Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-01

II IA may not De quite SO Economically ln~
teresting as the identity OF the young
- woman who is to receive homage as
kta9%kS&Sk royal consort, but certainly the king
SSSI4&l is not without honor, and many men
would be glad to stand in his shoes
for the one big night of his brief
When the night of the ball comes and the
streets of the city filled with huryng carriages
and automobiles that rush madly toward the Dem
When all the most valiant knights and ladies OF
Quivera don their most sparkling raiment and
gather at the CASTLE the chief topics of conversation
are, who shall be king."-and who is to be his
queen, The orchestras strike up their music and
the ceremonies begin, the mummers of the realm
clad in queer clothes march forth the ball room
floor. The crowds press around from the outer
circle and lean forward breathlessly from the bal
comics. The trumpeters step forward and send out
a stirring blast.
With a stately even tread the king, guarded by
his faithful retainers followed by his glitterng
inue. comes from his waiting room. The audience
recognizes him almost instantly and shout of well
comes goes up that shows how enthusiastic their
momentary allegiance can be-
After the queen comes the king gives
his royal consent and the ball begins. They
await upon his word, and he and his queen are the
most brilliant Of all that gayclad assemblsge, wit
and wisdom gather his throne their fealty.
Does not all that sound like the experiences OF
wild bod carriers dream and a good sized evening
for an Omaha business man to undertake,
Never yet has king failed to be kingiy or a
queen to be lovely and gracious. Men from all
walks of Ife professional men, manufacturer mer-
chants capitalists have felt the press the golden
crown on their heads and the ermine clinging at
their heels They seem to enjoy 1t, certainly their
subjects enjoy the vivid gorgeous ceremonies that
begin each reign and give homae with Joy.
Ak-Sar-Ben XVIII will be more of mystery
than It is hoped and expected that his reign
will be more brilliant than any of his predecessors
The Den will be reftted and refoored for the pleas
ure Of his subjects. In every way 1t promises to be
big year for his majesty. There will be greater
mystery surrounding his identity than ever because
this year the only certainty upon which to base
guess is that he will be a member of the knights
In former years he has always been chosen from
among the members of the board of governors.
These men, however, have grown tired of bearing
much responsibility, the of the kingdom are
heavy sometimes, and they decided that they could
not be expected to be legislative, judicial and exc
Cutive departments all at once, they would choose
king from among the knights. Their wisdom will
be tested by the success of Ak-Sar-Ben XVII.
The first man to don the ermine and scarlet
OF the kings robes under the flag of Ak-sar-Ben
Edward NJ Bartlett. He was at that time
sixteen years ago, prominent member Of the
Omaha bar, as he still is. Ak-Sar-Ben at that time
~ demanded more of the individual men who were
working to get 1t established the great COM
mercial organization OF the city, because 1t was
just being started. There weghty prestige
of long-honored achievements any expectant en-
thusiasm among the people of Omaha and the sur
rounding country. The men who starting the