Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-01
ROYAL Line of AK-SAR-BEN from Beginning of Dynasty

30 each year in succession is better worth the
ing.
BY 1898 It had become evident that there we're
many men in the organization who had been
thusiastic capable and tireless workers for its
cess who might never hope to sit upon the throne
and sway the scepter. The task OF choosing king
then became much more difficult. How to pick out
q man who could lead the work for the coming
year with enthusiasm and push, who could keep
the whole big machinery of the society running
smoothly and who had by his past achievements
earned the right to the honor hard problem.
Major r. s. Wilcox seemed to be particularly we'll
fitted for that great task and he was crowned. He
had been POSTMASTER of several big Ak-Sar-Ben
banquets and in every way qualified for the
great responsibility.
William Douglas McHugh took up his reign
over Quivera and the Seven Cities Of Cibola in
perilous times The city was crowded with the Wis
itors to the second exposition, and many other
things were happening to make the end of the reign
OF King Ak-Sar-Ben " troubled and the beginning
Of his successor dangerous one. But the pageants
of that year were unusually brilliant. On the night
of the second parade there a terrific windstorm
which shook the frail and beautiful floats and
threatened to set the king out on the pavement
he chung desperately to his swaying throne. The
night OF the ball, however, suspicious as
could be desired, and the reign began with every
promise of the success which actually did crown It.
BY the time of King Ak-Sar-Ben VI there had
begun to be some doubt in the minds of the scrbes
and heralds just what the real title OF the king
was Whether he merely ruler of a duchy
called Cibola proud of great Cities whether
he king in his own right of the mightest of
western principaties, called Quivera whether he
was prince, earl, grand duke or king, nobody was
quite certain. Since then his real titles have been
cleared zip, but never has he been any more kingly
than he was then The great ball of 1900 saw the
genial Fred A. Nash mount the throne to act as
noble knight and royal, upright king.
The next year after that was a sad year all
over the land. Just at the time when Ak-sar Ben g
festivities should have been at the height of har-
ity the country was awaiting in silence the death
sentence that was to be pronounced on the MUIR
derer of the beloved President Mckinley. Theodore
Roosevelt was Just beginning his term president,
which was to be the beginning of his greatest work
Ak-Sar-Ben rather quiet that year, but the
king chosen good king and of the very
few who have continued even to the present day as
an active servant of the kingdom H. ]. Penfold
is known to every member of the organization as
one of the chief factors in It's For several
years now he has been the man behind the myster-
ious signature of SAMSON" which puzzles awes
and commands the initiate and the willing subject.
He has been secretary of the board chief director
Of the carnival, and manager of the whole enter
PRISE long enough to have earned the title of prime
minister, in addition to the kingy honor which he
wore in 1901. and which sat so we'll with him.
A year later another merchant prince of the
city elevated to be king Of all the seven cities
and ruler Of the great land. Thomas A. Fry genia
and efficient, helpful and popular, was put on the
throne to rule wisely and we'll for his allotted time