Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-23
MwERRYMAEING AT THE LAKE
Annual Carnival of Rod and Gun Club
an Enjoyable Affair,
DISPLAY ON LAKE ATTRACTIVE
storm AccOmmOdatinEly Held on
Until the Outdoor Exercises Had
Been Concluded and Boats
Safely Housed.

Wind and rain could nc; ma the merry
making of the Rod and Gun club st Cut
Off lake Friday evening, for, although it
blew a veritable gale and the rain fell
in torrents just at the close of the beau
tiful Venetian carnival, the many hundreds
of happy p%icnickers continued their fes-
tivities indoors and when they did so
home at a late hour they took only pleas
ant memories with them.
1t is estimated by the officials of the
street railway company that fully 1,5CO
people went out to the club on the cars,
and there were also many ~cottagers and
their friends from the west shore of the
lake who attended I'm the evening. The
picnick9rs began to arrive at the pretty
grounds along the lake front early in the
afternoon, while in the evening ten street
cars were unable to handle the crowds for
awhile.
Bathing. boating, base ball and other
outdoor sports were INDUCED in by the
early Corners, and many were the lunches
that were gotten out before 6 O'Clock to
satisfy the hearty appetites the brisk
weather and exercise produced.
On all sides the beauty of the dccora-
lions was remarked upon, it being said that
even last years carnival was outdone in
this respect. EveIy cottage and shack
was Hastily decked in gala attire and the
larger summer homes were literally ablaze
with Japanese lanterns during the evening.
A force of men mad busted themselves
the greater part OF the afternoon putting
up the lights for the club house lawn, and
special pains and expense had been gone to
with the idea of making the decorations
novel and extensive.
Novel Decorations
At about the center of the lake front of
the club settlement on the south shore a
big flower bed was hung over with an
aerial garden filled with birds of paradise
represented i'm various lantern forms.
Among them were parrots in gilded cages.
gorgeous ROSTERS and feathered denizens
Of tropical forests.
Because of the threatening sky the boats
lined up early in the d'ening for the pa
geant on the water, each launch, sail boat,
row boat and canoe bearing from one to
fifty lights of all kinds and colors
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock the long process
sion moved slowly out onto the placid
lake, headed by the big launch, Ahamo,
which had all the others in tow.
After proceeding northwest to the center
Of the lake the parade of boats turned
] dIOuiu ana Blueu past the reviewers on
the shore, who loudly eheered them.
Throughout the entire cruise, which lasted
almost an hour, red fire and handsome
fireworks served to light up the water in
many pleasing effects in addition to the
hundreds of lanterns on the boats. An
answering fire from the shore added to the
beauty of the spectacle and gave the event
the general appearance Of a night battle
on the water when viewed from the bluffs
west of the lake.
In anticipation Of the storm that was
about to break, the carnival of boats put
into the shore earlier than had been
planned, and the remainder of the evening
was spent in a delightful musical By some
Of Omaha's best talent, and in dancing.
Throughout the evening part of the pro.
gram a real Venetian quartet furnished
melody on shore and water. being espe.
cially enjoyed while the boats were max.
ing their cruise, After the water carnlya
a musical program was pleasingly rem
dered by Robert Cuscaden, Martin Bush
Miss La Costa Godsey, Edward Pash, 3
S. Hamilton and Miss Marion Ward.
Dancing in the coy assembly room o
the club house closed the evening" fes
%tivities, the music being by the Morri
orchestra Of children and young people.