Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-06
SMITH THE GUEST OF HONOR
Postmaster General rendered Compli-
mentary Reception al The Bee Building
MANY CITIZENS PAY THEIR RESPECTS
Beautiful Court Presents an Entrance
ing Scene While the Visitors Are
Presented to Distinguished Edi-
tor, Diplomat and Statesman.

Hon. Charles Emory Smith OF Philadel-
phia, postmaster general OF the United
States, editor of the Philadelphia Press and
former minister to Russia, was the guest of
honor at public reception rendered him last
evening by Edward Rosewater, editor Of The
Omaha Bee, in the court Of The Bee build
ing.
IL was one OF the most notable affairs
that has even taken place in The Bee build
ing, where so many distinguished public
men have met the citizens Of Nebraska and
was attended by large concourse of people.
Each visitor was personally presented to the
representative OF President McKinley's cab
met, and many of them enjoyed quite lit
tie intercourse with him. The reception
committee consisted OF Edward Rosewater,
General Charles +. Henderson, who pre-
scented the visitors to Postmaster General
Smith, who in turn introduced them to AS
sstant Postmaster Woodard and the lat
ter to United States Judge Munger and
Colonel J. J. Dickey
Tho receiving committee occupied a post
at the north end of the handsome court
dals slightly raised above the level of the
court and spread with oriental rugs formed
the station OF the host, the guest of honor
and the members Of the reception committee.
In front of them hung two large American
the balcony OF an upper floor. Back of
them appeared transplanted conservatory
rich with rare plants.
Decorations Most Effective.
The grand court of The Bee building never
looked prettier than it did last evening.
Brilliant with hundreds of multi -colored in
candescent lights the effect was softened
with several choice collections of stately
palms admirably arranged on the staircase
and throughout the court. The most notable
display of flowers was that which completely
filled the fine marble fountain in the middle
of the court Instead of the usual jets of
water in the tesselated basin appeared a
lavish display of palms and ferns rising to
a height of a dozen feet above the marble
top of the fountain, one beautiful palm
forming an artistic apex for the floral pyra-
mid About the base of the court, on all
sides, we're distributed more palms, while the
broad stairs leading to the first main floor
were lined with the same flowers and the
effect of the whole was not unlike the
charming appearance of the richly decorated
placita of some rare Mexican mansion.
The spotless white walls Of the court
shone brilliantly In the reflected light of the
variegated electric lights and this re-
splendent scene was happily broken by the
moving beaux and bellies about the corridors
of the upper floors. The pretty gowns of
the visitors looked all the more attractive
in these points Of vantage and the picture
in the balconies of the second and third
floors combined pleasingly with the animated
sight in the court proper. The balustrades
of the upper corridors were appropriately
trimmed with red, white and blue bunting,
draped in graceful festoons about the four
sides of the court. Throughout the evening
the Sutorus Mandolin orchestra, assisted
by the Misses Lowe, rendered delightful
music from the second balcony.
The guests began to arrive shortly after
s o'clock and continued to call to pay their
respects to the we'll known journalist and
diplomat until after 10. After the guests
had met Mr. Smith they passed out through
the other side of the court and took elevators
to the seventh floor of The Bee building.
Here refreshments, with coffee and punch,
were served to all who called, in the large
assembly room. Several hundred of the
visitors took the opportunity to inspect the
composing rooms, stereotyping department
and press room of The Bee after being
served with refreshments.
Some who Attended.
Among those noticed among the
out-of- town visitors were: E. f.
Wonder. postmaster, Holmesvlle, Neb.
w. S. Raker Gretna. Neb. T.. G.
Simmons, Seward, Neb.; Ross Ham
mond, Fremont, Neb.; Postmaster William
son, Riverton, Neb.; Postmaster Thomas A.
Healey, Milford, Neb, and many others
from Nebraska and Iowa points.
Prominent among the callers were
eighty letter carriers and clerks
of the Omaha postofice, uniformed,
who marched to The Bee building early in
the evening to greet their chief from Wash
ington. Mayor Frank e. Moores and the
fire and police commissioners called to pay
their respects after the adjournment of their
meeting at the city hall.
The visitors refused to disperse until after
Postmaster General Smith consented to ad-
dress them. Mr.. Smith, when introduced
by Mr.. Rosewater, paid high compliment
to The Bee and it's magnificent establishment
typical OF the west. He said this was the
first time he had visited in the transmissis-
sippi country and standing here almost in
the middle OF the American continent he
realized as never before the greatness and
grandeur OF the republic. He felt sure that
the visit had done him good and that when
he returned to the editorial chair, as he
surely would he would be better editor
because OF what he had learned on this
trip. He emphasized the Importance OF the
Postoffice department as the one branch OF
the government service that came nearest
home to the people and represented more
than any other the intelligence of the coun-
try; this was shown by the fact that ou>
of 1900 900 900 letters written in the world
each year one-third of them are written in
the United States. He concluded By calling
on those present connected with the postal
service to do what they could to improve
its usefulness and maintain its high eff
cheney.
Mr. Rosewater also responded with a few
words expressing appreciation OF the compli
ment paid Omaha and Nebraska by the
visit OF the postmaster general
Blew Out the Gas.
Virgil Schneider of Castlewood, s. D., Sc.
n n he MatroDOlitap hot IT,,