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Show MEANING OF "AT HALF MAST At First Universal Symbol Was Token of Submission and Respect For Bnemy. Perhaps you have noticed that when, ever a prominent person dies, espe-cially espe-cially if he is connected with the gov-ernment, gov-ernment, the flags on public buildings build-ings are hoisted only part of the way up, remarks the Toronto Mail and Express. Ex-press. This is called "half mast." Did you ever stop to think what connec tion there could be between a flag that was not properly hoisted and the death of a great man? Ever since flags were used in war it has been the custom to have the flag of the superior or conquering nation above that of the inferior or vanquished. vanquish-ed. When an army found itself hopelessly hope-lessly beaten it hauled its flag down far enough for the flag of the victors to be placed above it on the same pole. This was a token not only of submission, but of respect. In those days when a famous soldier sol-dier died flags were lowered out of respect to his memory. The custom long ago passed from purely military mili-tary usage to public life of all kinds, the flag flying at half mast being a sign that the dead man was worthy of universal respect. The space left above it is for the flag of the great conqueror of all the angel of death. |