davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

eaten, many in tatters and seemingly
beyond hope of repair, so TAR as ever
getting them in condition for display
was concerned. But Commander Cole
was untiring in his efforts to get some
measure passed by which an approprfa-
ton could be made for the repairing
of the flags before it was too late,
In moment of desperation he ap-
peared before the members OF the
House of Representatives and dra-
matically held up the fast disintesrat-
ing tatters of oliver Hazard perrys
action at the battle of Lake Erie. and
which bears in clumsily fashioned let
tiers the dying words OF capt; LEV Az
renee. Don't Give Up the snip. ms me-
mute appeal was more eloquent than
words, and on April 8, 1912. Congress
appropriated 100000 for the work OF
preservation.
About three months later Mrs. Fowler
secured the services of forty expert nee
ilewomen. who began the arduous task
Of sewing over by hand every inch Of the
15, 900 square yards in the nass' Which
the natural decay of age as well as the
almost helpless ravages OF moths mace
any ordinary metnoo OF Presei ~a.ioii
seem impossible.
A special process was originated by
Mrs Fowler. which is described as
spreading the tattered remnants OF each
flag upon a backing of heavy Irish linen
Of neutral color The delicate work was
guided by the original measurement OF
the flag. by knowledge of its design
and by placing in vertical and horizontal
line the warp and woof threads IN tns
fragments of bunting. What remained
of the original flag was then sewn firmly
to the linen backing by neediewomen;
under Mrs. Fowler's instruction and
guidance. The stitches of silk or linen
thread cover the entire surface of the
flag and its backing. with a very strong
yet hardly visible network or circular
meshes about half an inch In diameter.
The thread is carefully dyed to match
the colors of the old flag. however faded
and stained in varying degrees, where
there are gaps or missing parts IN the
original, and the stitches dyed to match
the adjacent edge of the old bunting com.
plete the design Of the flag and tell
graphically the story of the pieces that
are gone.
X
Less than year after the labor Of re-
pairing was begun, on May 1S. 1918. the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

flags flying. The flag of Rear Admiral
Montojo. also captured at Manila bay:
the ensign of the Spanish cruiser Girls
tobai Colon. taken after the battle OF
United States battleship oregon on July
8, 1895; a beautiful ensign captured
from the Spanish armed steamer Santo
Domingo by the United States auxiliary
cruiser Eagle off Piedras point.hwest of
the Isle of Pines, on the southwest
coast Of Cuba, July 2, 1898. are more
recent trophies.
The thrilling deeds Of American sea-
men are written in burning words over
these captured banners. and they may
well be displayed with pride that car
ries no boasting. A Chinese artillery
nag, captured during the Boxer trouble,
in 1900, Is an evidence of the bravery
Of Joseph Mitchell, f1rst-class gunner
mate Of the legation guard at Peking
during the siege of the legation by the
Boxers. on July IL, 1900. when. under
IRE from a Boxer barricade. he made a
dash from the line of defense. accom-
nanied by a British marine, who met his
death. They were covered by Private
young of the United States marines
who. by his accurate fire, kept the
Boxers down.
cantured by the United States sloop
wash in 1912. recalls a bloody battle
of that time.
was declared ana returned TO the LEI
aware with prize. She then sailed on
a cruise toward the middle of October
1912. when she fell in with squadron
of British merchantmen, conveyed by
a vessel of war. 1t was on Sunda!
morning, October IS. and the vesse
was the Frolic. When the Wasp hao
come within fifty or sixty yards of the
enemy the latter opened fire: it was re-
turned by the Wasp with vigor. The
sea was very rough, making 1t dimcul'
to manage the vessels. In fact. they
were so near at one time that they
touched each other, when the destruc
ton wrought by their guns was terri
BILE. After a time. when the Americana
boarded the enemy. they found no one
to oppose them.
The decks were covered by the deaf
and wounded and every man who wa,
able had gone below. except the OLD
seaman at the wheel. The officers cas-
down their swords in token Of submis
sion, and Lieut. Biddle hauled dow
the FroIic's colors. Capt. Jacob Jone
of the Wasp was honored by Congress
with thanks and give a gold medal
after which a popular song of the da!
described the fight:
The foe bravely fought. but his arms were al
broken,
affrighted;
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

