The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-07-08
RANDOM "REMINISCENCES.
Anniversary of Nations Birth Recalls
Patriotic Memories.

FASFtQt1C NIGmOEaSS.
Donaldsonville, La, July 4, 1916
Editor Chief:
In 1851 my brother, Capt. John G
Davidson, and | spent the Fourth OF
July together on small schooner
picnicking on Indian river, state OF
Delaware, our birthplace. This is the
next Fourth we have had the pleasure
of spending in each others company
We have been separated, and as many
as thirty years have elapsed when we
did not see each other. In February,
1862, my brother bade me goodbye.
In December, 1862, said farewell to
home and relatives, sad, but filled
with hope and aspirations of a prom
Using future.
| have little to complain of. have
been extended every courtesy by
many friends during my extensive
travels. In surveying the past, vivid
pictures present themselves to me as /
saw them. The original flag, ''Old
Glory" the point within circle !;
twelve stars forming circle, with one
in the center set in blue square /;
seven red, six white stripes alternat-
ing, making thirteen stripes; also
thirteen stars, representing the thir-
teen original states that formed our
federal Union.
| have visited the Betsy Ross house
in Philadelphia, the room where the
flag was made, with the original
furniture therein, and sat in Betsy's
chair-but did not make any flags. /
also. on the 4th of July two years
ago, visited Annapolis with several
friends from Baltimore and saw the
original flag. 1t is still preserved in
the state house at Annapolis Betsy
Ross made flags for the United States
from June, l776, to 1927, when she
retired. Her daughter, Clarissa Sid
ney Wilson, continued the work until
1857, when she moved to Fort Madi-
son, Iowa. So for eighty-one years
flags for the United States were made
in this house, now preserved by pa
trlotic society as shrine of American
liberty. The house was bought and |
paid for by ten-cent subscriptions. |
Betsy Ross was considered the most |
expert needlewoman in Philadelphia. |
General George Washington, Robert
Morris and George Ross, members of
congress, gave the order for the orig
nal flag. Betsy Ross husband, John
Ross, had been killed short time be-
fore while in the service of his coun-
,ry. He was the nephew of George
Ross, member of congress-. All the
sbove were Free Masons, except
Betsy.
Your st. Johns day celebration
ere called to my memory the lecture
heard in the Philadelphia Temple, /,
broad and Filbert streets. Phila-
elphia; the cradle of liberty, with its $
Id state house, Fifth and Chestnut
treets; Carpenters Hall, Fourth and I
hestnut, where the old Ship Masters c
ssociation meets. 1t was organized c
/ 1865 and the original flag is well T
reserved. | feel honored to be a Q
ember of the old association. Ste p
hen Girard was the founder. If | a
Id boy his education in the Girard t
Ollege would be free. Stephen made a
, provisions for the females. Pre- s.
mably, no suffragettes bothered tt
m. If the old man were permitted a
come back, he would find the tt
rife between the sexes quite differ ii
t now. p;
Permit me to extend my thanks for bl
2 courtesies extended me, and be- So
We me to be, II
Yours fraternally, pl
l. BURTON DAVIDSON, to
Publisher Florida Parishes, Amite ci
City, La. W:
?. Shaving had the pleasure to- %
: of hearing the two eloquent ~
akers who delivered patriotic ad- 81 81
sses, many interesting incidents Vi
the kind come to mind, and / am ~
mpted to offer congratulations to ~ ~
speakers and eulogies to the peo- s sn'
of Donaldsonville. ioi
fe,
FOR SALE. do,
TEEN HEAVY MULES. ten years and
a n n fNS