Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-09

King Ak-Sar-Ben XVI went into seclusion
At the stroke of midnight last night. He
retired to the accompaniment of a mighty
shout which signified that King Ak-sar-
Ben XVI has been the mightiest and mer-
riest monarch OF them all. Great is Ak
Sar-Ben' roared the crowds and the hill
sides and valleys and broad prairies of
the land Of Quivera gave back the echo,
Great is A-kSar-Ben."
When the last barker had barked last
night, when the last handful of confetti
had reached its mark when the tired, but
overioyed crowds had started home and
the Arabs of the Highway shows were fold
ing their tents ready TO steal away, silently
or otherwise, one and all had the same
opinion:
The Ak-sar-B Ben festivities of 1910 have
reached the highest mark as yet. The fall
festival has been the most complete ana
successful since the knights of Ak-Sar- Ben
first crowned monarch The electrical
parade was easily the best and was wit
Messed by more people; the army maneu-
vers have been a gigantic success, the
highway has been gayer.
Attendance at the Highway may have
fallen a few hundred short of the mark of
two years ago, but this was due to the
absence of railroad rates and the 1903 fig
ure is far surpassed. A great day at Fort
Omaha, where another amazing crowd was
present and a farewell hurrah and kiolup
on the Highway closed the festival yes
terday. The day was not quite so note
worthy as Wednesday with the electrical
parade, Thursday with the military parade
ana Friday with the coronation, but 1t
was big day, nevertheless, and a fitting
concluding fourth act to the climaNes Of
the three days just before.
More Money Snent
Ak-SaT-Bsn visitors have left thousands
of dollars in Omaha, probably more than
ever before, and this in spite OF the fact
that no special rates were granted or spe-
clal trains wer erun this year by the rail
roads. Besides cash sales made by mer-
chants and money taken in by hotels, res
taurants and other business institutions
the Ak-Sar-Ben festivities have been Of i'm
mense benefit TO Omaha In mercantile
way.
This is obviously true with respect to
advertising the city. In an indirect way
the benefits are equally great AS Joseph
Hayden. OF Hayden Bros company sug-
gests, thousands of people have become
acquainted with the city. II Is no longer
q strange place for them and they Will
therefore, come all the more willingly al
other times, because they feel that they
know their way about
Many business cross currents result from
a proposition 50 big as Ak-sar- Ben. Many
Omahans refrain from shopping during
this period and their trade Is lost durins
the ten days, but only during this time
Out-of-town shoppers replace them The
Eame situation is true with respect TO the
theaters some of which do not in a bust
ness way care for Ak-sar- Ben either posi-
lively or negatively. Others have a prac
ticaly capacity business all thO season
aRyhdw.
Most Of the big stores and shops declar,
that sales this year have broken al
records.
ours were the very biggest we hav,
ever had in Ak-Sar-Ben times" asserte,
Henry A. Thompson OF Thompson 4
Bslden.
Hugo "A. Brandsis contented himsel
with saying that the visitors this yea
were a more prosperous appearing an,
better dressed lot Of men and women thar
heretofore, and w. f. Baxter Of the XII
patrick company declared his institution
had done a record Ak-sar- Ben business.
Country trade is becoming more an,
more distributed through the whole year,
said Mr.. Baxter "and although we brolo
eur record the number Of out-of- low
visitors did not seem quite so great as il
years past, AZ least. on the big days whe
all the stores OF the city Used 10 be stand
ing on their heads. The 2-cent fare Law
- responsible for this distribution and !
To- OF course, a good thing"
y. w. Bacon Of the Eennstt Compan
stated that "this company exceeded b
several thousands It's sales OF 1909 an
went ahead OF 1905 BY a lesser majority"