Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-04
BY FREDERIC ]. HaskIn.

Washington, D. c., July III you
hoist the Stars and Stripes on the glor-
ious Fourth. or display a miniature flag
| on your person, be sure you know
the rules before you go ahead, Every
patriotic society in the country has
jealous eye on the National flag to
see that it gets the full measure of
respect on all OCCASIONS. The fact that
you do not pretend to be an expert
on flag etiquette will not save you
from being regarded as an American
of doubtful pedigree If you inadvert-
entity display the flag with the stars in
, the wrong corner.
Not so many years ago the flag was
treated with enthusiastic but misguid-
ed familiarity. On any Occasion when
the American Revolution or the re-
public were apt to be mentioned n hall
was decked out in flags. They were
looped and twirled and fastened into
rosettes. They were nailed to chan
deliers and railings, and If corner
of flag here and there trailed on the
floor no one thought anything of it.
A large bunting flag was regarded
as the most appropriate covering for
the speakers desk. The gavel was
laid on the flag. and II the chairman
found 1t necessary to rap for order
there was no alternative but to bang
on the patriotic table cover. A pitcher
of ice water, set by the gavel. gem
orally completed the setting for 4
rousing meeting.
The piece de resistance of the pa
triotic evening was generally solo
dance by some star pupil of a dancing
school, in which the performer ap-
peared in n costume made out OF
flag, or put together to resemble a flag
The dance usually began with Hail
Columbia" and progressed thru list
of patriotic songs to The Star Spang-
led Banner" as a climax.
But all that is over. For some years,
the flag has been under the protection
of nobody knows how many members
of all the patriotic societies. History
and heraldry have been tapped to as
certain the exact etiquette suitable on
every possible occasion at which the
national emblem appears.
Points to Remember
1t has been discovered that when the
flag is used TO decorate a room. or
building 1t should always he hung in
straight lines. never draped nor
twisted. II should not be nailed but
hung by loops or thru rings in the
binding.
If It is used to cover a pulpit or
desk nothing should be placed on top
of II unless 1t is Bible. It must
never in any circumstances be allowed
TO touch the floor for fear some one
might step on II.
II II is hung as n banner that is
with the stripes horizontal, as We
usually see them-the field OF stars.
or union, should he in the upper left
hand corner II IT is hung on end.
stripes running up and down. the union
should be in the upper right hand
corner.
II these rules are followed. flag de-
corations are sanctioned by patriotic
experts. Some of the patriotic soci-
cites, however, hold that 1t is really
more desirable to use bunting in de-
coratinc the walls OF room Rsd.
white and blue bunting may be draped
or festooned In almost any way de-
sired.
The only technical point in using
bunting is that It has top and bot
tom. Unfortunately for the bewilder-
ing flag hanger. the experts do not
agree as to which is the top side OF
bunting. Four Sears ago deputy
quartermaster general decreed that the
proper order. for good taste. is red.
white and blue-red at the top. This.
he said. was In accordance with the
heraldic colors OF the flag, which al
ways are read in the order he named
Another authority differs lie main
tains as firmly that bunting should he
hung with the blue at the top, followed