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Show u THE AMERICAN FLAG. Wednesday, Juno 14, Is tho 128th anniversary of tho birth of tho American Amer-ican Flag. It is 128 years since Betsy Ross, of Philadelphia, pieced tho stripes together and stitched the stars on tho field of blue, after which she turned tho now-born banner over to General Georgo Washington. It is fitting fit-ting that on this anniversary it should float from every housetop; from every window; from every pole. Lot tho heaven-born colors glint in tho light of tho morning and be gilded with tho glow of the evening. It has a proud history, that old banner. It has wavea over fields where men fought for prin-ciplo prin-ciplo and not glory. It has been tho banner of protection and not conquest. It has fluttered over many lands and on many seas and has nover been lowered low-ered in disgrace, but over in honor. It has been tho flower of passion that lighted the war-mad soldier to victory, and tho Inst sight that greeted tho fast closing eyo of tho stricken warrior. It has flaunted its brilliancy over bloodstained blood-stained decks and the dying mariner lias passed to his rest cheered by a last glimpse of its beauty. Wo ought all to honor it, for in its stripes nnd Its stars is tho record of our country's his-tory. his-tory. 'Tis tho flng of tho free, not tho banner of kings; It shall wave on and on 'til tho end of all things, And this star-spangled banner In triumph tri-umph shall wave O'er the land of tho free and tho homo of tho bravo. |