Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-07
Regal Monarch Receives His
Grown at the Castle Before
Assembled Multitude
of His Subjects.
JOHN L. WEBSTER is KING
Consort Is Miss Mary Megeath
Most Comely Young Woman
Devoted to Sports Of
Great Outdoors.
CEREMONIES AT THE BALL

John Lee Webster is the new king
OF AkSSar-Ben, the XXII Of the
dynasty.
Miss Mary Megeath is the new
queen.
sWith greater splendor, and with
more costly decorations and jewels in
the whole scheme OF things than were
evident in any OF the previous coro-
nations in the twenty-two' years, the
king and queen were crowned last
night at the royal castle, the Den,
lust preceding the opening Of the
coronation ball.
A more courtly and gracious mon
arch of Ak-Sar-Ben was never in
stalled, nor did one ever receive al
his throne for consort, more coinely
or better favored maiden than did
ther oval pair to whom loyal sub
jects paid homage last night
In Orchid Shades.
The royal castle was decorated in
orchid shades, with wisteria covering
the upper walls, and orchid colorcd
lights flaming from a great curved
section behind and around the sides
OF the throne. Chandeliers shot their
white effulgenee from great circles of
ferns and banks OF greenery. The
background Of platform was heavily
curtained with costly green hangings,
while the throne proper was OF purple
draperies, decorated in gold.
The coronation ceremonies and ball
were as nearly modern as possible in
general style instead Of being pat
termed after any particular court OF
the middle ages, or the seventeenth
century, as has been done in the past.
Enter Sir knights.
The elaborate ceremonies began
promptly at 9 o'clock. Slowly the
knights, in custom, began entering
the great hall from the south. They
formed two lines, marching diagonal
ly across the hall, the lines of march
one another in the middle
OF the room. When the columns had
reached the two sides ofatlse' e'haiis tse
knights seated themselves upon the
floor. All Knights were dressed III the
costume of Shakespearean characters,
Just as they appeared on the floats Of
the Shakespearean parade in the elec-
trieal pageant OF Wednesday night.
Following the knights came the
buglers, who marched to the front,
and in true military precision. faced
about at their respective positions on
either side Of the steps leading to the
throne.
Governors in Royal Purple.
Simultaneously they sounded their
bugles and the twelve governors of
Ak-Sar-B Ben entered the hall from the
southeast. All governors were clad in
royal purple from head to foot, with
patent leather pumps. Knickerbocker
suits were worn, and the suits were
trimmed with gold spangles. The coat
was of an old English design, cut
long, almost to the knees.
In columns of fours they marched,
slowly assembled the steps, faced half
about and took their places, forming
two columns with wide passageway
between them leading to the throne.
Maids Appear.
The buglers summoned the maids,
and the twelve entered promptly, four
abreast. Thus in four columns they
marched to the front, taking their
places in two columns, one in front OF
either line Of governors, on the plat
form.
The maids wore modern ball cos
tunes of orchid shade, with small
trains and carried white staffs some
what Of the shepherd type. Nt
The settings being complete, the
buglers now summoned the king. The
crown bearer, Master Harley Moor
head, jr., entered, then the cardinal,
and, 10, King Ak-Sar-Ben XXII him
self.
His majesty was clad in a rocco
syle costume in white brocade, with
gold and purple flowerings. The coat
was heavily spangled in gold laces and
jewels. The royal robe was of white
satin, edged with an ermine band and
ornamented gold sequins.
With regal dignity his majesty
strobe down the great hall, under the
shower of lights, and amid the splen-
dor OF the costly decoration OF the
hall. The regal procession passed
down the hail. through the wide ave-
nue. formed by the lines of governors
and maids, standing at attention on
the sides, ascended the steps and took
his place on the throne.
The cardinal, Ben Gallagher, with
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