least before the provisions of the Act will be known at New Orleans."

It will be noticed that, ninety years ago, one month was required to convey to New Orleans news which, at the present time, is transmitted by wire in a second.

Stars were added to the constellation as new states were added to the Union in the following order: Illinois, on December 3, 1818, was the first state to be admitted after adopting the flag, and following came Alabama, December 14, 1819; Maine, March 15, 1820; Missouri, August 10, 1821; Arkansas, June 15, 1836; Michigan, January 26, 1837; Florida, March 3, 1845; Texas, December 29, 1845; Iowa, December 28, 1846; Wisconsin, May 29, 1848; California, September 9, 1850; Minnesota, May 11, 1858; Oregon, February 14, 1859; Kansas, January 29, 1861; West Virginia, June 19, 1863; Nevada, October 31, 1864; Nebraska, March 1, 1867; Colorado, August 1, 1876; North Dakota, November 3, 1889; South Dakota, November 3, 1889; Montana, November 8, 1889; Washington, November 11, 1889; Idaho, July 3, 1890; Wyoming, July 10, 1890; Utah, January 4, 1896; thus altering the Flag from time to time, until it now contains forty-five stars. Oklahoma having been admitted as a state November 16, 1907, the Flag, on July 4, 1908, will contain forty-six stars.

After the establishment of the Flag in 1818, the following circulars were issued:

"NAVY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE, May 18, 1818. "SIR: The Navy Commissioners have to inform you that agree"ably to the Act of Congress of the 4th day of April, 1818, entitled, 'An Act to establish the Flag of the United States,' our National Flag is, from and after the 4th day of July next, to be: Thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white. The union to be twenty stars, white in a blue field; one star to be added on the admission into the Union of every new State; such addition to be made from and after the 4th of July next succeeding the date of such admission.

and six stripes from the bottom of the union to the bottom of the flag. The manner of arranging the stars you will perceive by the subjoined sketch. The upper and the lower stripes to be red.

"To the officer commanding, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N. H.”

This was amended by the following circular:

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"NAVY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE, September 18, 1818. "SIR: Since our circular of the 18th of May last, relative to the Flag to be worn by the vessels of the United States and at our naval stations, it has been determined by the President of the United States that the arrangement of the stars shall correspond with the pattern stated below, and the relative proportions of the Flag to continue as

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stated in our circular. You will govern yourself accordingly. "On the first hoisting of the flag, you are to fire a salute of twenty guns.

་་

"I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

"CAPTAIN MORRIS, Portsmouth."

"JNO. RODGERS,

"President of the Navy Board.

The Army regulations at the present time, as issued by Hon. Wm. F. Taft, Secretary of War, provide:

"ARTICLE XXVIII. PAR. 212. The Flag of the United States has thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red and six white, the red and white stripes alternating, and the union of the Flag consists of white stars in a blue field placed in the upper quarter next the staff, and extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The number of stars is the same as the number of states in the Union. On admission of a State into the Union, one star will be added to the union of the flag, and such addition will take effect on the 4th day of July next succeeding such admission.

"213. The field or union of the National Flag in the Army has, since July 4, 1896, consisted of forty-five stars, in six rows, the first, third, and fifth rows to have eight stars, and the second, fourth, and sixth rows seven stars each, in a blue field, arranged as follows:

"220. The garrison, post, and storm flags are National Flags, and shall be of bunting. The union of each is as described in paragraph 213, and shall be one third the length of the Flag.

"The garrison flag will have 33 feet fly and 20 feet hoist. It will be furnished only to posts designated in orders from time to time from the War Department, and will be hoisted only on holidays and important occasions.

"The post flag will have 20 feet fly and 10 feet hoist. It will be furnished for all garrisoned posts, and will be hoisted in pleasant weather.

"The storm flag will have 8 feet fly and 4 feet 2 inches hoist. It will be furnished for all occupied posts for use in stormy weather. It will also be furnished to national cemeteries and recruiting stations."

Many are the poetic and beautiful interpretations of the subtle meaning lying behind the stars and stripes of our national emblem. While some such interpretations might surprise, yet many would doubtless delight the original designers of "Old Glory," but so long as it shall "wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave," will the immortal poem of Francis Scott Key stir the heart of every true American to patriotic fervor.

Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner," was born in Frederick County, Maryland, August 9, 1780, and died in Baltimore January 11, 1843.

