The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-02-27
FLAG PRESENTATION.
Washington's Birthday At Blythe
dale School.

! To THE EDIToRs:-If anyone in the county
| thinks that patriotism is q lost virtue or that
our public school system is in serious danger,
the Observance of Washington's birthday ct
Blythedale public school on Monday ought to
be pleasant surprise. AS the whole county
could not be there. which is pity, the next
best thing is to know about it. In the morn
ing the blizzard promised nothing In the way
OF attendance. Indeed, it seemed to many the
part of prudence to postpone the exercises.
The program, nevertheless, was carried out.
except the flag raising out of doors. More
over, as for attendance, SO many more people
came than the school could hold that the ex-
ercises were held in the church adjacent, the
Household of Faith, which Hospitality opened
its doors for the occasion. All the seats were
filed and additional chairs were needed, and
furnished by Clifton jackson.
The particular feature of this years cele-
bration was the presentation of a flag to the
Blythedale school by the patriotic societies of
Perryvile. The four donors were the Patri-
otic Sons of America, the Daughters Of Lib
erty, the Junior Order of American Mechanics
and the Improved Order of Red Men.
Representatives Of each of these organiza-
tions were present and George h. Boyd acted
as chairman. The Perryville band gave its
acceptable services and two speakers came
from Baltimore. Prof. William j. Heaps. State
Secretary of the P. o. s. of A., and Dr. ]. G.
Littleton. Great Chief of Records, /. O. r. M.
The program which was well chosen, held
the interest of all throughout the exercises.
The band played three selections at appro-
pirate intervals and accompanied the singing
of two national airs, The Red, White and
Blue, and America The singing of the school
was especially good. The recitations and dia-
logues by the children all referred to George
Washington or the flag, and came at points
between the four chief addresses.
Prof. Heaps made an impassioned address
on the necessity Of keeping the public schools
absolutely free from every kind of sectarian.
ism. DIR. Littleton, acknowledging like Prof.
Heaps, his great personal indebtedness to the
public school system Of Maryland, in an easy
conversational vein, held the attention of
everyone. The speaker made two predictions.
He told the girls of the school that they would
all have vote by the time they were grown
up.-and the trend of events certainly strong =
ly hints that the Eastern States will event.
ually follow the example Of the progressive. If
younger, States of the West. He also proph-
esied the ultimate abolition Of the drink
traffic. Heaven speed it's comingl
The presentation of the flag was made on
behalf of the societies by f. M. Cochran.
chairman member of all four orders His
address, simple, unpretentious, appropriate.
showed fine spirit of good nature and fair
ness. On behalf of the school, Levi Patterson.
one of the trustees, accepted the flag in fore
ible speech, commingling colloquial humor,
satire of present day follies, and patriotism.
Miss Kimball, principal of the school, thank
ed everyone, the orders, the band. the neigh
bors, the trustees of the church, the patrons
Of the school, everybody who had contributed
to the success of the occasion. The exercises
closed with the singing of America, accom-
panied by the band.
Blythedale, Md, C. 8.
February "a, 1914