The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-22
"OLD GLORY"
And Why the Town Of Sand Hill
Didn't Hoist Him.
BY NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate

patriotism to the worl' at large by
displayin' the American flag for seven
days a week. He got the idea one Sun
day mornin' as he lay in bed. and he
Rugged it to his soul and chuckled over
it for a week before he said anything
TO a Twin soul. Everybody knew by
his actions that somethin was up.
AT length, when Saturday night came
and there was the usual crowd at the
postoffice he shot off his gun. He had
his speech all prepared. He told how
the American flag was first hung to the
breeze; how men cheered for liberty
as they saw it; how it had given hap
piness to millions Men had fought
cheerin' for that flag, and men had
died blessin' 1t. He wanted it h'isted
in Sand Hill at sunrise every day in
the year, and he wanted children to
cry for it and men and women TO ven
crate it
As soon as the crowd had recovered
from its surprise and began to cheer
Deacon Black said it was a mighty
strong pint and one worthy of lead
in patriot of Sand HILL He was heart
lily in favor of the idea. and he would
then and there contribute 10 cents to-
ward the purchase of public flag.
Then Hosea Saunders spoke His
grandfather had died while fightin'
under the stars and stripes. His ia
Their had fallen and killed himself
while ciimbin' a flagpole. His mother
had wrapped him in the flag of liberty
when he was born. 1t was hard times
and money was tight, but he would go
without tobacco for a month in order
to contribute a shillin' toward the pur-
chase of a flag. With his own hands,
If agreeable to all. he would hist the
emblem at sunrise and lower it at
sunset durin' the rest of his natural
life
The deacon said that was also a
beautiful speech, with mighty strong
pint to it, and the feelin's of the crowd
had got so worked up over freedom
and liberty that tears stood in many
eyes. Hosea was followed by Squar'
Joslyn, Philetus Williams, Abraham
White and others, and thar was fire.
quent cheerin' and shakin' hands.
About ten years ago Abijah David
sons dog tore the ear off hog owned
by Joel Hartman, and the men had
been enemies ever since, but under the
excitement and patriotism engendered
by the speeches they fell into each 9th
er's arms and became brothers agtn.
1t was settled that a public contribu-
ton should be taken up to buy fifteen
dollar flag, and then came the question
of where 1t should be raised Enos
Hopkins. who had started it all, got
up in a modest way and said he would
go to the expense of plantin' pole In
front of his house. 1t was on high
ground and the flag could be seen from
every house in town.
1--WE wouldn't put Enos to all that
trouble" said Deacon Black as he rose
up. Hes done his sheer in thinkin
out the plan. I'll see that the flag is
duly displayed from the roof OF my
cooper shop when it arrives"
"WhatS the matter h'istin' it ovel
my grocery" asked Dan Skinner a:
he wiped the tears of emotion from hi
eyes. 1T isn't as high rs some places
but more central"
Then everybody bobbed up and de
manded to be heard. Every man pres
ent wanted that flag in front of hi
house or place of business and no
where else and purity soon they wa
shakin their fists and sayin they''
be burned if they wouldn't have |
there or refuse to contribute red cent
There was a lively row on in two min
its, with no more weepin' over pa
triotism.
Deacon Black ratified on the stove
pipe with his cane until he quieted tn
racket, and then he said:
"Feller patriots, have we no publ
speerit among usY"
I'VE have!" yelled the crowd.
Then let us exhibit 1t. Bein M
cooper shop is the highest buildin' Il
town and bein' the American flag ha
got to fliphop in the breeze to be see
and venerated. l unselfshly offer t
put up a pole and take charge Of th
flag"
$50 do II" shouts every man in tn
crowd.
Then Squar Joslyn made a speech
He told how a million men had die
for that flag. how its stars and bar
had made tyrants tremble, how
young nation had worshiped it an
made all the world respect 1t. II
wound up after ten minits by offeriI
to float it from his boss barn, but onl
Kisses and groans followed. There wa
signs that three or four patriots woul
soon be punchin' each others head
when Tom Bates strolled in in tina
careless way of his. Deacon Blac
pounded and ratified till he got orde
and then said:
II want to hear from Tom Bates o
this matter Mebbe he can suggeS
sunthin. Tom, what place in tow
would you say the American flag ough
to float from?"
How many stars are there in th
American lag?" calmly asked Tom.
Nobody could tell.
well, how many stripes?"
Nobody could tell.
"'Pears to me-" said Tom as he star
ed to wander out agin-" pears to N
that as none of you can tell the diffe
ence between the American flag and
tablecloth you'd better hang up an oil
army blanket most anywhere and let
go at that!'
And at the end of FIVE minits mol
there wasn't patriot left in the pos
office, and nothin' more has ever bee
said about buyin' public flag