Coplay High School - Coplayite Yearbook (Coplay, PA)

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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.

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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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At the close of the war, Hindenburg went into retirement from which he emerged reluctantly to enter ihe presidential race, and declared in resisting the attempts to make him a candidate that he was too d, that he could not understand the new generation. However, after refusing three times, he finally yielded on the representation that it was for the cause of his Fatherland. Hindenburg we find is now fast reaching his seventy-eighth year. He is non-political, recognizing no boss but God, having no personal ambitions, and desiring only to serve his country and people. He is to-day, the steadiest old man in Europe. He fears no one. He will favor no person or political party against the interests of his country, and the German people as he sees it. Hindenburg is conservative, deliberative, steady and firm, and has never been stampeded. In the worst disasters of the war, in the calamitous days of November. 1!)18, when everybody lost their heads and the Kaiser deserted the army and stampeded panic-stricken into Holland, the old Field Marshall did not lose his nerve and kept his head. In his extreme age, retaining the alertness of his senses, the keeness of his judgment and balance, Hindenburg is sound for Germany and safe for the world. With these qualifications one is almost forced to believe that peace and Germany are safe in his hands. It seems somewhat out of the ordinary to doubt his honesty, due to the fact that he has already secured release from an oath of allegiance to the Kaiser before lie accepted the nomination, and he can not become President until lie has taken an oath to be loyal to the Weimar Constitution. There is no reason to suppose that he will personally violate his oath, for the statement in his political manifesto that—“It is not the form of the State, but the spirit inspiring it which is decisive,” was doubtless an honest expression of conviction. Those who have been alarmed by his election, fearing that peace will be disturbed, should ask themselves lliis question: Which is the greater danger to the peace of Europe, a strong, steady industrious Germany, with internal authority, capable of maintaining law, order and discipline; or a Germany disrupted, internally weak, a playground of Bolshevik propoganda? Which of these two Ger-manys is most likely to fulfill its treaty obligations and repay its loans and credits? There certainly can be but one honest answer. Tn spite of the fact that there are many unpleasant rumors around about Hindenburg, he states that lie will do all he can to help establish World Peace, but he can not do this without the cooperation of the Allies. —Helen Fisher.