
worked from sunrise until far into the
night 70 give her boy an education.
! She, too, is making the flag. Yester-
/ day We made a new law 10 prevent
4 financial panics yesterday, no doubt,
( a school teacher in Ohio taught his
\ first letters TO a boy who will write
song that will give cheer 10 the
millions Of our race. We are all
( making the flag"
4 But | said impatlently these
1 people were only working"
Then came a great shout about the
flag
Let me tell you who I am. The
work that we do is the making OF the
! real flag | am not the flag. not az
! all | am but It's shadow | am
I whatever you make me, nothing
more. am your belief in yourself
Your dream of what people may be-
| come live a changing life. a life
| OF moods and passions, Of heartbreaks
and tired muscles Sometimes / am
! strong with pride when men do an
honest work, fitting the rails together
! truly. Sometimes l. droop, for then
/ purpose has gone from me, and, Gym
! ically, ! play the coward Sometimes
! ! am loud garish, and full OF that
ego that blasts judgment. But al
ways | am all that you hope TO be
and have the courage 70 try for |
am song and fear, struggle and panic,
and ennobling hope, I am the day 5
work OF the weakest man and the
| largest dream OF the most daring
! am the constitution and the courts,
statutes and statute makers soldier
and dreadnaught, drayman and street
| sweep cook, counselor and clerk,
am the battle Of yesterday and the
| mistake OF tomorrow | am the mys-
terry OF the men who do without know
ing Why | am the clutch OF an idea
! and the reasoned purpose Of resolu-
! ton | am no more than what you
! believe me TO be and | am all that
| YOU believe | can be am what you
| make me, nothing more / swing be
I fore your eyes as a bright CLEAN OF
color. a symbol OF yourself, the pic
tured suggestion Of that org thing
which makes this nation My stars
and my stripes are your dreams aud
your labors They are bright with
cheer. brilliant with courage. firm
with faith. because you have made
! them so out Of your hearts for you
are the makers OF the flag and II is
we'll that you glory I'm the making