Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14

painted. But. even though the finest
quality paint was used. the silk would
ton. who for years made the, flags Of
the Massa chusetts regiments, determined
to find another way.
In Europe. the Japanese method OF
embroidery used. which makes II pos
sible TO have both sides perfect. But
in the case of our flags there was a
seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Eu-
ropean flags invariably had the same de-
sign on both sides. On our rcgimental
flags each side bears a different emblem.
The japanese method. therefore. was
worthless.
Mr. Eaton started to find some one
who could get around this. One woman
took two pieces of silk. embroidered the
emblem and then sewed them together.
The result was a banner too weighty to
unfurl in the breeze Another tried ap-
pliaue. This. too failed At his wits
end. Mr. Eaton began systematic
search through the telephone and city
directories for women doing embroid-
cry. lie literally stumbled across Mrs.
Fowler.
He explained what was wanted. She
answered that 1t had never been done
lie replied. he knew that only too
we'll
'Give me ten days, and l will tell you
If can do it," she told him.
At the end of that time she said she
could lie hardly believed her, but gave
her chance To prove ner statement
To make long story short, she sue
ceeded so well that she made all the
sflken banners carried by the Massachu-
seets troops during the spanish American
war
ton 10 working in flags. One daS she
visited Memorial Hall. Boston. where,
Mr.. Eaton in charge. all the trophy ban
ners of the state hung In splendid dis
play.
Fowler exclaimed But they can't last.
They are falling to pieces now. They
should be preserved
IT know" said Mr.. Eaton, sadly. but
how. how"
"The insistence OF that question" SAYS
Mrs Fowler. ''rung in my ears long after
l had left the hall. How! ! kept sayins
me. here was a chance to do something
really big. 1t would be tragic to lose
the flags which have stood for so mucn
in the history of this country "ouid
save them. But how?
mo one can know the love that went
into my work. nor the sacrifice. My life
became dedicated to my work, gave up
everything possible to follow my studies
If it had not been for my powerful love-
it would have been abject labor. Four
teen years l spent in making my work
profession. | studied flags. old and
new. Most of all ! studied our mag. l
learned its meaning. From mere
piece of cheap bunting it came to repre-
sent to me the greatest inspiration a
country could possess.
Just think what our flag means to US.
''It isn't the actual strips of bunting.
nor the field of blue. It's what they
stand for. What they have stood for
all these years. Think of Francis Scott
Key, standing upon the deck of that
ship, compelled through circumstance
to witness the bombardment of Fort Nc
Henry by the British. Just think what
it meant to him.
He knew not whether the red coats
were victorious or not-but by a. single
token. The Stars and Stripes which
fioated above the fort. So he watched
them-he made them represent the fate
of the fort.
Twilight came and slowly. even they
were blotted from sight. What was
happening? And then
''And the rockets red glare. the bomb bursting
Gave proof through the night that nag was
still there
Think of the agony of suspense be.
tween those loud reports. and the con-
sequent glare when, for a single in
slant, perhaps, the banner of his land
stood out against the inky sky.
And then morning came.
"on the shore. dlmly seen through the mists Of
the deep.
What is that which the breeze DER the tower.
ing steep
As II ftfully blows, half conceals, half dis
closes?
Now it catches the CLEAN of the mornings inst
BEAM
cit. was the fag-his hag-triumphant
McHenry still stood,
''Can any American today stand before
this flag without feeling something Of
the suspense, the agony Of hope, which
was Keys? Can any one looking at this
faded, priceless piece of bunting, fail to
realize what it represents; fail to feel q
thrill of deep, sincere love for this-the
emblem of his. of her, country. L think
net! l hope mott"