rchant flag. For instance, Spain has
the three. The colors of Spain are red and yellow. The navy flag
consists of three horizontal stripes--yellow in the middle, and a
narrower red band at top and bottom. On the yellow band near the staff
is a coat of arms surmounted by a crown. The merchant flag is made up of
five horizontal stripes--a yellow in middle, a narrow red, then a narrow
yellow, and then a broad red above and below. The colors, red and
yellow, were the colors of the royal house of Aragon, whose fortunes
were closely allied with the Spanish crown. The royal standard of Spain
is an elaborate affair, divided into four parts, containing the heraldic
arms of leading families of Spain, and many devices indicating the
control of Spain over countries which it once held sway over, but which
have long since been lost to her, as Holland, Portugal, etc.

France uses the "tricolor," a flag of three vertical equal stripes, red,
white, and blue, the blue being nearest the staff. France has undergone
many political changes, and this, the flag of the Republic, was adopted
in 1789.

Germany's national flag has a white ground, divided into four parts by
black lines--one broad black line and a narrow one on each side. At the
centre is a circle containing the Prussian crowned eagle. The upper
quarter, by the staff, is divided into three equal horizontal stripes,
black, white, and red, and on these is a Maltese cross--the iron cross
of Germany.

The German merchant flag has red, white, and black horizontal stripes.

Flags have grown by custom and international law to represent
nationality. If they are insulted the insult is to the nation. In war
they are protected by lives, and in peace they pass around the world, or
float from their staffs on land--marks of their nation's strength and
supremacy.

* * * * *

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