The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1900. THE STORY OF A FLAG.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 207, 26 October 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1900. THE STORY OF A FLAG.

Thk paaiionato love of all Britishers for iha Union Jack is cot a matter for much surprise when its composition is considered. In all ages fligs and banners hare beea recognised as the emblem of authority, the rallying point for the strong and a protection for the weak. In all ages tiie " fights for the flag" have been the occasion of the noblest deeds of valour and heroism. To keep the flag flying was the emblem of victory, its fall defeat and dishonour. Whether on land or sea no greater disgrace could befall the British solditr or sailor than to be compelled to strike his flag, and with such determined valour has he been taught to defend this precious emblem, that rare indeed have been the occasions on which the Union Jack has fallen into the hands of an enemy. " Thank God, we kept the flag flying," were the noble words in which Sir Qeorge White replied to the congratulations he received on the relief of Ladysmith, The Union Jack is unique in its significance, beoause it uniteß the national flags of England, Scotland, and Ireland, f bis is the reason why every Britisher, whether he wears the rose, the thistle, or the shamrock, takes equal pride in the Union Jack. We are induced to make those reflections by reason of a very pretty little card which we have received from Mr. E. Le Roy, of Auckland. This card folds in three, and upon each of five of its sides is a flag drawn true to colour and design. The first shows the original national flag of England the banner of St. George, a white flag with a red cross running horizontally and perpendicularly, 'flu second shows the original national flag of Scotland, the cross of St. Andrew, a blue flag with a white cross running from corner to corner. These two wi re combined in 1606, the red cross of St. George being placed over the cross of St. Andrew. This is significant, because the whole of the Scotch flag was retained, the red cross merely being added. By folding down one leaf of the card referred to, we find the national flag of Great Britain as it existed from 1606 until 1801. The difference between it and the present Union Jack was the absence of the diagonal red cross. This was added in 1801 when Ireland entered the union. The fourth sheet of the card shows the cro s of St. Patrick, a white flag with a red cross running from corner to corner—by folding this down on the united flags of England and Scotland we have the Union Jack of the present day. If the flag be examined it will be seen that the red cross of St. George appears intact with a white border on a blue ground; but as the white cross of St. Andrew and the red cross of St. Patrick both ran the same direction the space formerly devoted to the diagonal white cross' in the Union Jack of England and Scotland was divided between Ireland and Scotland, giving a cross half red and half white on a blue ground. All national flags have their significance, but few have tuch an interesting history or are so significant of the union of three great and brave people, and at the game time carefully preserving their individual features, as fta gmi M Mr,

La Roy in deserving of every praise for producing his unique and exceedingly pretty and useful little card, and we feel that no excuse is needing for thus assisting him in spreading the knowledge of the history of our national flag, and we should like to see one placed in the hands of every child and an enlarged one on canvass placed in every sohool. In a letter, which Mr. Le Roy sends as, he says: —" Believing that you are interested in the spread of knowledge concerning the national flag of the British Empire, we enclose a lithograph of the Union Flag, or Unioh Jack, as it is usually called. We find that there are few who really understand the origin and meaning of the orosses of the National Flag, even few sea-faring men know there is a top and bottom to it; the position of the crosses of St. Andrew and St. Patrick differ in each end of the flag, and the official description, which is as follows" The TJnion Flag shall be azure, the crosses saltires of St. Andrew and St. Patrick quarterly per saltire counterchanged argent and gules; the latter fimbriated of the second surmounted by the cross of St. George, of the third fimbriated, as the saltire,' is not understood by the majority of people. We have reduced the description down to the most simple language, and have condensed it as much as possible. The style of folding the flags down on each other, showing how each cross was added, and giving the illustration of the flag then foimed is unique, and as an aducational medium will be found to be most simple and effective, and we guarantee the information to be in harmony with the Admiralty Book of Flags. It explains exactly the meaning of the flag which was kept flying atLadysmith, Kimherley, and Mafeking, in spite of all the Boer attempts to capture those places, and would be a most fitting gift for the children at the Peace Celebrations."