Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-14
Goodbye. Near Goddess.

OMAHA, Aug. 13-To the Editor of The
Bee: As the Goddess of Liberty on the
city hall Is about to be removed. allow
me to address her. figuratively speaking,
and in this style;
Dear Goddess OF Liberty: When a
member OF the city council of Omaha 1
did on the 10th day OF June. 1891. assist
In placing you on your high pedestal
and from those majestic and lofty heights
you have had ample opportunity to OBJ
serve events and affairs during that quar-
ter of century. You were then a blush
ing maiden IN the heyday OF your youth,
surrounded by men in which you had the
utmost confidence. who installed you in
new palace. one that was completed
without the breath OF scandal. a living
monument of economy and strict COM
pliance TO Its plans and specifications.
You had scarcely been installed when an
attempt was made by mandamus and
other proceedings against that council to
force them to accept q bid OF $4,000 In
place OF one OF $4,000 for the furniture
now In that palace. but the Goddess of
Justice on the court house came to the
rescue and a $4,000 attempted steal was
averted and you were spared your
precious tears. However, dear. goddess.
Il was not your lot to remain In happiness
and contentment. for you Ia your blissful
ignorance and innocence were soon intro
duced to gay world. when IN 1899 you
found yourself in company with men
whose conduct you did not approve and
whose presence was 90 odious to you,
and for nearly five years you suffered
tho suffering OF the meek and humble
In tho Garden of Olivets. In your infancy
you beheld q heterogeneous community,
but soon saw it turned into a community
OF demons. q discordant and diversified
mass OF people. You soon found our con-
stitutional provision OF liberty of con-
science but a moclery and the Goddess
OF Bigotry and Fanaticism' about to be
Installed In your pace and stead. You,
dear. Goddess of Liberty. for a period OF
five years. or nearly so. saw the peoples
taxes ruthlessly squandered against the
earnest protest OF a helpless minority,
and you wept. Again you wept when. dur
ing that regime you beheid our treasury
looted OF thousands OF dollars. the fruits
and legacy OF their predecessors' econ
omy, and this all taking place under the
eyes of the so-ealled Guardians OF LIB
erty. men more holy than thou. This
condition Of things you beheld in daylight
and In darkness. thick darkness through
Il came TIN dangerous night was DER and
the star OF hope returned.
Dear goddess. while you had your sor-
rows. you likewise had your Joys You
braved the summers heat and withstood
the wintry blasts OF twenty-fOur years
You lived to see the Augean stable
cleaned; you lived through that much
feared. predicted. yet untitled prophecy
that the pope Of Rome would soon be IN,
stalled In the city hall; that alone should
have atoned for your many sufferings.
During the last fifteen years OF your
eventful career you have had ample tims
In which to dry your eyes. manicure your
wrinkled forehead and take your much
deserved beauty sleeps.
"And now, dear goddess. as you have
been peaceably ordered TO vacate your
throne. regret your departure and shall
ever look back with fond recOliections &C
the day I assisted in placing you IN thai
spot on the city hall and 1 am mors
than pleased 10 know that you depart, a.
va came. In the reign OF your friends