Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-03
EIGHTH KING COMES
Youngest Of Ak-sar-Bsn Dynasty Arrives
in the Imperial City,
HIS PAGEANT MOST GORGEOUS YET SEEN
B1osls in Beauty Even Those Of His
PrOdigsl Predecessor.
TWENTY FLOATS, ALL BLAZING WITH LIGHT
Eighty-FOur LOyalists on Them, CARRIED
Most GOrEsouSly.
CROWD MEETS GREATEST FXpFcTATION
CROWD MEETS GREATEST EXPECTATION
Omnhans Turn Out in Force and spe-
ciHI Trains Bring Additional Thou
sands from the Surrounding
States of the Realm.
omaha's Red Letter Dates.
October a-Ak-Sar-Ben Royal Court
ball.
October 4-Ak-sar-Ben street Fair
closes.

Returned to childhood by the wave OF
an unseen wand. 200 people on the
streets Of Omaha gazed last night at a
spectacle that gave substance to all the
vagrant phantasies OF infant mind, revived
the tales that once were wont to mingle
with the goodnight prayers, awoke the old
delight in tinseled beauty, blew into fame
the embens Of dying Imagination, and, for
the hour, drove away those sordid cares
that make men old before their time.
King Ak-Sar-Ben VIII, ruler Of all
Quivera came unto his own, and with him
came a pageant that mingled the craft of
man with the inspiration OF the child and
told the wondrous story of Festival Of
Fairyland."
A story with no moral, true, and with
no historic value, but one so pure in theme.
so brilliant in adornment, as to ap-
peal to all with one great power and gain
from all most unstlnted appreciation.
A kings no less a king for owning to
a softer side, and Ak-sar-B Ben VIII made
no apologies for his pageant as he rode
last night between the ranks of his bearded
knights to receive the key to the imperial
city's gates. After his own resplendent
float trailed nineteen others, and their ad-
vance through the lighted thoroughfares
was as the advance OF a jeweled hotilla
through rivers Of fire, 5000 fairy lamps
glowing in the train.
Night Almost Perfect
With no stars or moon to pale the brill
lance Of the royal gems, yet with neither
heavens tears to dampen nor Boreas' blasts
to chill, the night was most auspicious,
and when the mighty pageant burst into
bloom for a first time far to the north
ward the legions of the loyal had long been
in waiting. Moving forward over it's wind
ing course, cheer after cheer greeted II
at every hand and when the great gold
key was surrendered by the clty's chief
executive, the thousands crowded In the
street below and in the amphitheaters all
about gave a shout like the rolling OF
tempestuous surf and the echoes Travelled
leagues to the waiting ears of them that
could not see, but understood.
Detained but a moment the pageant
glided on again and within the hour had
forever faded from view. just as the figures
OF dream land have, and, like them. left
behind only pang at it's quick going, only
a Joy that it came at all, only a memory
of beauty too great to endure, a pleasure
too subtle to hold.
Yet the monarch's mood was not wholly
one OF sentiment. Jest mingled In his
thoughts and he bade the realm be merry.
he. y children" he ordained. at is not
the royal pleasure that any one grow too
solemn at this gala hour. This is a tri-
umphal entry, not funeral procession.
I've got the county coroner in my retinue,
tits true, but let it be understood that he's
not here in an Official capacity. l wish
nothing but merry making this night"
The wish was gratiied. The court buff
foon found himself with many competitors,
and laughter was the music of the hour
just Before the start.
1t began at 6:53, when the castle draw
bridge was lowered and the first float
wheeled out to the hitching crew His
royal highness had lost his crown and
could not mount his seat until It was
found.
my diadem! Somebody find my dia-
dem!" he commanded. "I'd die a dem poor
death without it,"
This was the signal and thereafter word
play ran on unrestricted. knight of the
enchanted island asked for a ham sand
wich and the mermaid remarked to the
horsemen: You fellows go mighty slow
Remember I'm working the shell game up
here and its hard 10 hold oni" A close
friend Of Aladdin begged for a cigar. ex-
planning that he could get a light from.
AL" and sweet little Red Riding Hood was
smoking a cigarette. serene in the knowI-
edge that the old wolf had so arranged
matters that her grandmother couldn't
possibly smell the smoke.
In order to have a smooth, clear path
the floats were sent from the castle, at
Twentieth and Lake, north to Spruce, east
20 Nineteenth, south to Grace, east to Six
teenth, and then 10 Cunning During the
latter part OF this Journey the king gave
the ribs OF the nearest knight a gentle
punch and remarked: "There Is, remem-
ber, no significance in the fat that they've
got me going south thus early in my
reign"
Waiting on Sixteenth north of Cunning
were the Ak-sar-B Ben governors. twelve in
number and wearing red caps, red coats
! black braided, white trousers and black
| riding boots. Their mounts we're blanketed
with the Ak sar- Ben colors-red. green and
yellow. Eighty-slx OF the knights were on
| the floats in various costumes, but forty
| more, garbed in new silk habits of brill
| liant hue and many cuts, were on horses
as elaborately caparisoned as the mounts
! OF the governors.
! At this corner there awaited, also the
torch bearers, four to follow each float and
six for each band. The former were garbed
! in red, like the leaders OF horses; the latter
we're in black, monk-like robes. The
] lighters fell in behind each float as II ad-
! vaneed TO Cunning street to make eonnec-
! tlon with the trolley wire. and the pageant
| was gotten under way with no confusion.
! little delay and few calls for the property
/ wagon.
How the Column Lined Up.
| The current set aglow the last Of the line
| at 1886 and thereafter there were no long
halts. The order OF arrangement was this;
/ Sixteen mounted police, under Chief Dona-
| hue.
| COvalt's band.
/ GanrRa Graen,a seYanih Mard hand