Oxford Democrat., 1916-02-22
The Story of. the Flag.

The s.Song of Washington, and the
true story Of the creation Of the U. s
flag by Betsey Ross under the direction
of Washington, has been printed for the
first time by publisher in Washington
D.. c., who received it from one OF the
descendants Of Mrs. Ross.
The story will make every patriotic
heart beat with love and admiration fol
Washington, az we'll as for the beautiful
stars and stripes, and should bes accept.
ed with joy and pride by every living
veteran of the civil war who fought and
suffered hardships to maintain the honor
of the flag. -
Our flag is the highest symbol Of liber.
ty, the grandest expression of the soul
of our nation. 1t stands for the best
ideals, the fondest hopes Of its citizens,
and every one should know It's true story
and all that pertained to its conception,
and working out Of Washington's
thought, by the skilled hands of Mrs.
Ross. d, p :
The husband of Bstsey Ross had sacri.
feed his life for the cause of liberty,
and she was left to earn her living in a
small upholstering shop In Philadelphia,
Pa. Washington came to her shop
with the plan of the flag, but relied
upon her skill to fashion FIVE pointed
star, which she soon accomplished. 1t
was to Mrs. Ross alone that Washington
revealed the story. The "Stars and
Stripes" said he, "are not of mortal Gre
alton, they come as an inspiration TO the
new epoch that now is at hand. plan
ned not the flag, but last night there
came to me whether in sleep / know
not) a great, strange light, unlike that OF
sun or stars, or any that ever shone on
land or sea, and out of that light came .
voice that filled all space with harmony
and these words were sung, which
with the music, l have written downfor
you to keep always" =. :.
"I cannot sing them as heard them, ="
said Washington, but sitting down to
che dulcimer and striking chords OF
wondrous sweetness as an accompant
ment, he sang the words given below.
Mrs. Ross safely kept the song until pesr
the end of her life on earth. when she
gave the yellowed, faded sheet Of paper
to her son to keep as sacrediy as she had
done. - -.
THE SONG OF WASHINGTON.
."Our stars shall shine DER land and sea;
Our stars shall make forever free
All men and nations far and Wide,
From year to year and tide 70 tide. : /.
+; The Stars, the Stars Of Liberty"
/. "Our stripes declare the Union sound.
OF Sovereign States the globe around;
OF right at home and right abroad,
Established as the peace OF God,
The Stripes, the Stripes Of Unityr'
.our stars and Stripes that now unfurled
A new day bring unto the world; q.
The day when al men brothers are,
The day that ends all thought of war,
The Starr and Stripes this day unfurledP r.
"Thus came the flag SO long ago
with q constellation Of thirteen stars
only, shining there a. sketched by Wash
ington and made by Betsey Ross on that
day. Little could they foresee that in
days to come 1t would float from ocean
TO ocean, from lakes to gulf, with stars
forty eight in number, and over . popu-
lation Of nearly one hundred million
people, instead OF over the three million
eolonists." "a
"Forever may that flag wave over all
our land, and over nation that shall
forever maintain the glorious principles
Of the Declaration Of Independence and
of the Constitution!"
Washington was one, OF Natures 9
uoblemen.", In his first message to con-
gress he advised those Law makers not to
vote themselves high salaries, but to
render their services more for patriotism
than for money. Always he placed the
coustry,s needs before his own. After
the Revolutionary war Was over faction
of wild enthusiasts schemed to proclaim
him king of the newly freed nation, but
be was angry at the suggestion and
answered In words of scathing rebuke:
"If you have any regard for your coun-
try or any respect for me, ban!sh these
Thoughts from your minds, the scheme
Ia big with the greatest 'mischiefs that
can befall any country, and view 1t
with abhorrence.." : -
So. s.e> HENRY MAXIM.