Words of Wisdom
"The design of the first Stars and Stripes by Hopkinson had the 13 stars arranged in a staggered pattern technically known as quincuncial because it is based on the repetition of a motif of five units.
"This arrangement inevitably results in a strongly diagonal effect. In a flag of 13 stars, this placement produced the unmistakable outline of the crosses of St. George and of St. Andrew, as used together on the British flag. Whether this similarity was intentional or accidental, it may explain why the plainer fashion of placing the stars in three parallel rows was preferred by many Americans over the quincuncial style."
