July 4, 2008

America's Unlearned A B C

1895

Our holidays in this country are practically limited to two — the Fourth of July in summer and Christmas day in winter — writes Edward W. Bok in an earnest plea for more rest and recreation for the people of this nation in The Ladies' Home Journal.

While other holidays are more or less generally observed, as conditions make it possible, "the Fourth" and Christmas are essentially the great leisure days of the American people, when every one who can takes a holiday. It is a fact to be deplored that as a nation we have not more holidays that are really observed, but this is because as a people we have yet to learn how to rest.

That we will learn the lesson is unquestionable. Our national health will drive us to it, even if our judgment temporarily halts. The comfort of real living is something of which we in America as yet do not know the simple A B C. Some day we will wake up, cease this everlasting strife for the dollar, be content with what we have rather than reach out for more, take things a little easier, and we shall be a happier and a healthier people, but until we do reach this point we should wisely enjoy the few holidays we choose to recognize.

Merely Homely

1916

Shortsighted Officer — It's all right, my man, you can take off your mask now; the gas has passed.
Private — Beggin' your pardon, Sir, I ain't got no mask on! — Passing Show.


He Understood

"I don't see why horses are afraid of automobiles," said Dick.
"Well, I do," replied his ten-year-old companion. "They look like buggies a-going without horses."
"What if they do? That is no reason," replied Dick.
"Now look here, Dick! You know you'd get scared if you saw my suit a-walking down the street and me not along to make it go."


Something Like It

Bobby was rehearsing the patriotic lines he was to speak at the Sunday school Fourth of July celebration.
"'It—it—oh, yes—it gimleted well for our great and glorious—'"
"'Gimleted? Gimleted?' Why, Bobby!" the teacher interrupted. 'Augured,' Bobby. 'Augured.'"
"Oh, yes; augured! I knew it was something they bored with."

She's Proud of Her Title of "Modern Betsy Ross"

1915

In her studio on the top floor of a quaint brick building in Westland avenue, Boston, Mass., Mrs. Amelia Fowler, the famous flag expert, sits quietly in a businesslike frame, and, with needle and thread, works wonders. The photograph shown here was taken recently in the studio. Mrs. Fowler takes a piece of silk and embroiders America's seal on one side. Then she turns it over and embroiders something else in different colors on the other. And neither design shows thru the silk. She is said to be the only person in the world who can do this.

And yet there isn't the slightest inclination on Mrs. Fowler's part to make believe she is endowed with any special ability. She assumes — in fact, says openly — that her accomplishment is due to natural ability combined with hard, conscientious work. Tho she has many employees, she is herself probably the hardest working of all. She's enthusiastic over flag restoration and imparts this enthusiasm to her co-workers.

Mrs. Fowler is known all over the world as an authority on flags, flag restoration and flag history. She is called the "modern Betsy Ross." And she is proud of this title. It will be remembered that Mrs. Elizabeth ("Betsy") Ross, a patriotic lady, made the first "Stars and Stripes" in 1777. Previous to that time several designs had been used for flags. The flag as adopted June 14, 1777, had 13 white stars, arranged in a circle, in a field of blue, and the fly had 13 stripes, alternate red and white, and retained its form until 1795, when Vermont and Kentucky were admitted into the Union; then, by an act of Congress, it was changed to 15 stars and 15 stripes. On March 24, 1818, an act was passed restoring the flag to its original 13 stripes, and ordered "That a new star be added on the 4th of July succeeding the admission of every new State."

Mrs. Fowler does practically all the present flag work for the United States Government. She has restored 173 flags and received $300,000 for her work. She specializes on the "Stars and Stripes," America's emblem. "It means so much to me now, more so, perhaps, than ever before," says Mrs. Fowler. "We should all feel proud of our flag and our country in these days of trial."

Memorial Day — A Widening Memorial

1904

Like everything else, holidays undergo a gradual change in spirit and observance. When Decoration day was first set apart many persons predicted that its observance would last only so long as the generations which knew the participants of the Civil War. It was supposed that there would be little present-day enthusiasm for decorating graves of Revolutionary veterans, no matter how great the popular admiration for their valor and sacrifices.

The change of name was wise. Memorial day is a broader term than the old one, and the significance of dedicating one day in the year to the memory of those who gave their lives for their country has been more broadly and fittingly recognized. Memorial day is coming to represent a solemn, serious aspect of our national life, just as the Fourth of July stands for the joyful and the exuberant aspect; and for a nation, as for the individual, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."

