Origin, Development of Flags By JED SNYDER The President of the United States, in proclaiming June 14, 1942 as Flag day, asked the American people to honor on this day not only the American flag, but the flags and peoples of all twenty six united nations now allied against the axis. Most of us are familiar with the Amerisan flag code, which explains the respect that is due Old Glory, and its origin and design by Betsy Ross, back in Arch street, Philadelphia, in 1777, yet some of us are unaware of the when and why of these identifying insignia of nations. Although since remote ages men have displayed objects of various kinds as emblems of nationality, leadership or allegiance, it is not untii the Middle ages that we come upon the earliest traces of what may properly be called flags. Early Day Flags As early as the Norman conquest, however, bits of cloth of various forms square, rounded, swallow tailed or many pointed were borne on the lance carried by a warrior knight, and the court heraldists issued minute prescriptions as to the forms and uses of the standard, banner or pennant that had come into use. Originally flags, like coats of arms, were personal emblems of lords or knights, sometimes as in the use of the standard, emblazoned with complete armoriel bearings; others, as in the case of small flags carried by esquires and retainers, merely showing certain colors or bearing a simple device. In course of time the flag of a lord naturally came to be looked upon as a flag of the people, though the lord whom it symbolises, or his line, had passed from power. Thus today the flag of Austria, though the country is dominated by Hitler brigands, bears the colors of the dukes of Austria, and the flag of Greece displays the colors of the German state of Bavaria.is the flag of the netherlands, which, B. H., (before Hitler) has flown the seas since 1650, but which, with an orange stripe instead of red, is of much greater antiquity. The Dutch flag carried to America by Hendrik Hudson in 1608 bore the orange stripe in place of red; and the flag which Columbus planted in the soil of San Salvador was not the present flag of Spain, but the older Spanish banner, bearing a quartering of arms of Castile and Leon. Although we think of the United States as a young republic, few flags can boast of a longer continuous history as a national emblem than can the Stars and Stripes. Adopted by Congress on June, 14, 1777, it has waved over a free people for 157 years. The present flag of Spain was adopted in 1785; the tri color of France in 1795 (with red and blue stripes interchanged four years earlier); the British union jack in 1800, although without the cross of St. Patrick, it dates from 1606. The flags of Belgium, Italy, Greece, Germany and most of the other countries of Europe are of later origin, while no other American flag antedates the nineteenth century. As to the actual origin of our flag, some opinions differ. According to one theory it was inspired by the flag of Holland; according to another it was derived from the arms (or crest) of the Washington family, while a third opinion has it that it was but the red ensign of Great Britain, with the red field broken by white stripes, and the canton replaced by a starry canton containing one star for each of the thirteen colonies. Star Spangled Banner The famous Fort McHenry flag which inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star Spangled Banner differs from our present national flae: in one respect. For 23 Not every national banner can boast of heraldic origin. Religious banners flourished in the Middle ages, side by side with the banners of chivalry. One of these often became the cherished emblem of a people, as did the famous oriflame of St. Denis last carried by the French at Agincourt. By the thirteenth century the cross of St. George was the characteristic emblem of England, just as the cross of St. Andrew was emblematic of the Scots. Today we see them, together with Irelands cross of St. Patrick, united in the British union jack. But whether derived from military or from religious banners, until the latter part of the eighteenth century national flags were constructed according to heraldic principles, and in most instances wer derived from insignia originating in the distant past. With the flags of the more recently established nations, as the South American republics, the case is often otherwise. Republics are inclined to disregard heraldry entirely, as savoring of monarchy, and to adopt such colors and design as appeal to the people at the time. Flag of Denmark Oldest among the national flags of the present time (unless Hitler has ordered it changed) is the flag of Denmark, to which legend assigns the date of 1219, and which, aside from legend, is known to have been flown by the Danes ever since the thirteenth century. Almost as ancient is the flag of Switzerland, which, history tells us, dates from the fourteenth century, and which has given pattern and color to the flag of the Red Cross. Another ancient and honorable flag years, from 1795 to 1818, the national banner held 15 stripes instead of 13. The original flag ordinance prescribed that on admission of each new state, a stripe as well as a star should be added to the flag. On January, 13, 1794, stars and stripes were added for the states of Vermont and Kentucky. Until 1818 the flag contained 15 stripes and 15 stars. But by that time five more states were added to the Union, with further additions in prospect. A flag of 20 or more stripes was deemed out of question, and on April 14, 1818 Congress restored the original number of stripes to the flag, and provided that on admission of each new state, a star, but not a stripe should be added to the flag on the Fourth of July next succeeding. And so the flag has remained as it was, except for the addition of new stars, the number of which was raised on July 4, 1912, by the addition of two stars to represent New Mexico (admitted January 6,) and Arizona (admitted February 14.) Utahs star has been shining since 1896. Woman Seeks to Drive Cab in S. L. SALT LAKE CITY, April 2 The city commission has granted the application of Mrs. Iva Long Willis for a taxicab drivers license, thereby making her eligible to become the first licensed driver in the city. She must pass a physical examination and demonstrate driving technique and comply with other regulations before a license will be issued, it was explained. Mrs. Willis applied after a recent statement was made by Mayor Ab Jenknis expressing the view that women drivers are as competent as men.