Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-28
Attendance at street Fnir.

Attendance at street Fnir.
septem Der "a ''''.....,,.,..... 3,l30
Septemner 20 '''''..''..'''.. a,5T1
september 2d. ....s...,,....... S,OSd
september 2T... .............3I,77a
Never in the history Of the Kingdom OF
Quivera has the festival Of a coronation
opened with such splendor and promise
as has this-the carnival which marks the
ascent Of King Ak-Sar-Ben VIII. to the
throne.
Although the festivities decreed by the
powers have but Just begun, thousands
upon thousands Of his majesty's faithful
subjects have already come from all parts
OF the kingdom and their hearts are Joyous
with the spirit of the time.
The gates Of the imperial city are open
and through them a multitude Of loyal and
enthusiastic citizens swing every day to
participate in the festival attending the
crowning OF the new king. BY the time
the gorgeous royal pageant passes on its
way to the palace next Thursday night and
by the time the royal court ball is set in
motion next Friday night the city will be
crowded to it's utmost.
Last night. even as the festival is open
ing, multitudes swarmed the highways and
byways OF the imperial city-the people as
radiant in spirits as the city was brilliant
in holiday attire. And while the crowds
have never been equalled. so has the illum-
nation of the imperial city surpassed all
previous showing.
Streets GOrEeOusIy GIIumined.
The street illumlnations furnished
brilliant, dazzling spectacle. Light from
thousands of incandescent electric bulbs
dissolved night into day and shone with
glittering splendor. Streets were arched
and hemmed by continuous strings of these
glowing embers, which also hung in radi-
ant clusters from stately buildings that
reared their blazing heights like walls of
FIRE above the admiring masses fairly awed
by this peerless feat Of the electrician.
Farnam and Sixteenth streets. Of the
principal thoroughfares. presented the
most striking appearances. They were
arched with rows Of incandesceuts at In
tervaIs OF a block, lined on both sides BY
similar strings, thus forming canopies Of
brilliant hue. Farnam street from Tenth
to Twentieth was one long corridor Of fire.
as was also Sixteenth from Howard TO
Webster, about the same distance The in
tersecting arches at Sixteenth and Farnam
formed the climax OF the dazzling picture.
Douglas street from Twelfth to Seven
teenth and Harney from Fifteenth TO Sew
enteenth were draped in luminous folds
Courthouse Parngan of Pageant.
With all the inspiring glory of this fes-
tive night the court house was the paragon
OF the pageant. Its old dome was one
blazing mass of white light and on it's
pinnacle arose, in majestic splendor, the
emblematic form of Justice, wreathed in
fire and with fiery hand outstretched, as II
In token to the beckoning figure of the
Goddess OF Liberty, which danced amid
myriads of glistening lights on the city
hall building across the street. Just be-
meath this triumphant spectacle against
the front OF the court house and above
the Farnam street entrance was beautiful
shield OF red, white and blue tights, the
stars penetrating the background Of blue.
Every window in the old eoifce was
fringed with incandescents.
The city hall. Just opposite, shone back
as II to vie In friendly rivalry with the
gorgeous glory Of the temple Of Justice"
The Goddess OF Liberty, In naughty mien,
! smiled in graceful grandeur upon her brill
! liant sister, Justice, and a radiant tri-
! colored shield, like that on the court
house. helped to complete the imposing
scene
Bee Building IL Brilliant.
The Bee building completed a trio OF the
| most beautifully decorated Of all the build
| ings in the city. Across the top over the
Farnam street entrance, like diamond lace,
! sparkled hundreds OF incandescents. and
! from the projections wreathes OF diamonds
smiled on the gazing thousands. Around
/ the windows and on the Farnam street
side were lights Of many colors. arranged
in artistic groups.
The seats erected on both sides Of the
| -. 49,
sons, who gszed in admiration on these
three buildings.
Decoration of Business Houses.
! OF the business houses the Boston store
! probably attracted the greatest number OF
persons and elected the greatest amount
! OF praise. From a hve-pointed diamond
star which was constructed far above the
building over the entrance at Sixteenth
and Douglas streets, two strings OF lights
trailed TO a base Of light which edged the
top OF the entrance. Three large squares
| OF lights enclosed the east side OF the
building, and from each window Old Glory
waved At this place the streets were
congested many times during the evening
by the admiring throngs.
At the store OF w. r. Bennett the illu-
mutations were in the show windows, and
the Oriental scene and the queen OF Ak
! Sar-Ben in her parlor were Illuminated
| with the colors OF Ak-Sar- Ben. This place
was highly complimented and during the
entire evening a good-natured crowd num-
bering thousands jostled each other for
place to see.
Many other business houses were gaily
decorated, including the hotels, and there
were thousands of persons who, being un-
able 10 get into the carnival grounds, felt
amply repaid for their presence In the city
by the sight OF the wonderful illumina-
tions.
Crowd Wen Behaved.
The crowd that entered the carnival
grounds occupied every available space and
standing room was easily at a premium.
There were 31,7TS persons paid admission
into the grounds. OF these 2s,773 went
through the turnstiles and the remainder
through the pass gates and the large exit