The phrase "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice to all," which is repeated by pupils in the public schools, originated with the late J. B. Upham, of Boston, Massachusetts, who was the originator and chief promoter of the School Flag Movement.

Chronicles of the Flag.-The Flag of the United States at the time of the Revolution had thirteen stars; in the War of 1812, fifteen stars; in the Mexican War, twenty-nine stars; in the Civil

War, thirty-five stars; and in the Spanish-American War, forty

five stars.

Raised for the first time over Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill, Boston, August 24, 1824.

The twin-screw steam schooner "Midas" was the first American steamer to carry the Flag around Cape of Good Hope for China, in 1844.

The bark "Edith" was the first auxiliary screw steamer under the American Flag that went to the British Indies. She was launched in 1844, and sailed from New York January 18, 1845. She was afterwards chartered by, and finally sold to, the War Department, and sent to California, where she was transferred to the Navy, and lost off the coast of Santa Barbara.

The first American propeller packet ship to carry our Flag to England was the "Massachusetts." She was launched at East Boston July 22, 1845, and sailed from New York September 17, 1845. She, like the "Edith," was chartered by the Government, transferred to the Navy Department, and sent to California. During the Civil War her engines were taken out, and she was refitted as a storeship and renamed the "Farallones." After the war she was sold in San Francisco, and renamed the "Alaska," and was engaged in carrying wheat from that port to Liverpool. Pictures of both the "Edith" and the ""Massachusetts" are in the Naval Library and Institute at Charlestown.

In the Boston "Daily Advertiser" appeared the following: "The first Stars and Stripes were raised in California, at San Diego, by Captain James P. Arther, when mate of the ship 'Brookline,' in the latter part of 1829. The flag was manufactured from shirts, and Captain Arther writes, with the accuracy of a historian, that Mr. George W. Greene's calico shirt furnished the blue, while he furnished the red and white. The same flag was afterwards frequently raised at Santa Barbara."

Mr. Ed. E. Dunbar, in "The Discovery of Gold in California," writes: "In 1842 Commodore Jones, of the United States Navy, impressed that the United States were at war with Mexico, took possession of Monterey, hoisted the 'Stars and Stripes' there, and proclaimed California a Territory of the United States. Discovering his mistake the next day, he hauled down our Flag, and made such apology as the circumstances would admit."

The Flag was officially raised in California by Commodore Sloat, at Monterey, July 7, 1846, and at San Francisco, by Commander Montgomery of the sloop-of-war "Portsmouth," July 8, 1846.

Hoisted by Lieutenant Lynch, for the first time in Palestine, March 31, 1848; displayed on the Sea of Galilee, April 8, 1848, and on the Dead Sea, April 19, 1848.

Planted by Lieutenant Stone on the loftiest peak of Mount Popocatepetl, Mexico, at an altitude estimated from 17,720 to 18,362 feet, April 11, 1848.

A party of nine officers, thirty soldiers, and two sailors started the ascent of Mount Orizaba, Mexico, where man had never trod before, but only three Army officers and two Navy officers succeeded in reaching the summit, where at an altitude of 17,300 feet they raised the American Flag in May, 1848. A correspondent of the New Orleans "Delta" wrote concerning this feat: "On the highest pinnacle of the frozen summit of Orizaba waves the StarSpangled Banner! So you can tell Mr. Polk, his Cabinet, and all Congress assembled, that they may pass what laws they please, make treaties, and the Mexicans issue pronunciamentos, but still will the American Flag wave over their country; for who will go up to pull it down?"

The American ensign was first displayed in Japan on the landing of Commodore M. C. Perry at Uraga, on the bay of Jeddo, in July, 1853. In its cluster were twenty-nine stars.

In 1856, after the Crimean War and Sebastopol was opened to all nations, the first vessel to enter its port was the American ship "Troy," with the Stars and Stripes flying.

Raised by Dr. I. I. Hayes in lat. 80° 25′, long. 70° 30′ W. (the most northern land that had been reached), May 18, 1861.

"On the 4th of July, 1879, Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka, U. S. Army, on his remarkable sledge expedition of 3,251 statute miles, unfurled for the first time at Cape Felix, King Williams Land, a United States Flag, which is now deposited in the Museum of the United States Military Service Institution on Governor's Island." (Army and Navy Journal, November 6, 1880.)

The first Flag after its establishment in 1818 was made by Mrs.. S. C. Reid, of New York, and hoisted on the flagstaff of the House of Representatives April 14, 1818.