Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-10-04
BEST FESTIVAL ENDS
Ak-Sar-Ben XIV Presides Over Most
Successful Carnival.
CROWDS LARGEST IN THE HISTORY
Cinderella Ball Splendid Climax of
the Court Functions.
CHILDREN PERFORM FAULTLEssLY
Den is Packed by Eight Thousand to
See the Spectacle.
KINGS HIGHWAY HIT HIGH MARK
City of EpicureRns Teens with
Pleasure Seekers who Quit
Their Fun nt Last stroke
of Twelve.
Cinderella Ball Splendid Climax of
the Court Functions.
CHILDREN PERFORM FAULTIEssLY
Den is Packed by Eight Thousand to
See the Spectacle.
KINGS HIGHWAY HIT HIGH MARK
Prince Charming, Phillip Bradford

Prince Charming, Phillip Bradford
0hass.
Cinderella, Esther wilhelm.
The most successful and remarkable festi-
val Ak-Sar-Ben ever gave to the subjects
OF Quivera was characterized on its closing
day by as unique a feature as the board OF
governors, in the fourteen years OF OF its
excellent service, has conceved--the Gin
derella BALL An innovation, this function
was distinct triumph and proved the wis
dow of the board in undertaking It. With
out It the fourteenth festival would still
have been the greatest, Because It had more
to offer and more people to avail them
selves of what was offered. but the chill
dren's ball a splendid climax. 1t has
been conceded on all hands, without any at
tempt or desire at exaggeration, that all
the old features were better this year than
before and were more appreciated, and
that, too. the new attractions every one,
proved successful. The attendance was by
all odds greater than ever.
Surprising in gorgeousness any chlldreu's
affair ever seen before In Omaha, the Gin
derella ball Saturday afternoon was fit
| ting climax to the festivities attending the
Fourteenth carnival of Ak-Sar-Ben and n
deserved recognition Of the part the tots
/ play in the affairs of the kingdom OF
! Quivera
Old Den II Swamped.
Parents and friends OF the little folks
| together with thousands of others, fairly
swamped the doorkeepers and ushers at
the Den yesterday afternoon, and before
the ball began the doors had to be closed
and hundreds turned away because there
was not more room. 1t is estimated there
were 5000 spectators in the Den The
crowds overrun the boxes and galleries,
/ thronged the bandstand and then broke
into the passage ways to the dancing floor,
! leaving barely enough space for the little
ones who participated to enter the canvass
I carpeted arena. From every point of view
| the ball was a grand success and reflected
great credit on those who had It in charge.
| ~ many people who went to the Den were
unable 10 see it that some OF those in
charge advocated repeating 1t some night
soon.
lhe decorations Of the Den for the coro-
nation ball had been left intact. but they
were only a meager portion OF the spec
tacle the immense crowd was permitted to
witness. With the arena filled With dane
ing maidens IN filmy gowns Of dainty tints,
flower girls bearing garlands and wreaths,
boys in quaint and comical costumes, the
decorations, which were a feature of the
night ball, were so far outclassed they had
little effect in the general spectacle.
AS the little ones marched and counter
marched or danced from one end of the hall
to the other, fond mammas and proud papas
held their breaths in ecstacy.
Spectacle Bnscd ON story.
The spectacular part OF the ball was
based on the beautiful st6ry Of Prince
Claiming and Cinderella and the glass
slipper. All the accessories OF the fairy
story were there and In costume true to
the ina ginative descriptions in the story
book The successive pictures Of childish
beauty and grace held the wTapt attention
OF the adult spectators even as the fairy
stories hold the minds OF the children who
iead them.
Owing to the enormous crowd the ball
was little late in starting. AS the
band struck up the coronation march this
court dancers In columns Of two marched
in from the side entrances ana deploye ed
in various simple ana compli, ated foTma-
lions about the arena. Dressed to repre-
sent almost every kind of fairy, goblin,
nation, real romantic that the childish
mind could conjure they presenteI a p!0-
ture Of surprising beauty. After them
came the garland dancers. in dresses of
white, trimmed in red flowers and bear
ing garlands Of rich red roses. After
they had marched around the hall theN
grouped in the center, forming a beauti-
full spectacle, moving away finally to the
dAis before which the court dancers had
grouped themselves.
Signal the King.
The band sounded the buKls blast and
the princes guard. all young boys dressed
in Zouave costumes. marched In, signal
ing the entrance OF the king. All eyes
were on the prince as he entered with
his gorgeous robe A cheer rose as the
|
beautiful young prince. He was followed
by the courtiers and the bishop in purple
robe. The princes party moved directly
] to the dais and assembled the steps, the
prince. taking his scat on the throne
A Then, to the strains Of the second corona
tion march, zoe flower girls lead the pro-
cession, waving their garIands as they
1 march. They were led by little Grace
/ C'Brien, who danced along in front OF
! them with the airiness Of a real fairy.
r Then the maids OF honor TO Cinderella
4 entered, charming In their dainty gowns
e Of white ana blue capes hanging almost
! to the floor
S After they had passed the bugier at
( speed TO the middle of the floor and
e sounded the blast. As the echoes died
: away the door Of a canopy opened and be-
Fl: hold. Cinderclia's own pumpkin chariot
I rolled out into view drawn by a dozen
4 elves and fully eu4ipprd with stately driver
u and courtly fo0tman. The chariot stops
at the steps uf the diGs and the door
v opens and Cinderella. whom the crowd
n recogn'zes asas Mss Esther Wilhelm.
r daughter ~ Mr.. ana Mrs. c. NJ. Wilhelm.
r steps out and ascends the dias on the
arm Of a c-uriier. Before ascending 10 the
a prilre she g. waited on by the courtier
= with the slipper. Amid breathless silence
r. the courticr places II on her foot and then
c sle asceuds the throne and takes her seat
beside the prince who proclalms her his
r princess. The bishop with the solemnity
r due his high office and the dignity OF the
$ occasion places the tiara OF Jewels on
( the head Of the once despsed kitchen
h maiden and the spectators applaud