Weekly journal-miner., 1917-04-18

p4ODdDlg SNhNlGi i4lii4Oh -AliANllNdll flags are waving serenly in the var jed breezcs of our spacious land, sig Eifcant of the calm and digniiicd yet deep and lasting patriotism of the American people. Be this our native land or adopted country, we pledge allegiance 10 that flag, uncover as we pass, and wear it in miniature as a token of OUT loyalty. And yet what do we know about its origin, its meaning and its history. A lecture trip to the United States national mu- scum in Washington, the national dc pository of American relics, will tell you much of the flag.
 Naturally there were many forms of early flags. especially colonial types used by the individual colonies, and militia regiments, before the flag of the United States was established by our continental congress on July IA, l777, now celebrated as flag day. This act required that tKc flag of the United States be of 13 alternate rcd and white stripes and that the union be thirteen white stars on blue field, representing a new constclla- ton, but it did not define how many points the stars should have, how they should be arranged, nor make provision for additional ones.
 The Stars and Stripes
 At the time of the adoption of this resolution Washington is said to have observed, We take the star iron. heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that VIC have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to postcrity representing liberty"
 The first display of the Stars and Stripes is believed to have been on August 6, 1777, when the new flag was hoisted over the troops al Fort Schuyler, Rome, New York. John Paul Jones is said to have been the first to fly the stars and stripes oyer the high seas on the Ranger" in November, l777. The national museum has an carly naval l2-star type flag said 10 have been flown by John Paul Jones during the war of the Rcyolution.
 Ii has been well said that our ma tional emblem stands for American ideals and idcas-it is not the flag of a family or house, but the flag Of the whole people It is the en- blcm of liberty and freedom, bcine indicative Of individual independence and yet symbolic of a united and closely bonded people Far from be- ing merely painted and dyed cloth, it represents the constitution and gov crnmcnt of a hundred million free people, ii stands for the people themselves, and records the history of the nation.
 30 Historic Flags
 In the national museum at Wash ington, among the many other pa trio;ic relics and cmblcms, are dis played 90 historic American flags. On the labels the history of each is recorded; some came from the field of battle, a number from famous sea fights and others were flown over garrisons or forts by distinguished American officers.
 The series Of flags show very well inc patriotic changes which have taken place in our flag. From the time of the Revolution the stars and stripes in the flag have varied. There were l3 stars during the Revolution, E in the war of 1872, % in inc Mexican war, 33-35 in the Civil war. 4 in the Spanish war and is today. The stripes were changed first from l3 10 l5, and then back again to B. It may be surprising 10 know that our national flag is among the oldest flags of the nations, being older than the present British Jack, the French and the flag of Spain, and many years older than the flags Of Germany and Italy, some of which arc either personal flags or those of the rcigning families.
 The flag 'of the highest historic and sentimental value 10 the whole country Is in the national museum collections. II is the original Star Spanglcd Banner" which flew over Fort MclIcnry in Baltimore harbor during the bombardmcnt on Scptcm- Der, l3-l4, 1874, and was the inspira- ton of Francis Scott Keys immortal poem, now sung as our national an them This flag exhibited in the l hill