Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-02
The Ship of State to Head Most
Gorgeous Procession.
AMsON MERRY oUIPs IN LINE
Electrical Parade Well Calculated to
Thrill and Enthuse.
MILITARY CAMP AN ATTRACTION
All Branches of the Regular Army
Will Put ON Daily Drills and
show Methods of work
USED In Real War.

1903. 1909. 1910.
Wednesday .,.. 4,375 a,443 3,ale
Thursday ..... 1898 4,l54 1851
Friday ......... s,577 4,ss7 s,ss7
The stars in their courses are working
for the success of the Ak-Sar- Ben festival
this year. Saturday afternoon the chill
dren OF the kingdom and Saturday night
the men and women gave unmistakable
token that during the coming week they
will enthuse. boost and glorify as never
before
And such a week as is to comet
trip across the continent will be we'll worth
while to take part in the entertainment
and the jollficaton; and there are those
now in Omaha who have made the trip.
Some are Omaha folks, who were on the
two coasts, and others have never yet had
the rich experience they are about to gain.
So that those who are not thoroughly
posted may be put in possession of the
salient facts, let us give he kings own
definition of the name by which his own
royal festival is known:
"Ak-Sar-Ben is the name of this great
state reversed but 1t Is more than that.
Ak (Syranl means the head of a house
hold; Sar (Arabic) means the household
Itself typified by the knights who have the
festival in charge; Ben CHebraic) signifies
the brothers in the household"
anu IL Is lHe DTOIneTly, DQIe-all-IOBetneT
spirit which has made this Omaha insti-
tuition what il is. During all the years
of its existence, since 1895, this spirit has
never been lacking. In the initiatory work
and the preparatory l6bors, continuing
through many months each year, good fell
lowship and mutual helpfulness has been
the rule, fully evidenced by the re-
markable success which has attended the
fall festival each year.
Schedule of Big Events.
The festive itself covers the dates this
year. September 2S to October s.; the army
maneuvers will occur on the days of Oc-
tober to g. inclusive. at Fort Omaha.
On Wednesday evening, October 5, the
electrical parade will pass through the
streets On the afternoon of Thursday
October 6, the military parade will move
and on Friday evening. october l. occurs
the brilliant coronation ball at the Den.
The electrical and military parades will
come as the climax OF the formal entertain
ment offered the general public; the coro-
nation ball will be the social function par
excellence where valor and beauty vie with
each other in doing honor to the king and
his royal city.
Each year the subject of the electrical
parade is varied, and this year King Ak
Sar-Ben XVI will make his grand entry in
a procession OF gllttering floats, the general
scheme OF which is told in the title "The
Ship OF state and Samson's Quaint Quips. I"
Who will be the king and queen this
year? The answer will not be given until
the unmasking occurs at the grand ball.
On a gorgeous float in the parade his
majesty will appear. drawn by two cocky
ostrlches, and clever guessers will then
first have the chance to get under his dis.
guise. If they can.
Score of Gorgeous Floats.
Twenty floats viii make up the process
sion Wednesday evening led by the title
barge, '"rhe Ship of State" Then will fol-
low highly illuminated presentations Of the
various departments of the government
Back Of these will come nine pictorial con-
cepuons or flossy funnyisms, under the
head of "Samsuns quaint Quips"
,Aruneer Gus Renee and his workers In
wood. canvas, stucco, tin, papier mache
plaster, and his artists ana painters, have
been busy with the building of these floats
since last winter.
Originality of design and cleverness OF
execution has always distinguished the line
of floats put into the Ak-Sar- Ben parades
and this years display will be no excep-
ton, but will be bettered by the expert
ence gained In the work through so many
years. Other cities have at times found
IL to their profit TO buy the Omaha floats
for use In similar parades in other sec.
tlons OF the country.
TO make Nebraska holiday" is tn,
great underlying purpose of the Who'll,
years work at the den, a holiday OF peace
ana good wlll OF harvest time spirit, cacu
lated to cement the civic pride of the cIt
gems and win the regard and kindly con
/ .sideration OF the whole state Not only
as this object been accomplished in 4
y %isfactory measure thus far, but IN,
fa& OF the festival has spread to ever,
part .. Uncle sam domains. In a grea
many Cities and towns outside of Ne
braska men are wearing the button o
AlI-Sar- Ben having been initiated during
the summer while the guests of friends
and in every town of any consequence II
the state borders are other knights VIII,
will pretty generally come to the city dur
ing this week.
Regulars at Their Work.
What last year proved a most pleasing
and instructive feature OF the festival 4
the military maneuvers. which extend owe
the full six days Brlgadier General Free
Smith, commander OF the Department o
the Missouri, will be in command of tn
camp and will have under his orders mel
OF all arms OF the service TO the numbe
OF several thousand.
The soldiers have made camp at For
Omaha and during their stay in omah,
live as they would in the field Last yea
was the first time the military display be
came part of the fail spectacle and thi
year II IS 20 be murh more extensive. FTor
sunuP 60 the evening gun the men of th
different branches OF the army will b
going through all the usual evolutioni
with good many added that are not con
monty on the program.
Much chance for education coneernin
the United States army and its manner o