Coplay High School - Coplayite Yearbook (Coplay, PA)

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LITERARY □ Our Nation’s Flag Every nation has its banner. England has her Union -Jack; France, Italy and Belgium, all have tri-colored flags. We, today, have the stars and stripes. The colonies had always used the flag of England—but in their determination to sever all relations with her, many flags of American design began to appear. In Virginia originated the “rattlesnake,” in Boston the “pine tree,” and in Charleston the “new moon.” Besides these other designs were contemplated. It is evident then, that Congress had a variety of banners to choose from before making a final decision as to what the standard of our nation should be. It decided on the fourth of June 1777, upon the stars and stripes, the union being represented by thirteen stars. When Vermont and Kentucky entered the Union two new stripes were added to our flag, so that by May, 1795, the United States flag had fifteen stripes and thirteen stars. The far-seeing men comprising Congress, must have, even then, comprehended the future for this nation and the impossibility of adding a stripe to the flag for each new state that entered the Union. On April 4th, 1818, therefore, it reduced the number of stripes to thirteen (representing the original union), and made the stars the number of states in the union. A new star was to be added for each new state admitted. The flag now contains forty-eight stars representing the forty-eight states. Yes. The flag represents the forty-eight states—but it should not only REPRESENT the states—it should be a part of the states. A thoughtful mind, when it sees the nation’s flag will not see the flag alone, but the nation itself. In it he will be able to read the government, the principles, the truth, and even the history of the nation. Not another flag, of any nation on the globe, has been sent forth showing such hope for the captive, and such glorious tidings as the stars and stripes. In it men see no rampant lion and fierce eagle, but only light, the significance of liberty, cheer, hope and urgence onward. In the fight at Bunker Hill, those men, brave as they would have withdrawn from their trenches and the deadly fire of the English (handicapped as they were by a poor supply of ammunition) had it not been for the flag, that aroused and kindled in them a strong feeling to perform their duty. When our army, under the brave general, Washington, was driven from its solitary pilgrim-mage through New Jersey, the flag cheered every member. It woke in them a determination for another attempt—a more fruitful one.

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DRAMATIC CLUB Two plays, “Billy’s Aunt Jane” were presented by the members of the 5th, 1925. The members are as follows: President Vice President Secretary Helen Fisher Heloise Miller Margaret Stef any Kenneth Dunkle Michael Shettler George Miller George Gernerd Louis Reinhard Elda Peters The plays were coached by Mrs. and “The Sewing Society,” Dramatic Club on February Leah Lindenmuth Dorothy Mertz Ethel Ward William McClenahan Clifford Peters Raymond Rodgers Matilda Rubasky Kathryn Farny Evelyn Stewart Alice Trankley Pauline Gollatz Myrtle Wolfe Robert Balliett. STUDENT President Secretary 7th Grade Louise Johnson Alvin Rodgers 8th Grade Una Kunkle Mervin Frantz COUNCIL Prof. William Shot lock Dorothy Mertz High School Dorothy Mertz Elda Peters John Marks Sylvester Frantz EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chirf Asst. Editor-in-Chief Faculty Adviser Elda A. Peters, ’25 Heloise M. Miller, ’25 Mr. John A. Ruth Literary School Notes Exchange Athletics Humor Department Editors Helen Fisher, ’25 Margaret Stefany, ’25 Leah Lindenmuth, ’25 Wilmer Kunkle, 25 Roy T. Newhart, ’25 Business Stake Business and Ad. Manager Circulation Manager Charles Moritz, ’25 Kenneth Kunkle, ’25

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But, perhaps, the best illustration of what great hope our banner can really arouse, is to turn back to the War of 1812, to Fort McHenry, and Francis Scott Key, and see how the presence of the flag, proudly floating o’er the ramparts gave inspiration to write that remarkable tribute to the flag, THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. It contains something in those words—Our Flag was still there—which touches the hearts of all true patriots. Knowing the flag to be the spirit of our forefathers, the emblem of our country, as well as our country itself, that kept vigilance and hovered over us in peace or in war, in loss or in triumph, what attitude should we assume toward the flag? Let it be reverent, subdued, and LOYAL. Think of the flag as your nation itself. Let each thread from which it is woven twine about your heart-strings. Respect, uphold and defend it. Be your one prayer, that since it has floated over your cradle, so also shall it float over your grave. If every citizen do this, if every patriot do this—then indeed will there be a greater future for our nation. —Margaret Stefany. (jeurnany’s New ‘President The election of the aged Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg as President of Germany, was won by a plurality of almost 900,000 votes, and according to the earliest reports, was due mostly to the support given by the stay-at-homes and the women voters. In this race for presidency we find that there were three candidates in the field. Paul von Hindenburg, nominated by the Nationalist-Conservative (Monarchist) coalition; Wilhelm Marx exchancellor, nominated by the combined Centrist-Socialist-Democrat (Republican) parties; and Ernst Thalefman, champion of the Communists, who held the balance of power during the election and brought success to Hindenburg, who was the first President of Germany elected by a popular vote. Paul von Hindenburg, the new President, was born at Posen, Germany, in 1847. He was given a military education and first saw service as a subaltern in the Austrian-Prussian War of 1866. Serving in the Franco-Prussian and World War as well, he was very efficient, but little known to the world before his victory at Tannenburg, during the World war, when he drew the Russian armies into the morasses of the Mazurian lakes and took in one battle more than 40,000 prisoners. He had, however, retired from military life at the age of sixty in 1907, but was recalled to active service when the advance of the Russians made imperative the selection of a commander who knew every foot of East Prussia. Entering into the service once more, Hindenburg after his victory at Tannenburg, became a national hero, and on August 29, 1916, he was made chief of the general staff.