ENGLISH GIRL AND STARS AND STRIPES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1270, 27 October 1911, Page 6

ENGLISH GIRL AND STARS AND STRIPES.

A youns English schoolgirl who rofuped to siluto the "Stars and Stripes" and swear allowance to the United States has set tho entire Slate of New Jersey in aa uproar (.'«ys Die London "Daily Mail"). It is the patriotic custom in parts of that State tor school teachers to begin morning school by standing on a platform and unfurling the national flag. Tho boyg and girls rise and perform a solemn raluto and chant, "I pledge allegiance to my (lag and tlie Republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice to all." A few mornings ago a school teacher in the town of Perthninboy noticed, to her horror, that the lips of Catherine Kinj\ an English girl, remained tightly closed durin" the patriotic recital. Catherine is tho daughter of English parents resident at Perthamboy, and her little brother hail some time previously aroused the indignation of his schoolfellows by uclecling lo exhibit a proper degree of enthusiasm when the "Stars and Stripes" were waved. The teacher censured Catherine, who, refusing to perforin tin? salute properly, was expelled from tho school. Catherine's fntlwr referred the matter to tho Department of Education, which hag boon gravely pondering over the preWpm for tho last two days, while pro-' cessions of schcolboys and Rills marched around Mr. King's residence J™vmff American Hags. As a lvaiilt of tho JJOpartmont's cogitations the decision lias lotii come to that the regulations made, bv the local school superintendent with vorard to the proper of Kalutin? tho (lag must !>c observed by all scholnrs. If Catiioiriite continues to neglect lo saliite she ninnot be admitted to (ho publio school. Mr. King has riven the following explanation of tho affair to interviewers:— "Mv daughter Catherine asked me somo tim'o ngo," he said, "whether she was a British subject, allliousli bom in tho United Stales. I. told hor Dial as Jong as 1 was HrilMi sho also was British. Catherine- then asked if she could Iruthfnllv salute (he Hag and repeat the oath, of allowance. I anwwoml that she must at all times bo absolutely resix-clful and rove-rent in her attitude towards tho United States flag, but that she could not own allegiance to it." The incident has wen treated at. RiVvit length in tho American i>r<ws. which, in n spirit of truly admirable (oleralion, inclinoj to agree with Mr. King lh.it too much fuss has been made by the educational authorities in regard lo Catharine's scruples. Catherine, will in future attend a privato school where it is not licccesaiy to swoar allegiance to tho American flag.