Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-01

! All OF which has nothing to do with music,
perhaps Let us see. These knights and
valiant gentlemen have now done much t.
advance the interests OF this place in which
we are all citizens, and they are doubtless
prepared to do more. 1t will now be only
matter of time until there will be createc
in this town an auditorium to suit all pur
poses. Why not now? The knights will
ere long be obliged to abandon their some
what barren looking den, and the time now
is when they should have a veritable castle
If these gentlemen should start a popular
subscription for the erection of building
down town to be called Ak-Sar-B Ben Castle
and devote thereto that energy which has
always hitherto brought them to success,
Omaha would have something long needed
The Den is inaccessible to degree, and
castle down town would be a great boom
Let 1t be built with front of castle-li
appearance. Inside of 1t a large floor, suit
able for the limitations, exercises. functions.
parties, etc.. Of the knights, also for drill
floor for our Thurston Rifles, Omaha Guards,
cadets and others. who would no doubt have
their armories in the building, on an upper
moor. This place could then be used for
pand concerts by the great bands Of the
country, where hest OF people could be
admitted at low price, thereby making it
possible for the engagement to result profit
ably. Here could also be given flower shows.
agricultural displays, horse shows and ba.
Ears. Here would be held all the conyep,
tlons visiting the town and many could he
mad now, without any doubt, IL there were
place large enough to contain a crowd.
The auditorium for smaller events could
De arranged for, in conjunction with this.
Ihe auditorium could be used for concerts
OF ell Kinds, recttals, lectures, amateur per-
formances and, perchance, the Woman's club
would make that place it's permanent head
quarters. On the upper floors a series of
studios and class rooms would be a source
of income, and would be godsend to the
music teachers of the city as we'll as to
the artists, for whom the north front could
be reserved.
The initiation fees Of the knights of Ak
Sar-Ben for one year would be a splendid
start toward the erection of their new home
and monster popular subscription could
with their recommendation, be organized
Every child could be provided with a quan-
tity of small, red tickets, each one repre-
senting brick to be placed in the walls of
the castle of Ak-Sar- Ben. These bricks
could easily be sold for 25 cents each, and
every child would feel a personal interest
In helping to build the great castle. A prize
would be donated by some of our storekeep-
esr for the five children selling the most
tickets For the older people a ticket of
rough gray cardboard could be provided.
each ticket representing stone to be placed
In the front walls. and each stone to cost
the purchaser 81. With the cooperation of
the press and the mighty influence thereof,
together with the push OF the knights, it
would not be long until the people OF Omaha.
the people themselves, would have erected
a worthy monument, which In its turn would
be made to pay fair revenue to the knights
of Ak-sar-Ben to be used for the good of
the city. Let not these remarks be taken
as an impertinent interference with the
business OF the valiant knights, Such is
not the intention.
THOMAS j. KELLY.