The record-union., 1895-09-20
FEAST OF M0NDAMIN.
CELEBRATED AT OMAHA BY THE
KNIGHTS OF AK sAR BEN.
1t Was the Crowning Event of the Ne
brasKa state Fair Adjunct
Observauces.

OMAHA, Sept 19.-The crowning act
adjunct observances was the cele bration
of the Feast of Mondamin by the Order
of knights of Ak Sar Ben. This was the
fourth and last event of the carnival
week. and was undoubtedly the most
brilliant and significant event OF the sort
ever seen in the West.
The Feast OF Mondamin is supposed to
represent the great corn crop, which
Mondamin, the King of Corn, has be-
slowed on bis subjects. The Knights OF
\ Sar Ben are an organization OF lead
ing business and society men OF Omaha
| Samson, Lord High Cham berlain to his
| majesty, Ak Sar Ben, had issued COM
InandS 10 his iaithl lul servants to gather III
the city oil Omaha on this date, to paw
their devotions 10 this god MOndamin.
! The Den, which was once called the
Coliseum, and in which the Populists
held a national convention IN 1892, was
transformed into a palace OF beauty in
preparation for the great ball, at which
the KING and Queen AK Sar Ben are TO be
crowned.
Ak Sar Ben Is, Of course, an inverted
Spelilng OF Nebraska, but not thousand
people present knew it. The tradition
as exenpiitied by the poem which Will
| be published by the u HOrtd- Herald to-
morrow morning, is that the sons OF the
province OF Nebraska became Indifferent
TO the good deeds of Mondamin and the
beneEcence OF his highness, and neglec ted
10 thank him for his good acts, anu even
| went far as to burn the corn while
there were many in want tor this corn.
| Hence be laid last year a blight upon the
! land of Nebraska, and il was burned by
! drought, and It's meadows were parched
men anu beasts starved and want was
! abroad in this province. Winter and
cold made the misery greater. But the
cries of the destitute touched the heart OF
| Mondamin, and he gave rain III abund-
ance, so that the Stale was filled with
| plenty, and he commanded that all his
| subjects should come to Omaha to wor-
ship. Hence the parade and celebra-
| liOn.
This parade was formed of twenty of
| the great floats of the last Msrdi Gras
| celebration at New Orleans adapted to
these conditions, aud were rich III beauty
/ and coloring. The largest crowd which
ever assem- bled on The streets of Omaha
was here tonight and witnessed these
floats, attended by gorgeonsly attired
| knights, and the delight and enthusiasm
| of the spectators was great.
All stores were closed to-day, and the
| tbeater and night races and ainusements
did not open until after the parade, which
was not completed until 1880. The city
was in gala attire, and shone with brill
! lance.
After the parade the knights returned
| to the den where the grand ball was held.
The grand march was led by the king
and queen, yet in mask, and 500 other
couples. After the grand march came
the crowning of the king and queen and
their unmasl1ing and the revelation of
their identity, which has been kept a
secret until tonight. A very great crowd
was at the den, and the ball Will last until
morning. Forty-hv OF the most beauti-
full and prominent ladies of the city are
in attendance upon the queen, ana their
costumes are very fine. The ball itself is
said TO be most successful and elegant
social function ever held west OF the
| Missouri.