Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-03
FIRST OF KINGS VICTIMS
Tortures Prepared for Those Who
Wish to Qualify as Knights.
BEST EVER, THE VERDICT OF ALL
Attendance at 'fFirst NiEht' UBus-
ualIy Large and PressaEes Ex-
ceptiOnaI Interest in Ak
sar-Ben This Year.

The man who started tho old saw There
is nothing new under the SUM- evidently
did not know OF the ingenuity OF Gus
Rerze and the trainers of the ritual and
~ ork" Of Ak-San-Ben. Not one OF the
500 present at the first night" but would
h~orestly say he had seen something new.
Many first nighters'' there were too,
irore In fact than belonged to Ak-sar-Ben
during its first years, and they were given
o show which Is the ~fruition OF years of
scheming and designing by the best in the
country. Even the regulars who have
gone to the den from year to year Razed
in open-eyed wonder at the changes which
had been wrought in ~" den. for no OK
pepse has been spared - AXE the CHOW
complete in every detail.
The loyal subjects OF King Ak-Sar-Ben
had expected to see something good pre-
pared for their entertainment, but they
did not look for the magnificent exhibition
which had been arranged. None was
spared, for It was the first night. and
everyone was put through the early work
ings Of the ceremony, but all came out un-
scathed. The working crew Of sixty-five
Of the faithful subjects of the king had
labored assiduously in rehearsing their
parts until all went off well. although the
management promises that the wheels will
work much more smoothly next Monday
night. when the Bell Ringers" are put
through their sprouts.
Best Ever. Is Verdict.
B. F Thomas was grand mutt and his
resonant voice was heard above the "ohs'
and abs which were heard from all
parts Of the big den as he was telling Of
the wonders Of the Kingdom of Quivera-
Its the best ever" II never saw any
thing like It," How car Gus RENEE think
up such deviltry?'} 'Tho green horse is
outdone." These were some of the few
exclamations OF surprise heard on all sides
and surprise after surprise was unfolded
to the view Of the sstonished spectators.
A new rule has been inaugurated at the
den this year and that is that there are to
be but two speakers each night and that
their talk is to be limited to ten minutes
each. after which Gus RENEE is requested
to turn lose the dogs of war and crush
the intrepid speaker who dares to speak
beyond the limit.
Frank T. Ransom and c. S. Montgomery
were the speakers Monday night and both
gave some good advice for the boosters
for Omaha to follow.
"One needs must be impressed with the
difference in Omaha now and twenty years
ago. said Mr.. Ransom Then all were
Knockers and such a thing as pulling to-
gether was not known. Under the impetus
of Ak-Sar-Ben during the last fourteen
years a change has been wrought and It
cannot be said that citizens of Omaha are
Knockers. If we all pull together We can
get the streets of Omaha repaired so we
will not have to cross the river to, Council
Bluffs when we want to hold our paraces
this fall. We invite people to Omaha for
100 miles in every direction and we want
our streets right. even II we have to start
a concerted kick on the city council.
Under the auspices of 'Ak-Sar-Ben
Omaha has become a real city and Is
rapidly taking the place 1t ought to take
among the growing cities of the west"
Success from Failure.
Carroll S. Montgomery told of the fright
full condition of Omaha's streetsi twenty
nine years ago and then briefly described
the advances which had been made until
the hard times of 1893 came along and the
people of Omaha realized that something
had to be done to save the city.
1.-THE first move was that of the Omaha
Commercial club to get the state fair to
Omaha" said Mr.. Montgomery. That was
done and the fair was a failure, but out Of
that failure grew this magnificent organi-
cation Of the Ak-Sar-Ben, which was
organized primarily as an aid to the state
fair. The fair failed but this order has
always prospered and always will as long
as such enthusiasm is shown by the lead
ing spirits of Omaha.
THAT was the real start Of Omaha and
since that time there has been unanimity
of action and there is no place in the west
where such a u%nanimity exists as right in
this magnificent body of men.
Omaha is the most conservative Of all
the western cities of the same class, al
though 1t is progressive with a progress
which is not too rapid, All this is a subject
Of congTatulation. No one now wants a
boom. We want a. steady, conservative
growth. which is coming by the aid OF
those who have come lately to Omaha.
Omaha is the center OF the richest agri-
cultural country in the world. for corn is
king, and that Is what we grow most
a~bundantly."
The grand multi urged all the members
to be present each Monday evening and to
bring TO the den any strangers who might
happen to be within the city's gates.
TEARuEDC tn on IN EMRI ANP