Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-19
THE COLUMBIA.
A Glance Through the Finest sample
Room, Billiard Parlor and Cigar
Stand In the West.


On next Saturday evening "The Column
bia, the finest sample room, billiard parlor
and cigar stand in the west, in the fitting up
of which Geo. Rudlo has spent mint OF
money, will be opened to the public. II is
located at No. IS Pearl street, next to the
new Grand hotel, The work of .remod-
ing the building has been going on
for the past two months, and the
handsome edfice has been trans
formed into palace and it will be noted far
and wide as the finest place of the kind west
OF Chicago. Mr.. Rudio has had the chief re-
sponsibility of fitting up the palace and his
wide experience as commercial traveller has
eminently qualified him for the work.
short description Of the interior of tho
establishment will not prove uninterestng.
Ihe room has been separated by massive and
handsomely carved oak partitions into three
divisions, the first of which contains the
Office of the proprietor and the finest cigar
stand west OF Chicago. The second division
Will be the sample room, and the third
Will be the billiard parlor. Mr.. Rudio's Office
is a model OF beauty and neatness. hand
some bronze wire partition makes it suf1i-
GENTLY exclusive without obstructing the
view. A fine Brussels carpet and the beauti-
ful bronzed safe, Office desk ana COM
Portable easy chairs give tia particularly
cozy and inviting appearance Here MIR.
in his most agreeable and affabe style.
In perfect keeping with the elaborate
style of the Office will be the cigar
stand on the opposite side of the room,
which will be presided over Dv Messrs.
julius Unger and Reuben Brown, two of the
most popular young men in the city. The
cases, counter, etc, arc of OAK, hand carved,
and no mere description of the beauty of the
work can give correct idea of It, To be
thoroughly appreciated it must be seen. The
sample room in its furnishings completely
eclipse anything ever seen in this city. The
massive oak bar, the fine French plate glass
mirrors and the beautiful paintings combine
to form picture most pleasing to the eye.
Another thing in connection with this fine
work which is of public importanceis the fact
that all of the woodworkis the product of j. A.
Murphy's factory in this city, and is a credit
TO Council Bluffs artists Mr.. George Shir-
ley of Chicago will be in charge of this de-
partment and the public will find him most
agreeable gentleman, thoroughly accom-:
the public Mr.. Rudio, with an originality
that does credit to one of the brightest men
that ever packed grip, has put in a new and
improved phonograph which will play some
OF the finest pieces of Gilmore's band, and
will sing the latest songs, including "Annie
Rooney" Johnnie, Get Your Hotchkiss,"
and the Sweet Bye and Bye"
Last but not least, not by good deal,
comes the billiard room. The decorations
and furnishings are like those of the other
two departments, strictly elegant. There
new and as fine as Brunswick Collender Il
Co. can turn out. Mr.. James Anderson has
control of this department, a fact that will
add not little to its popularity. Everybody
knows jim Anderson, and to say that he is
general favorite, is only expressing it
mildly.
Taken all in all, the Columbia is decided
success and will no doubt be winner from
the start. Every dollars worth of material
used in fitting it up was purchased and
wrought in Council Bluffs. The place is one
in which citizens can take pardonable pride
and to which they can take visiting friends
at any time with pleasure
The place will be opened for the benefit of
the public and it would be something more
than simple outrage if tanaticism should
assail it, 1t has been fitted up in Difference
to popular desire for q first-class place of
rest for gentlemen and is another indication
that the time has come when fanaticism
should cease There are few men who have
done more for the city in general way than
Mr. Rudio. He has been one of the most
popular commercial travellers among the
army who live in this city. He earnestly
hopes the public will appreciate his efforts
and give him a fair show.