Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-15
GREETINGS FROM OVER SEA
knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Receive Letter
From G.. w. Wattles Dated
Moscow.

An Unexpectedly large crowd was present
last night at the Den regardless OF the
heat and the circus attractions adjacent,
to witness the initiation of one OF the
largest classes of the season.
Secretary IL. J. Penfold Of the Board OF
Governors read several announcements
among which was a letter from @. w
Wattles written from Moscow, Russia, in
which he sent his greetings to Ak-sar-Ben
and wished for It every prosperity. He was
enjoying his giobe-trotting trip immensely
and having the best kind of a time
Mr.. Psnfold also called special attention
to the new innovation of the Cinderella
ball to be given the evening Of October 8,
and asked the cooperation Of all the
knights in the matter to make 1t one OF
the great successes Of the festival season.
Mrs, Clement Chase will have charge of
the arrangements and the children will be
drilled by Mr.. Chambers. 1t was urged
that the children Of all the knights partici-
pate, as at least 400 we're needed for the
ball. The knights were asked to have their
children meet at Chambers academy,
Twenty-fifth and Farnam streets, this
Afternoon at 2 O'Clock for preliminary train
ing. The wives and sisters Of the knights
are asked 10 take the children to the acad-
envy this afternoon, where further details
Of the ball will be arranged with those
most interested.
The additional announcement was made
that next Monday night will be Lincoln
night" The Board OF Governors has in
vtted the Lincoln Commercial club to be
present. and all knights were asked to
write to their customers and friends in
Lincoln urging them to come and thus
make Lincoln night" one OF the biggest
of the year. William Kennedy, formerly of
Omaha but now OF Lincoln, will act as
grand multi that evening. and he is taking
a lively interest in the matter and prom
ises a big crowd from Lincoln, which can
be largely augmented by further Invita-
lions from Omaha people to their Lin
coin friends.
Grand Mufti Thomas announced that the
membership last night was 94S, as against
1872 a year ago last night. The announce
ment was received with the heartiest APP
plause.
The speakers Of the evening were C. A.
Searle, who told a good fishing story of
experiences that the grand multi and he
enjoyed last week up on the ranch Of
Harry O'Neill in Custer county. From fish
ing stories, all Of which he vouched for as
absolutely true, he drifted into an eloquent
dissertation on the possibilities OF Nebraska
and the urgent need OF carrying out the
Ideas and recommendations Of the water
ways congress-. He believed the transporta-
ton ploblem woul be settled by the re-
opening Of navigation on the Missouri.
which would mean a tremendous impulse to
the growth and business OF Omaha and
the west generally.
He was followed by r. W. Blackburn In
a similar strain. advocating no let-up to
the Missouri river navigation agitation until
1t was an accomplished fact. He urged that
the problem Of m was the problem
OF transportation and it's solution rested
In the inland waterways and their utiIiza-
ton as transportation mediums, thus re-
lievins the railway congestion and cheap
ening the cost OF transportation.