Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-05
LAUNCH PING PONG GALLERY
Latest Addition 70 0maha'S Amussmentu Il
Fairly Under Way.
START BODIES GOOD FOR ITS FUTURE
First NiGht Finds Tables P~atrOnised
by Lovers of the Game and GAL
Iery visited by the
swell People.
.1nre ALL PlaYl"

Love ALI PLAY"
These words trllled from the throat Of
an Omaha debutante last night, and the
new ping pong gallery in The Bee build
ing was formally opened. From then on
there was laughter and music and ping
pong strife till midnight, and when finally
the brilliantly lighted hall was empty
every one voted that opening night OF the
new enterprise had been a grand success.
The new gallery is located at the Sign
Of the Four" in the first floor Of The Bee
building. and a quartet Of we'll known
Omaha young men is interested in its well
fare. They are Fred Nash I'd. who is pur-
chasing agent: Charles Young. advertising
agent; Ross Towle. social agent, and otto
Bauman, real estate agent.
In equipment, decorations and all other
features the gallery is voted to be the
limit. The color scheme is green, the
walls and tables being done in different
shades OF that hue. The whole room is
perfectly lighted by dazzling electric clus-
ters III the ceilings. In the daytime large
windows along the north side of the room
furnish ample illumination. The upper
walls are covered with a myriad Of pic
torial decorations.
Best Of all are the tables, for Fred Nash
made them himself, There are many places
in Omaha where ping pong is played on
dining room tables, but only in this gal
lery are regulation tables to be found.
They are fve feet by nine and two and a
half feet high" said Nash, land they cost
me two nights work till after midnight
in the carpenter shop at the smelter.'
Nash's partners vouch for It that he really
made the tables, and this fact has greatly
enhance their value In the eyes Of fair
patrons Of the gallery.
The firm is especially proud Of its as
sortment Of bats" There is q choice of
every known kind. Some are Of rubber,
others Of vellum, still others Of suede and
finally Of sandpaper. The balls, too, are
of the best, being imported directly from
England, and they are Of a high grade OF
celluloid.
A piano kept the gallery filled with
music for opening night, and in one corner
punch was served. In response to repeated
requests Fred Nash sent home for his
pianola and made a great hit with his
rendition Of classical themes. He was
kept at the box more than two hours.
From z o'clock till after midnight all
four tables we're going constantly, with
the room lined with people waiting for a
turn. About 9 o'clock there was an I'M
usual influx Of arrivals, the members of q
dinner party at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Luther Kountze turning out in a body. Tile
partners had been invited to the dinner,
which was a birthday anniversary for Mr..
Rou6t5e, but declined because or theI
opening. They sent elaborate regrets An
the shape of a big yellow card bearing I'm
announcement of the opening, with pii,g
pong balls hanging to 1t. The card was
read at the dinner table. and it wal de-
cided that the only thing to do was to
visit the place en- masse.
The Four" cannot but feel that sc
suspicious an opening augurs success for
their undertaking, and it's novelty and
originality deserve this as much as do tie
thorough and even elaborate way In Witch
they have carried out their plans. The
gallery is to be open from 9 O'Clock In tSe
morning till midnight all winter long.