The chronicle=news., 1914-07-28

This morning as | passed into the
Land Office, The Flag dropped me
most cordial salutation, and from its
rippling folds l heard 1t say: Good
morning, Mr. Flag Maker"
II beg your pardon Old Glory"
said, "aren't you mistaken? l am
not the President of the United
States. nor member OF Congress,
nor even a general in the army, l am
only Government clerk"
Il greet you again, Mr.. Flag
Maker" replied the gay voice.
II know you we'll. You are the
yesterday Strengthening out the tan
gle of that farmers homestead in
Idaho. or perhaps you found the
mistake in that Indian contract in
Oklahoma, or helped to clear that
patent 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 to the old soldier in
Wyoming. No matter; whichever
one of these beneficent individuals
you may happen to be l give you
greeting Mr.. Flagmaker.
was about to pass on, when The
Flag stopped me with these words:
Yesterday the President spoke q
word that made happier the future
of ten million poems in Mexico: but
that act looms no larger on the flag
than the struggle which the boy in
Georgia is making to win the Corn
Club prize this summer.
Yesterday the Congress spoke a
word which will open the door Of
Alaska; but mother in Michigan
worked from sunrise until far into
the night to give her boy an educa-
tion. She. too. is making the flag.
Yesterday we made a new law to
prevent financial Danics, and yes
terday maybe, school teacher in
Ohio taught his first letters to boy
will give cheer to the millions OF our
race. We are all making the flag"
But. said impatiently. 'these
people are only working"
Then came a great shout from The
Flag:
1.-The work that we do is the max
ing of the flag.
II am not the flag; not at all. 1
am but its shadow.
II am whatever you make me,
nothing more.
Il am your belief in yourself, your
dream of what people may become.
Il live a changing life, life of
moods and passions. OF heart breaks
and tired muscles.
Sometimes am strong with pride
| when we do an honest work, fitting
the rails together.
Sometimes l droop. for the pur-
pose has gone from me, and cynically
| play the coward. ..
Sometimes l am loud, garish, and
full Of that ego that blasts judgment.
But always l am all that you
! hope to be and have the courage to
try for. err
II am song and fear, struggle and
panic, and ennobling hope.
II am the days work of the weak
est Mun, anu tNe largest dream OIL
the most daring.
Il am the Constitution and the
courts, statutes and the statute maxi
ers, soldier and dreadnaught, dray-
man and street sweep, cook, COUNSEL
or, and clerk.
Il am the battles of yesterday and
the mistakes of tomorrow.
Il am the mystery of the men
who do without knowing why.
81 am the clutch of an idea, and
the reasoned purpose of resolution.
81 am no more than what you be-
lieve me to be and | am all that you
believe | can be.
Il am what you make me. nothing
more.
Il swing before your eyes as u
bright glcam OF color. a symbol Of
yourself, the pictured suggestion OF
that big thing which makes this ma
tion. My stars and my stripes are
your dream and your labors. They
are bright with cheer, brilliant with
courage, firm with faith, because You
have made them SO with your hearts.
For you are the makers of the flag
and 1t is well that you glory in the
making.