As other wars come in the long line of history, the graves of their heroes also will be decorated. There is already a tendency to hold on this day memorial services for firemen and others who fall in public service. Gradually, too, and perhaps unconsciously, the occasion has assumed something of the character of All Souls' day in Paris. Not only do we place flowers on those hallowed spots which are marked by flags, but we leave a wreath upon the graves of our own dear ones who have gone before; and this is well.

One day in the year we can appropriately give to the memory of that great army of the dead whose banners are the lily and the rose, and of which the armies of the Blue and of the Gray are but divisions. — Youth's Companion.

The Way Old Glory Goes (poetry)

1903

The Way Old Glory Goes

In sunlight or in stormy day,
With friendliness or foes.
The country's going just the way —
The way "Old Glory" goes.
Today — tomorrow — still she waves
Over earth's Freedom or our graves!

She arches earth — a rainbow's ray,
Or, when the storm-wind blows,
A beacon-blaze, she lights the way —
The way that freedom goes.
Today — tomorrow — still she waves
Over our glory or our graves.

The Fourth of July – The Spirit of American Liberty

1895

The Spirit of American Liberty

I believe the Declaration of Independence valuable not alone because it drove from our shores a foreign invasion, not alone because it established a government by a written constitution, but because it gave to the spirit of American liberty and American virtue the opportunity to erect a broad home of constitutional liberty through which prosperity was attained and no tyrant could breathe its atmosphere.

Wise as were the fathers who framed our constitution, deeply laid in political wisdom as were its foundations, it would not be worth the paper on which it is written but for the fact that it gave to us the spirit of liberty that has never died in the bosoms of Americans. — Bourke Cockran.


Every One Should Celebrate

Make the Fourth a gala day, as we have ever done, and let us celebrate it with the largest liberty practicable inside the lines of law, safety and rectitude, I do hope that in some way through all the public schools the meaning of Independence day may be brought to all the children in the land, and that to all of them it shall be so marked and so happy in its celebration that it will ever be a brightly shining star in the coronet of liberty. — General O. O. Howard.

—Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 29, 1895, page 3.

Changes in the Manner of Observing the Fourth of July

1895

READING THE DECLARATION

Changes In the Manner of Observing the National Birthday

With the late civil war began a new era in our national life. The preservation of the Union became the absorbing topic of thought among the loyal people of our land. The great national anniversary continued to be celebrated, but in a modified degree. Instead of ovations largely devoted to the apotheosis of the American eagle as the hope of the world, there were thoughtful discourses concerning the duty of every American citizen at that momentous period. The putative crimes of old King George were almost forgotten, and in many places the farewell address of Washington, the peerless plea for national union and public virtue, was read instead of the Declaration of Independence. Ever since that war the public reading of that Declaration has been less and less observed. It is well to "Let the dead past bury its dead" and to direct our energies to the strengthening of our national life. Let our boys and girls have all the innocent fun and healthful amusement on the Fourth of July and express their joy as loudly as they please. Would it not be well for their seniors to follow the example of ancient Hebrew fathers, who required their sons to come at the time of the celebration of the passover and inquire "What mean ye by this service?" and then gave them full instruction concerning the origin and significance of the great national festival? By means of such home education on our great anniversary Young America might receive valuable instruction that would stimulate and foster true patriotism. — Benson J. Lossing in Independent.


Depew's First Fourth of July Oration

Chauncey M. Depew will always associate the Fourth of July with his first attempt as an orator, this important event taking place at Peekskill when the great after dinner speaker was 21 years old. Mr. Depew had then just graduated from Yale and was not so fluent of speech as he is now. The late James W. Husted was present and also delivered an address. "Our Chauncey" remembers that for the first and only time in his life he experienced "stage fright." "The audience were very kind to me," he said, "and appeared to be very much interested, although I felt every moment that I should break down. I can still hear their cheers in my ears as I finished, but I felt nevertheless that I had made an utter failure of my first attempt. Husted made a much better speech than I did. He laid special stress upon the injustice of England. Just when the mother country was getting it the worst an Irishman in the audience called out: 'Good! Give 'em h—l, Mr. Husted! Give 'em h—l!' This incident was the only one which at all relieved my downheartedness on this occasion." — New York Press.

—Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 29, 1895, page 3.