Union Jacks must be made either square (53), or oblong (54), in which latter shape the length must always be twice the width on the staff. [Illustration: 54. OBLONG UNION JACK.] It will be noticed that in the square Jack (53) the diagonal lines drawn from the opposite corners of the flag intersect the corners of the white border of St. George and of the cross, which latter is shown in dotted lines, and that in the oblong Jack (54) they do not. It is this difference which has usually created the difficulty. Having decided the size, either square or twice as long as wide (1 × 2), then draw two diagonal lines from corner to corner upon the shape of flag selected, then place the St. George cross and its border upon the flag according to the measurements in the "Outline Jack" (51), the red of St. George being one-fifth of the height or width of the flag. The diagonal lines will be the centre and dividing lines of the saltires, as shown by the dotted lines which are thus in continuous line from one corner to the other. The St. Patrick and St. Andrew saltires and their borders are then to be added according to the proportions shown in (51), the red saltire being placed touching the diagonal, below it in the first and third quarters of the flag, and above it in the second and fourth. The St. Andrew, being in one colour and above the diagonal in the first and third, and below it in the second and fourth, completes the combined saltire. By following these directions the making of a Union Jack is much simplified. That the utmost care should be exercised in the making of our flag is beyond all question. It is the record of our history, the flag of our British nation; to display one in incorrect form is to do dishonour to it, to our history and to our nationality. No patriot would do this intentionally, and yet some may do this ignorantly. It would be well for their help and the avoidance of error that they should be taught how to make their flag correctly, and be educated in the lessons which it conveys. Once these have been learned, the amount of increased interest in our flags is immeasurably advanced. Each flag as it comes before the eye becomes a study and a lesson, an historic reminder and a patriotic inspiration. If those crosses could themselves but speak, what glories they could tell; and yet the outlines of the flag, when they are properly displayed, signal the stories of their colours and their crosses as plainly and as eloquently as if they voiced it in burning words. CHAPTER XXI. _THE PROPORTIONS OF THE CROSSES._