deciduous trees. A popularity is that
this Chinese magnolia flowers before
its leaves appear. 1t bears large purple
flowers. The magnolia trees about the
Treasury and the White House are es-
pecially worthy Of note when they are
in bloom.
Probably the tree that has. proved
most useful in America Is the tree OF
heaven" 1t grows commonly along
roadsides, in private grounds and In
public parks in Washington, but 1t can
also survive the clouds of copper
smoke found in so many of the
larger towns of Arizona. 1t has
been subjected to great heat and ap-
pears to adapt itself to conditions of
temperature most admirably. 1t can
endure cold though in extreme cold II
suffers more than it does in extreme
heat Semi-arid conditions. found in
states Of the south and west. have ap
parently no deteriorating effects upon
it whatsoever In Boston this tree has
become naturalized.
One of the most ancient of Washing
ton trees is a pallownia, or empress
tree" of China 1t is In the vicinity OF
Chevy Chase Lake and on the grounds
of a residence that once was owned py
a rector of Rock Creek parish. The
leaf It flowers in the early spring and
is followed by a seed pod of good size
Specimens may also be found in the
White House grounds.
The sophora, or padoga tree, grows IN
the park SQUARES of Washington ana
also on the Capitol grounds. The soph-
ora is very common in Japan as well as
in China.
suburbs of Washington. The Chinese
pine is one of the recent importations
It is remarkable because of the white
ness Of it's bark. AS 1t natures It's
as snowy as that on the whitest OF
white birch. The pine in China is re-
garded as sacred.
The Cladrastis tinctoria, or yellow
wood, is "A Chinese tree not SO well
known. 1t grows in the White House
grounds. as does the gleditsch, a locust
from the orient.
A new willow has been shipped from
CHINA, variety of the Babylonian or
weeping willow. which is so popular
This willow grows in Potomac Park
along the speedway. Its distinguish
ing feature is it's globular head. There
iculturists as to whether or not the
willow originated in Babylonia OF
China.
Many people regard the ginkgo tree
of China as the most beautiful OF Al
country across the Pacific. The ginkgo
is commonly known as the maiden hail
fern tree, and 1t bears fruit which
the Chinese eat with considerable rel.
ish The ginkgo is a large tree wher
mature, but as a rule 1t is planted along
narrow streets in Washington because
Of the narrowness and closeness of it.
crown. It does not branch and spread
as the trees that border wide avenues
do. It is found on 18th street. H street
Pierce street west of 18th, Jackson
street north Of Pennsylvania avenue
At the 18th street entrance OF the De
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

~ AyANTS have declared that
China is the richest coun-
M try in the world in orna-
~ mental trees. shrubs and flow
ers Because of this and because
Of striking similarity Of climate be-
tween that of eastern China and east
ern North America the United States
Department Of Agriculture introduced
a number of Chinese trees and shrubs
into this country by way of expert
nnent.
The experiment in a great many
cases was so successful that the de-
partment has continued importing and
experimenting since the original in
PRODUCTION. until today if all Chinese
trees and shrubs were withdrawn from
TIE public parks, drives. streets.
grounds. etc, the country would suffer
an inestimable loss and would present
a barren and desolate appearance to
the eye.
The majority of the trees from the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11


