Washington-Monrovia Axis

From Monrovia, capital of Liberia, last week came word of a U.S. gesture that greatly gratified all patriotic Liberians. From a U.S. warship which recently anchored off the capital, sailors brought ashore a tiny Liberian flag. (The Liberian flag: eleven red and white horizontal stripes, a single white star on a blue field.) Handkerchief-size, it was pieced together from the tatters of the first Liberian flag, which had been preserved in the U.S.

Inspired by the gift, Monrovia staged a historic pageant reenacting the raising of the first Liberian flag 94 years ago. Before two top-hatted, frock-coated personages representing the first President and Vice President of Liberia,* the flag was raised and a chorus of schoolgirls (see cut) sang:

We are all Liberian girls,

Of this fact we are proud.

With shiny hair and wavy curls

We sing it aloud.

Of this flag we are proud,

Proud -- and happy O!

And its praise we'll sing out loud,

For we love it so.

Shout the loud hurrah

Till our forest ring!

In praises to Liberia's flag

Liberian girls will sing.

* The part of the first President was played by one Holland Cooper; the part of the first Vice President by TIME'S resident correspondent in Monrovia.

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