E-text prepared by Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org); music transcribed by Linda Cantoni Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations and audio files with music. See 52354-h.htm or 52354-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52354/52354-h/52354-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52354/52354-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/storyofourflagco00weav [Illustration] THE STORY OF OUR FLAG, Colonial And National, with Historical Sketch of the Quakeress Betsy Ross by ADDIE GUTHRIE WEAVER. Colored Illustrations of the Flags and Washington’s Coat of Arms by the Author Published by A. G. Weaver, Chicago. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1898, By Addie Guthrie Weaver, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. Preface. For some years the Author has been interested in the history of our First Flag and its fair maker, Betsy Ross, and fortunately, through a family relationship with one of the descendants, became familiar with much of the family history. It seemed that so beautiful and estimable a lady, and one who played so important a part in those stirring events of our early history should be better known and appreciated by her sisters of to-day. Fitting, it seems, that while man in defending our Flag has accomplished his greatest achievements, and won undying fame, woman first fashioned into “a thing of beauty” the symbol of that patriotic devotion. To Mr. George Canby of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Sophia Campion Guthrie of Washington, D. C., grandson and great granddaughter, respectively, of Betsy Ross, the author is indebted for family history that has inspired this work, and to them and other descendants, this book is affectionately dedicated by THE AUTHOR. [Illustration: Sketched by Helen Hayes. _Flag House of Betsey Ross. 239 Arch St._ Philadelphia.] The Story of Our Flag. COLONIAL AND NATIONAL. The history of our flag from its inception, in fact, the inception itself, has been a source of much argument and great diversity of opinion. Many theories and mystifications have gone forth, mingled with a few facts, giving just enough color of truth to make them seem plausible. It is for the purpose of clearing away the veil of doubt that hangs around the origin of the Stars and Stripes that this book has been written.