A historical trophy Of interest whose
motto is known to young and old alike
throughout the land is the battle nag
of Commodore Perry. the identical BAN
ner that he hoisted at the masthead OF
the flagship Lawrence as a signal for
action on Lake Erie. September TO-
1918.
This banner bears the dying words OF
the brave Commander Lawrence. Don
Give Up the Ship" and looked down on
the terrible carnage wrought that day
on lake Erie when Capt. Perry, a
young man of twenty-s seven, was ngnt-
ing the seasoned old warrior, Com,
mander Barclay, veteran VINO nau
served under Nelson at Trafalgar
where he had lost an arm; me Law
renee. Perry's ship, was the prlncipai
target for the enemy and the chief SUI
ferer. She was damaged so severely
that 1t seemed impossible to keep her
afloat. so Perry left her to board the
Niagara The colors of the Lawrence
were actually hauled down, and but
for the bravery of Perry In bringing
the Niagara into action. thus cutting
the British line and turning the tide OF
battle. this old flag would probably
stead Of peacefully reposing at the Ma
val Academy. When Perry. in the Nj
agara, forced the gallant enemy to
wave the white nag. the Lawrence was
still afioat and the American colors
were again flying.
The first United States ensign hoisted
in Japan by Commodore Matthew Cal,
braith Perry. which marked the dawn OF
a new era for the japanese people. and
opened up the ports of Hakodate and
Simoda to American commerce. and later
to the world. is in this collection of flags.
Commodore Perry. at his interview with
the imperial commissioners. Toda, Prince
of Idz4 and lido. Prince OF 1wanie. a
Uraea, near Yokahoma. July IA, 1858, pre-
scented a letter from President Fillmore
with great pomp and ceremony. March
81. 1854. the commodore signed at Yo-
kahoma a provisional treaty. and latei
the commerce between the two nations
became general.
Beautiful Korean flags, captured JUNE
IL. 1871, lend color to the walls OF the
auditorium They were taken at the
punitive attack on the forts at kang Hoa
Salee river, near Boisee anchorage, ko'
rea, which read from bottom to top: Es
bannerette has the eight symbols OF 10
rea, which read from bottomto top: "Es
TEEN, reverence, honesty. courage
benevolence. charity. love, purity"
A huge flag is the jack of the Guer'
riere captured by the Constitution In thu
fight of August 10, 1872. This was {
deadly conflict with the entire force o
each vessel After a time the rigging o
the two vessels became entangled ant
Morris of the Constitution endeavored t.
lash the vessels together, but before HI
could accomplish 1t the sails of the Con
stitution filled and she shot ahead in
stantly, exposing the sha Uttered condition
of her antagonist. The foremost OF thu
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

I'm the auditorium of the academic
building at the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis are
q $4,000 square yards of flags. most
of them trophy flags. which will be ST.
lent witnesses of the monster prepared
ness parades. pageants and other Flag
day exercises which will take place the
nth of June.
The capture of these tattered banners
helped to make the Stars and Stripes
respected by the nations of the earth
and reflect undying glory on the men
of the United States navy. They are
living proofs of the heroism and cour-
age of the soldiers and sailors who
fought to maintain the flag when the
nation was struggling for independ-
ence, and later when she was lighting
,, firmly establish the foundations of
the greatest republic in the world.
The American flag which is in use to-
day was adopted by Congress April T.
1878, and was designed by Capt. Samuel
{. Reed. In 1777, June IA, the day now
celebrated as Flag day, and nearly
wear after the Declaration OF inde-
pendence. Congress passed a resolution
defining the flag of the nation, the nag
of thirteen stripes. with a union OF
thirteen white stars in a blue held
However, before this date the flag with
thirteen stripes had become almost uni
versal, but instead of stars a variety
of embIems for the union had been
used. as on January 1, 1875. Gen. WASH
ington unfurled at Cambridge, Mass. a
hae composed of thirteen red and white
stripes, with the crosses of st. George
and St Andrew emblaZoned on the blue
canopy in place of the stars. And TINS
flag was also carried by the fleet under
kins when it sailed from the Delaware
capes February II. 1Il6-
The idea of the star is ascribed to
John Adams while some claim that
the entire flag was borrowed from the
coat of arms of the Washington fam
lily. In any case. the young republic
used it as emblematic of new con-
stelIation in the world of nations. and
as such it is one of the very old ma
tional flags of the world,
Charles w Stewart, superintendent
of the library of naval and war rec
orls, says: 1T was ordained and estab-
lished June IA, 1877. by resolution OF
the Congress of the United States of
North America and officially published
September and 3. 17I7. by the secre-
tary of the Congress, Charles Thorn
SON."
Mr.. Stewart adds: Among the ma
tional ensigns the flag Of Denmark is
probably the oldest; and that of Rus
STA. second in age. The present ma
tional flag of Spain dates from 1885,
that of France from 1889, England from
1901, Italy from 1s4s, Japan from 1859,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11
Trophy FLAGS Exhibited at Naval Academy

