Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-21

republican Institutions are not compatible
with the highest form Of social enjoyment
to love a lord like a republican has passed
into provcrb. and for one night we lay
aside our practical ideas and pass into Il
land of cnChantmcnt. where we bask i'm the
smiles Of roy atty. The den of Ak-Sar-Ben
on the night of the ball comes as near
being the realization Of a child's dream Of
fairyland as is possible with material
things. All of the forces of nature ana
the development of art are called upon to
lend beauty and color to the scene. The
solid foundations of the building are made
to melt away to the eye and give place to
light and airy pillars. Electric lights in
Vulnerable sparkle from the roof, from the
walls and from banks of verdurc. so ar
ranged as to soften their dazzling brilliancy
and throw soft radiance over all Music
and the perfume of flowers fill the air. lend
a feature of enchantmCnt which clings
around the building from one ball until the
next. And through all there is the rustic
% silkcn skirts. the ripple Of laughter and
the hum of conversation, which dwells
upon the memory of those who seldom mix
with the smart set outside of the annual
festival-for while the Ak-Sar-Ben ball is
socially and acsthetically the prime so, ial
event Oh the year, IL Is IdlntT uelllOtIdllC
in its makeup and many dress suits are
taken from the boxes only for this occasion
by hundreds who at other times have no
wish to wear what they consider the most
uncomfortable form of apparel.
While the men are at work preparing the
pageant which prcccdes by twenty-four
hours the ball their wives and sisters are
deep in the mysteries of court costumes.
Tbprp nra those Whp stand closer tp the
throne than others, as in all monarchies,
and on these women the responsibilities
lie heavier than upon their more free il
less distinguished companions of the even
ing. Several weeks before the annual
event the ball committee Of the knights
of Ak-SdT-BCn has designated the maids
of homer and laidies-in-waiting who viii
attend the queen. These women i'm
mediatcly ask the question which all hus-
bands have come to believe the first lucid
thought of feminine minds, what have |
got to wear?" Certain it is that none Of
them have anything to wear for this oc-
Casion. and the dressmakers are imme-
diately engaged in preparing The gowns
which will add to the beauty of the scene.
With all the secrecy possible the com
mittec has designated the man who is to
be the king of the evening and the queen
has been selected. IT is safe to say that
the majority of the women who are to be
present at the ball and all of the men are
today wondering who viii be hOnOred as
the monarchs of the ball. In previous
years the speculation has led to devices to
ascertain this important fact, but in no
case has the public secured the informa
ton until from the royal throne, with the
blare of trumpets, the king and his con-
sort have stood revealed to the crowd
which fills the hall.
No event in the city's social life brings
together such a concourse of people. They
come not only from Omaha, but from all OF
the surrounding towns. Merchants of the
city invite their friends from other places,
and each year sees a larger number Of peo-
pie from out of town at the ball. Many
come to dance, others simply to look on.
Last year the crowd was so large that the
Board Of Governors feared that the Coli
scum would not be large enough to contain
It. 1t has become the custom with several
state societies to hold their conventions in
Omaha the last week of the carnival, so that
the members can be present at the ball,
This year the bankers of the state will be
present in this manner. The ball is SO
popular and the crowds are so large that
the board has been compelled to issue strict
orders in regard to the admission of guests
and this year a double pTeCautiOn has been
taken to see that no one not provided for
by the board is admitted. Members of the
order who have Joined at the weekly SEES
sions are first provided for, then the guests
from out of the city. If there are any tick