Evening star., 1923-02-21

Hon. Aunt Alice Robertson, NJ. c., is
going to her Oklahoma farm next
March 5, and let the country go to the
bow-wows. Not only that, but she is
going to take the bow-wows with
for stateswoman to assert her su-
periority TO mere men. President
Harding and Laddie Boy may think
they are some pumpkins, here on Main
street (yclept Pennsylvania avenue),
but Laddie Boy wouldn't last three
HICKS OF Sleeps tail IL he ventured
on Miss Farmer Robertson's estate
after March 4. A few days ago the
lady from Oklahoma mentioned to a
IelioW member that she wished she
could find bulldog that would "eat
'em alive" and he carried the message
to constituent in Ohio, who has
sent her fighting bulldog warranted
TO lick any man or beast on earth. 1t
Is SO ferocious and untamable that
the Buckeye owner was afraid to
keep him in a village lest he depopu-
late the town. 1t was in anticipation
OF the coming of this man-eating
state has learned to fly. Maxwell
would not be safe if merely up a tree.
X x X
The Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions Is desfrous of honoring the
American flag by putting it into every
school classroom and over every
school building in Washington. That
calls for LOO small flags in the
rooms and 160 large flags over the
buildings. Every patriot sympathizes
with the motive of the proposal.
There are two considerations. how
ever. which may make it more prac-
tlcai and beneficial than the original
idea.
First, the flag should stand for
something definite in the minds of the
school children. Merely putting il
upon the wall of classroom does not
honor Old Glory; it there becomes
only a bright decoration. 1t has no
more significance than a bunch of
orisht autumn leaves. 1t is in no way
associated with the idea of duty, Of
real patriotic sacrifice. It is only
decorative. In the Army or Navy the
nag is never used as a decoration: it
means something very definite. 1t
marks headquarters of a camp: It
stands for the nation at the head of a.
regiment on the march. when II is
raised upon its staff the band plays:
early light.
What so proudly we hailed AT the
twilight's last gleaming?"
While it is ascending. or at sunset
while it is descending. every officer
STANDS at salute, and the regiment
stands at attention. There is a reyer
ence shown which impresses itself
upon the subconscious mind of every
body. No soldier ever thinks of the
flag as decoration.
What is true Of the Army is true of
the Navy
The civilian has not learned that
distinction. nor will the child learn
1t. seeing the bright stripes and white
stars draped over a picture on the
classroom wall. Many a self-styled
patriot believes that he or she is
honoring the flag when it is used for
a tablecloth upon ii speakers stand,
or sewed in to a group with the flags
of all nations That is a sacrile ege,
and children should learn that lesson
early. The flag is of the holy of
holieS.
Who that saw it upon the battle
field at IL o'clock Armistice day, when
1T broke through the fog and camou-
fiage and waved victory" above the
batteries could ever forget that it
is the incarnated soul of America and
Liberty?
Second: To equip each room with
a fiag-1,700 of them-means a need
less expense. To supply one hand
some regulation flag, upon a suitable
staff, for each school building will
cost far less, be more dignified and of
greater value in inspiring the chill
dren with due respect. Let every
child learn to salute it. 1t can be
raised just before school opens and