Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-25
MINNEAPOLIS TO CELEBRATE
Linking Of the Lakes" to Have Ap-
propriate Ceremonial Observance.
WEEK OF PAGEANTRY PLANNED
Event 60 he "COminE ont Party for
the Great city which t. Now
Fully Established in Its
Position.
~ Graee FarrIngton arayl

ana Philadelphia her Founders day. New
Orleans has her Madri Gras, Portland her
Rose fete, and Kansas City her Priests of
Pallas This summer Minneapolis will
rave her Linking Of the Lakes
The occasion is the connecting by canal
OF two of the city's lskes-Calhoun and
Lake OF the Isles. The event will be OBJ
served with a week OF festivities 1t will
be a great play festival, such as Italy had
in the days Of the Renaissance: such as
England is reviving I'm her twentieth cen
tury pageants Minneapolis Is title more
than 30 years old. but she has her stir
ring memories and proposes 20 recall them.
The city was founded by New England
ers, more strictly speaking by Yankees
with true Yankee energy and steadfast-
ness. The pioneer days were days of such
romance as only a wild, new country can
Yield. But the pioneer period is closed
Minneapolis is established. From the
census OF 1910 dates the new Minneapolis
And the approaching celebration is really
her coming out party
This transition is marked by the spirit
Of play. When a community is ready to
play, II Is the surest possible as soon
as the storm and stress is past During
the Romulus and Remus period, there is
30 much TO be done. that life is grim and
earnest and intense. Work seems the only
thing worth while. But as soon as the
storm and stress is past natural instincts
reassert themselves. Community life
blossoms and it's flower is play.
Germ of the idea.
The germ OF the idea was a canoe carni-
val held last summer on Lake Harriet
No expert from abroad had been hired
20 superintend it. No great amount Of
the effect was charming. There was a
grouping and shifting Of light and color
that brought back dreams of Arabian
Nights splendor
People said. How lovelyi" why
shouldn't It be an annual AFFAIR." why
shouldn't We as a people begin to play?"
I'VE have no Hiring Fair no folk dances,
no merry maldngs on the village green
Why shouldn't we institute something that
will bring the people together to play. and
will be characteristic OF Minneapolis
BY sort of spontaneous combustion, the
idea broke out in many quarters at once.
Late in the winter, a committee OF 200
citizens was organized to take steps in the
matter. They elected as president one
A. w. Warnock. the organizer of the Pub
licity club, who is what Kipling calls a
man of infinite resource and sagacity.
From that time forward. things have been
going like Alice in Wonderland. 4"
Faster! Faster Faster!"
Like any good housewife. Minneapolis
set to work to clean up for company.
There were ninety days in which TO make
the city beautiful. Wonders have been ac-
complished, not only in decorating home
grounds. but also in planting vacant lots
Two hundred and fifty acres of vacant lots
have been plowed and narrowed and trans
formed from rubbish-strewn, csn-heaped
wilderness, into vegetable and flower gar
dens. But that's a story by itself. 1t is
enough TO say that by July 1. Minneapolis
will blossom as the rose from window
ledge to city park, from back yard to
Italian garden.
Tear Down EyesOre.
The old city hall on Bridge square
which has been an eye-sore for 10! these
many years, has been torn down. The
flat-iron tract IL occupied has been con-
verted into a rose garden with an heroic
statue in its midst representing the Faith
ers of Waters. This little park is Just
opposite the Union station and makes a
fitting entrance TO the city.
on either side OF this square" which
is really triangle. there is an arch Of
welcome spanning Nicolet avenue on the
one side and Hennepin avenue on the
OIneTs Inc OOull u nbAAOA bN6Ah0 hCA Q
and extends up Nicollet avenue for mile.
There is a splendid colonnade surmounted
by great electric globes and from column
TO column swing garlands of electric
lights. But the most distinctive feature
OF the decoration is the window boxes.
Nicollet avenue is lined with handsome
business blocks, and every window ledge
IN that mile OF masonry is occupied by a
box filled with poisoning plants and
trailing vines. The effect immeasurably
surpasses the old time gala-dress of flags
and colored bunting
Now as to what the celebration will be-
In the first place it viii be home COM
ing. People will come from al over the
country back 10 their home town. There
will be pageants parades, water fetes
canoe carnivAls concerts and every known
form OF amusements al fresco.
The entire National guard OF Minnesota,
infantry and artillery and naval reserves
viii be mobilized for the first time in the
history OF the state. The forces will en-.
camp on the parade a natural plain OF
sixty-eight acres in the heart OF the city
overlooked by Lowry hill with its green
slopes. winding drives and magnificent resi-
dences. Here there viii be a round Of COM
petitive drills, band tournaments, reviews
and dress parades.
Sane Fourth sure.
An important feature of the week will be
the sane Fourth Minneapolis took the lead
IN the reform of that much abused holiday
in 1906 and has ever since been perfect
ing her patriotic celebration. Last year
10000 children were entertained on the pa
rade. There were games. dances and vaude
VILE performances There were jugglers
trained animals. musical specialties and
acrobats. And best OF all there were lem
onade. sandwiches. ice cream and pop
corn TO their hearts content This yea
there will be neighborhood celebrations helS
IN six parks in different quarters Of tn
city. The same general plan viii be fol
lowed. In the afternoon there viii be
military parade. and in the evening tn,
glorious Fourth will reach a climax in
canoe carnival and a unique and elaborate
display OF fireworks. The Fourth is not tn
only day on which the children have
share in the Festivities Saturday will b
Children's day. II will be observed with
school parade. There viii be a variety o
floats representing subjects drawn from