Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-07
KING RECEIVES SUBJECTS
New Mysteries Surround the Throne Of
Ak-sar-Ben the Eighth.
TWENTY-FIVE TAKE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
Program of Exercises as Arranged by
Board Of Governors PIeases Bet
ter Thar Any Former Initial
alton ceremonies

Ninety-hve loyal subjects OF the merry
monarch, Ak-Sar-Ben VIII, assembled at
the den Monday night to swear allegiance to
that regnant prince for another twelve
months. and, according to the consensus Of
opinion when the members departed for
their homes, the mysteries which surround
the throne Of his royal highness are far
more interesting than those Of previous
years, in spite Of the fact that the even
ing's program, as arranged by the Board
Of Governors, is quiet. Just what hap
pened and just how it was done is yelled
in secrecy. because the king Of Quivera
is Jealous Of the royal prerogative and
does not desire the residents Of the I'M
known world to enter into the joys Of his
kingdom except through the well-estab-
lished method. known to the citizens Of
his ~favorite principally by eight years OF
unbroken precedent.
This year the genius Of the den is w.
r. Bennett, who has been given the title
Of TT by unanimous consent, without the
formallty Of a motion. NJ. A. Hall as the
grand multi this year, but his duties con-
sist OF supervising the spectacular stage
work, which is pronounced the most real
istic and enhancing Of any ever seen in
the west.
Army Omcers Present.
The evening was enlivened by the pres
ence OF F. w. Altslatter and Lieutenant
H. w. Sickle OF the regular army. now
stationed at Fort Leavenworth. The for
mer officer has recently returned from the
Philippines. where he was a prisoner of
war for six months in the hands Of the
insurgents. He spoke Interestingly Of the
natives Of the country and told OF the
fight to restore order on the islands.
Games which we're brought off during the
evening were exceedingly interesting. d.
]. o'Brien was probably the hero Of the
meeting. attaining higher points during the
course Of the play than any other person
at the den. His play was marked with an
abandon which won the plaudits OF the
crowd in every game, and at the close OF
the evening the assembled knights were
very much surprised to find that other
persons had acquired more of that peculiar
dough" which passes current within the
land Of the king Of Qulvera, where all
things are not what they seem and all 10
happiness and pleasure; where the cares
Of the workaday world are laid aside for the
more congenial tasks of welcoming the
weary wayfarer along LIES rugged road
and giving him a taste of the utopian de-
lights which only exist in the land Of Inn
Rgination.
Out-Of-TOwn SubJects.
There were only three persons from out
Of the city, aside from the army officers
previously mentioned, who bowed at the
throne Of the august Ak-Sar-Ben VIII last
night. They were H. L. Ware of Ports
mouth, o. P. Boland Of Wahoo and "Dick''
Ferris.
The meetings will be continued each
Monday evening hereafter until the week
before the fall festival. From the number
present last night 1t is expected that the
record for membership will be broken thit
season, and that consequently the ball will
be the most elaborate ever given by the
society. Great care has been taken in
making the den appear at its best. The
drawings showing the limitations of pre-
vious years occupy a prominent position or
the walls, and legends setting forth the
position of Nebraska and its resources are
we'll displayed.
The Board Of Governors held a meeting
at the Omaha club previous to the session
at the den. No business was transacted
as information as to matters under con-
sideration was not received.