??)e C?jtlfcren's Cr?butu
First to Last?For Children: Fun.
Facts and Fancies
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1919
The American Flag
A thoughtful mind, when it sees a nation's flag sees
not the flag only, but the nation itself; and whatever may
be the symbols, its insignia, he read3 chiefly in the flag
the government, the principles, the truths, the history
which belong to the nation.
When the French Tricolor rolls out to the wind we
see F ranee. When the new Italian flag is unfurled we
see resurrected Italy. In the united crosses of St. An?
drew and St. George on a fiery ground, the banner of
old England, we see not the cloth merely; there rises up
before us the noble aspect of that monarchy which more
than any other on the globe has advanced its banner for*
liberty, law and national prosperity.
This nation has a banner, too, and wherever it has
streamed abroad men have seen daybreak bursting on
their eyes, for the American flag has the symbol of
liberty and men have rejoiced in it.
As at early dawn the stars shine forth even while it
grows light, and- then as the sun advances that light
breaks into banks and streaming lines of color, the glow?
ing red and intense white striving together and ribboning
the horizon with bars effulgent. And wherever the flag
comes and men behold it they see in its sacred emblazonry
no rampant lion and no fierce eagle; they see symbols of
light. It is the Banner of Dawn; it means Liberty.
Newark, N. J. Girard Gregory Smith (13 years).
Down With Enemy Propaganda ?
Although the war is over and the Germans con?
quered, we still have an enemy to fight?propaganda.
Many of our boys aro still in France with the Army
of Occupation. Propagandists say, "The boys will never
return; the Reds will kill them; they will die of foreign
diseases." Don't believe them; they are enemy aliens,
enemies who try to spread discomfort, who delight in
causing mothers, sweethearts and wives pain. Others
say, ''The boys don't get proper care in the hospitals;
their wounds are not attended to; they are allowed to
go without food." If some one tells that to you, don't
believe it; it's a lie. Our boys get the best care that
they could possibly get.
We are floating a new loan, the Victory loan. Propa?
gandists say, "The government wants too much money;
will we ever get it back?" Of course, our government
needs'money; all the boys are not yet back. Certainly
every one will get his money; you trust your money
to a bank, and banks sometimes fail, but a government
that is as strong and wealthy as ours could hardly fail,
and only if it were to fail would the money invested in
loans and stamps be lost.
Are you helping the enemy by spreading these stories?
Report any one whom you hear trying to spread this
talk to the police, and the government will thank you.
And no matter what those propagandists say, don't be?
lieve it; don't repeat it, and fight "enemy propaganda"
with all your strength.
Brooklyn, N. Y. Lillian Wilson (14 years).
Open Air Schools
Open air schools are the best places for making weak
children healthy. In our open air school there was a boy
who had colds all of the tune. By the time he left the
school he hardly ever had one.
In winter you might think we would freeze. But
we don't. We have soft woolly bags which are very cosey.
Then we have boots lined with wool also. Of course,
everybody dresses warmly. We wear teddy bear suits,
and sometimes coats over these.
In the middle of the morning we have a little lunch.
In winter we bring larger lunches and cocoa. This keeps
us warm.
Something fortunate about the open air schools is
that we play games. The games are much more lively
than the ones in the indoor schools, and the children
enjoy the school very much.
New Haven, Conn. Virginia Madhouse (9 years).
Camouflage
When men began to paint the ships up in queer
shapes and colors, calling it "camouflage," they acted as
if it were an entirely new idea and it was very clever
of them to think of it. If you think a minute you will
see that almost every animal has his coat colored to look
exactly like the trees or grass or wdierever he may live.
The tiger's skin blends perfectly with the tall grasses
in which he lives, while the animals of the desert have
been given dark grays and browns matching with exact?
ness the grayish brown sands' of the desert. It is true
that this fact does not always hold true, but generally
the animals? do not need to hide in fear of death when
seeking their food. It is unfair to say it was man's wis?
dom that thought up camouflage when for thousands of
years nature has been "camouflaging," every way we
turn, to protect life. Mary Lee Cohen.
Upper Montclair, N. J.
Editor's Note: AH readers of the Children's Tribune
fourteen years old or younger are asked to send edi?
torials (i. c, opinions about what is going on in the
world), from 250 to 300 words long, to the Editor for
this page. The ones printed will be paid for at one cent
a word. ANNE LEWIS PIERCE,
Editor, The Children's Tribune.