Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-12
THE SNAR sSPANGLED BANNER,
 WucH TLoAIEp QVER, TMcHErlRY

world none the less dear to present gen. erations than our trophies, can be found in the memorial halls of Europe. Usually they have been skillfully sewed between two pieces of new. Some of our own ban ners were preserved in the same way. satisfactory. Neither was the condition of the flag improved. nor it's durability guaranteed. Time still wrought decay.
 And so the Star Spangled Banner has lain torn and faded and untouched. But now it is being preserved!
 - In Boston lives Mrs. Amelia Fowler. first an expert needlewoman and today the only scientific preserver of flags in the country, perhaps the world. And to her is due the credit for the invention which is making possible the preservation of the Stars and Stripes
 Mrs Fowlers method is simple. Yet it represents sixteen years work. It stands for years of experiment and study. and the evolution of an unknown study to the science of profession.
 The Star Spangled Banner, thought to be the largest American flag ever in &C., tual service, measures 29x32 feet. It has fifteen stripes and the same humber of stars, the blue field occupying more than fourth of the surface of the flag One star is entirely gone and a small DOT ton of the stripes, while it is practically riddled with holes, due solely to the nat ural decay of the bunting.
 First a backing. the dimensions of the flag, is being made of the finest Irish linen manufactured Upon this the ban ner will be laid.
 position it will eventually keep. So diffi- cult, so delicate is this work that only Mrs. Fowler herself will do it. Not a thread must be stretched too tight. else, | break it. Not a single one of the raveled ends must remain uncaught, else they will entirely disappear through rot. Then comes the final sewing. This may require the services of fifty girls each an expert in plain sewing. each l filled with the responsibility of the work l being done. More than 15O0, GOO stitches l will be necessary to preserve the flag By Mrs. Fowler's method which require. | special stitch, every square inch oI | the flag will have ten stitches in 1t. Tha | means 360 stitches to every six-incl | square. In this way the old flag is lit erally made a part of the linen, but al the wear and strain comes upon tn, 1 latter. The work will take about si1 l weeks.
 Special linen thread is required anc this is dyed to match exactly the portion of the flag on which it is used. On thos, | portions of the linen left exposed be l cause of holes in the banner, the stitch | ing will still be done. In this way al
 
 the flag should have been-intact, whil yet not actually having been repaired with new bunting.
 It is really the west hall of the Smith
 sonian Institution in which the work i being done, but somebody gave the room i the name of chapel" and it is nor popularly known under that title. No is it uniting. long. high-roofed room
 with curved windows at either end, i
 bears in all truth, close resemblanc to a chapel.
 At one end, laid out upon a speciall
 constructed table, lies the real Sta
 Spangled Banner. And at the other stand
 Was it. after all but chance that brough
 these two together?
 In classic garb sits the Father of Hi
 Country" In one hand, extended, is sword. The other is raised. as if to bi
 silence in this room, which contains s , much of value to the nation. In the midst of this sits Mrs. Fowler
 gray-haired, serene, her deep, blue eye
 tear -dimmed as she talks of this flag, he flag, our flag.
 And over all seems to brood the spir = of Betsy Ross.
 "We need our flags Mrs. Fowler said i, her voice vibrating, not because of tn deeds of valor they stand for. as muc as for the heritage of inspiration the represent.
 . We live, sad to say, in age of littl . patriotism. Somehow the dear old fla , seems to be all rolled up in a tight wac
 with string tied around it. And hidde
 deep in its folds lie all those thing
 which should be part of our daily life.
 "The flag is not a thing to fold up an lay away. It is something to keep eve in sight-something to live by and for, g . well as to die for. It stands not alor for battle. It's mission today is one peace, one of inspiration toward progres |
 Teach the children of today to To, the flag, as well as to honor it, and VI !. !. will teach them inherent patriotism. [ not have a flag tucked away. to brir r out on the Fourth of July. Washington g birthday and other such occasions. Kee one hung in the child's own room. AT then when he is disobedient don't ser him to a dark room to repent. Bid hi h stand before the flag of his country ar . be ashamed to be an integral part of Ask him is he willing to face it. ar yet not be an honor to it. . That is what our flag should meal ;, If it has stood for wars in the past, need not. and, I pray, will not do r lin the future. Let it be an emblem
 peace. Symbols of glory and sacrifi e alone, our old flags are valueless to l today. But as indicative of the inspir,