OLD GLORY



which stand for things loved in childhood
have a hold well-nigh undying on later life.
Millions of men march to death knowing lit-
tle or nothing of the reason why-knowing
that they follow their country's flag; it is
enough. An appeal to honor, and armies rush
to the guns; a catchword of patriotism, and
stately legislative bodies toss away formulas
and arrive, white-hot, at certainty. One must,
indeed, look to it that the rudder is made of
the oak of the brain, yet the breeze which
fills the sails and drives the ship is forever
the rushing, mighty wind of the spirit.

  There are officers of the United States
navy to-day, stately captains, well girthed,
and more than one admiral, who, meeting
each other in China or at a club in Washing-
ton, shake their heads reminiscently and
drop their voices as one speaks of "The night
when Jerry Vane took hashish." It was of a
924d of February, that historic night thirty
years back, and the U. S. S. John Paul Jones
was celebrating the Truth Teller's birth in
                   [ 4 ]