Guerrero fell, carrying with it her mAin-
mast. She surrendered, and the Consul
tuition carried the news of her great NC
tory to Boston. and the prestige OF the
American navy was raised.
February 90. 1915. the Constitution
captured the British ship Cyane. which
war of 1872 The Constitution at that
time mounted ffty-two guns and car
ried a crew OF 40 men. The Cyane
was a frigate- built ship. mounting in
all thirtyfour guns. and with her was
the Levant. new twenty-one gun
ship. After the Cyane had struck to
the Constitution the Levant. which had
been forced out of the fight. came back
and was also captured. This action
on the part OF the second British ship.
which could have escaped had her
commander been willing to abandon
her crippled consort, won enthusiastic
praise from the American officers. A
little later the Levant was recaptured
by an English feet that chased the
Constitution and her prizes,
The ensign of the Macedonian, .
battles. was captured by the forty
four-sun ship United States from the
Macedonian. q fine forty -nine-gun ship
living the British colors. sunday. octo-
Der rs, 1912. c
trred from the Confederates October q.
1864. is a relic of the civil war. The
ensign of the Spftfire. showing the
United States flag used In the gulf
squadron service during the war WIN
Mexico. and a number of relies OF the
Spanish war. notably Admiral Cervere's
flag. the flag of Rear Admiral Monto1o.
captured at Manila bay. May ], 1885,
and the first Spanish flag hauled down
othar interesting trophies were cap
tured by Edward Preble. whose Prov
ess in the Mediterranean rid the United
States and other nations OF the pratt
cal practices of Algiers, Tunis and
Tripoli, known as the Barbary states.
whose depredations on the commerce
of the world and whose insolence had
become hateful. considering their real
insignificance when compared with the
powers that submitted to their insults
At time when the United States had
no navy to protect her merchant vessels
she was compelled to pay tribute money
to the Bey of Algiers for immunity fol
her vessels on the high seas. In 1900 ths
United States man-of-war George Wash
ington. Capt cambridge commanding
money to the hey. Having arrived IL
port and paid the tribute the commands
was ordered by the hey to sail to Con
stantinople to carry I presents from me Se'
bridge told the hey he could not do .
without orders from his government tn
hey replied You pay me tribute. b!
which you become my slaves; therefor,
] have a right to order you as I thinl
proper"
Being under the guns of the Algerian
forts, Capt cambridge was compellet
. to obey and sailed out Of port flying TIL
Algerian flag over his vessel
! This tribute money was paid until I
manly voice in Congress arose. exclaim
ing: Millions for defense. but not
penny for tribute" and another hero
Commodore Decatur-sailing with hi
flagship for Algiers, brought the be.
hurlbly to his knees June 80, 1915. Ihi
distinguished commander lived at kAlo
rama, near Georgetown.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

orien. are ornamental shade trees and
were imported for the express purpose
of introducing decoration and variety
in arboricultura1 and horticultural
schemes throughout the country. In
1912 there were seventy-nine different
importations. including many kinds Of
Chinese trees. They were transplanted
with celebrity upon arriving at their
respective destinations, and suitable
length of time was permitted to elapse
in which to note their possibilities be-
fore any definite statements were
given out concerning them.
Chinese trees and shrubs are found
scattered widely throughout the United
States, though they grow most abun-
dainty and flourish with greater hardi-
hood along the Atlantic coast from
Massachusetts, to Florida and in. the
semi-arid states like Arizona. New
Mexico. Texas and parts of California.
In Washington there are a large
number of Chinese trees and shrubs
Department of Agriculture grounds
Smithsonian grounds, parks, large and
small. streets and avenues have a gen
erous supply of the trees that are do
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

