3j5Z ptraitt. Official Organ Of The Slavonic Benevolent Order Of The State Of Texas, Founded 1897.
VOLUME 58
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BROTHERHOOD
HUMANITY
BENEVOLENCE
Postmaster: Please Send Form 3579 with Undeliverable Copies to: SUPREME LODGE SPJST, POB 100, TEMPLE, TEX 76501
FEBRUARY 18, ;1970
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK George Washington (1732-1799) had a great career as a soldier and statesman. during the early years of America. He was the first president of the United States and is often referred to as "The Father of His Country." One of, the well-known tributes to George Washington is "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." His birthday is celebrated February 22, each year. • • When Abraham. Lincoln (1809-1865) was a boy he read the story of Washington many times over. He carried the book with him to the field, and read it whenever he could. Washington was a great hero to him and he asked himself: "Why cannot I be like him?" And did he not become so? • • It is interesting to note that women have played an important part in the history of our country's flag. Betsy Ross is well known as the creator of the first Stars and Stripes. " 'Shoot if You must this old gray head, but spare your country's flag,' she said," is John Greenleaf Whittier's tribute to Barbara Frietchie who proudly flew the Stars and Stripes from her window when Stonewall Jackson's troops marched through Fredrickstown. And Mary Pickersal earned $405.90 for making the huge 32x40 foot flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the British
C °ROE WASHINGTON . . . Father of His Country bombardment of that stronghold -inspiring Francis Scott Key to write his immortal verse, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Recently We ran across a fine story which clearly shows the difference between just working and cooperating. It also stresses that even if people may work hard individually this effort is wasted if it is not properly channeled with the work production of others involved.
The story is as follows: "A man went to the country store to buy himself a pair of overalls and when he came home he realized that they were three inches too long. "So he asked his wife to cut them down and she refused. Angered by his wife's refusal, he sat up that night and after all were in bed, he cut off three inches, sewed up the ends neatly and went to bed. "The wife felt sorry for her husband so she got out of bed, cut three more inches off, repaired the cuffs and went back to bed. "The mother-in-law, now knowing what had happened and in order to preserve the peace in the family, got out of bed, cut off three more inches, sewed up the ends neatly and went back to bed. "This little incident proves that all were working and helping. But they certainly were not cooperating. ♦ • Total outstanding investments of the nation's life insurance companies rose about $9.4 billion during 1969 to reach $198 billion at year-end, according to estimates by the Institute of Life Insurance. The net increase amounted to 5 per cent, compared with year-end 1968. Both the dollar and percentage growth were somewhat smaller than in the previous two years — mainly re-