partment of Agriculture grounds there
is an avenue of them. The ginkso 10
in all the parks. 80
cryptomeria is an interesting one 70
have in Washington because IN emma
it has the honor of bordering the pains
and roads which lead to Chinese tenn
pies. Many claim that it is more prop
erly a Japanese tree. 1t grows IN La
fayette Square.
The Chinese cypress and cedar Is also
found in Washington, and three new
varieties of holly have been added.
The umbrella tree Is famous Cni-
nese tree In Texas a new type OF tne
umbrella tree has been produced from
this and is known as the is in Wash u
;neton as It cannot stand penetrating
cold and raw winds
In southern California and through
out the southern states new oaInoo "
tree is being tried out. A grove OF OF
these Young bamboos in Louisiana 10
doing remarka bly, we'll; In fact, severaI
hundred of these trees nave oeeh
planted in the south ana tney Ia al a ma
ise TO thrive. They grow with amaI-
ing rapidity: in four months time one
bamboo cluster grew eighty Ieet. :.
has been said that on hot DAY IN tne
south the trees grow at the Saisi, =,
ing rate of an inch an hour Possibly
The frst forty feet of the older PAM
hoos are without branches. CaEIornla
boasts of several fine groves: Inc pam
boo is used largely for ouiio'hs pu'
poses. +bat IN
the whole. Chinese fruit is inferior 10
much of the fruit raised IN this Iou
try. This is true especially OF piuiis'
pears, peaches and apples. .r o ~ fruit
trees have been brought from .aara,
for experimental work. The 1eoesol
government has entire charge ot 'n nf
sort of work The Department OF
Agriculture is so thoroughly systema-
TIED that 1t is prepared to cope with
any emergency that may arise II mas
the facilities for handling every Phase
of a pkrplexing question: ana prsa a..e
narties naturally lack this extensive
equipment and are discouraged from
importing foreign trees except through
the Department of Agriculture. An IL
lustration of things that happen wnen
the chestnut blight This disease was
brought from China and killed alI the
chestnuts through large portions OF the
country.
i -
. Eventually, no doubt. taste for many
: of the odd Chinese fruits will be cult
waited and in that way they may be-
come popular. People are beginning
, to use the Chinese persimmon more.
and with many it finds distinct favor.
Chinese persimmon grows from four
and a half to Ave inches in diameter.
II is believed that the introduction OF
the Chinese jujube. which bears
fruit resembling a date. will make
. . possible a new variety Of fruit for the
table The jujube fruit is as large
!, as good sized 'prune, and is not un.
]. like q prune in appearance, though II
: has a distinctly reddish cast. Those
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

Austria Hungary from 1867. Germany
from 1871. Portugal from 1911 and
China from 1912"
Uncle Sam may we'll be proud of this
collection of 172>f at the academy.
of which almost every banner is the
trophy of deed of heroism dating
from the time when the famous old
sea fighter. Esek Hopkins, was ordered
to operate against Lord Dunmore and
his marauders in the Virginia waters
in 1916. There must have been grim
humor about this early hero. who push :
ed on to the Bahama Islands. captured
at Nassau. New Providence. and bore
away with these to New England the
governor of the island.
Hopkins. who had been commissioned
senior captain by Congress In 1175.
at the same time John Paul Jones of
Scotland, then a resident of Virginia.
had been made senior lieutenant: Joshua
Barney. who was the mate of vessel
at fourteen and commander at sixteen.
the first to unfurl the American flag in
Maryland, his native state; Thomas
Truxton. Edward Preble, James Law
renee. Oliver Hazard Perry. Isaac Hull
Stephen Decatur and a score or more of
others helped to capture these flags,
many of them from Great Britain, when
the British navy consisted of near a
thousand vessels, and an aggregate OF
$4,000 men, while the little navy of
the United States consisted of twenty
Vessels. DeSlueS SuTDCdtS, some OF WHICH
were of class less than frigates, and
some were unseaworthy.
y
From 1s47 to 1901 this collection of
flags, which should be one of Americas
most highly priced treasures, was kept
at the Naval Academy and exhibited
in the old Naval Institute Hall In
1901, when it was decided to tear down
this building, the flags were packed
in iron boxes and stored away. Be-
ing in a dilapidated condition when
they were taken down to be packed.
grave fears were entertained that they
would be further damaged by moths.
During the ten years they remained in
storage repeated efforts were made to
have the government take some steps
TO put them in permanent state of
preservation, but without success. The
Navy League of the United States.
through its president, Gen. Horace Por-
ter, appealed to the Secretary of the
Navy to take steps to have the flags
decay ruined them past repair.
From year to year the matter went
through the committees of Congress,
until finally, in 1911, Commander Will
liam c. Cole, who was then the officer
in charge of buildings and grounds at
the Naval Academy. and who felt the
necessity of Immediate action, secured
the services Of Mrs. AmeliaeFowler OIL
Boston. who was recommended as an
expert on flag preservation, to examine
the flags and report what she con-
sidered best to have done.
Mrs. Fowler, after careful examina-
ton, found the flags in a most de-
plorable condition, all of them moth
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-11

About Fifteen Thousand Square Yards of Cap
- Been Restored by Expert Neewomen and Are
Royal Standard the Only Flag of Its Kind Ever
Brought Mind by Glance Various
Banners of the War With Spain