Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-17
N~~c,Nx.>.~~
omA y~tusIa4,s
BY Victor Rosewater
THE EXERCISES at Lincoln thi.

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concluded the program for the celebration
OF the sem-centennial anniversary of Ne
braska statehood and were put on in way to
MAINTAIN the high character and dignity of the
occasion. 1t is interesting to go back over the
inception and progress of this celebration, mark
ing as it does an epoch in the history of our
state with Others | began calling attention to
the forthcoming event long in advance and in
plenty OF time for the authorities to take action
that would make the affair an official function,
but nothing was done in this direction. As con-
sequence, it devolved upon few pubc-spirited
citizens to develop plan and make all the nee
essary arrangements to carry it out. Sem-ofhcial
standing was secured by having the formal initia-
tive taken by the State Historical society, but to
insure the needfu support and practical co-opera-
ton throughout the state special semi-centennial
committee of one hundred had to be inprovised
and charged with the execution of the project.
Suggestions were called for about two years ago
and believe that the outline OF a program that
/ submitted at that time contained nearly all of
the features subsequently adopted. At any rate
it included celebration at Omaha in connection
with the Ak-Sar-Ben parades and a celebration
at Lincoln in conjunction with the state univer-
sity commencement and the presentation of an
historical pageant portraying the attainment of
statehood 1t was the unexpected entrance OF the
United States into the war that gave the affair
at Lincoln patriotic turn distinctive from the
background OF the states fifty years of history
and made specially appropriate the participation
of Colonel Roosevelt and the subject matter of
his address dealing with preparedness and war
issues.
Colonel Roosevelt spoke under rather trying
grant wind blowing sporadically from all direc-
tions, but he put into his talk all his old-time
vigor and earnestness and accentuated his words
with his well-known gestures to drive them home
Physically he looked fine, perhaps trife heavier
in weight than usual His hair is showing more
G hal nr ton
of his head. He has the same quickness, however,
in the comeback that he has always had.
Turn around!" yelled someone in the rear who
was unable to hear what the speaker was saying
IT'S only when | am talking to a crowd 1ike
this, retorted the colonel, turning around, "that
wish ! were two faced, just as when people
crowd about to shake hands with me | wish l
were centipede."
Needless to say, the sally caught the crowd
and evoked round OF cheers
The pageant or "semi-centennial masque" en-
titled Nebraska" was more than credtabe. 1t
showed us the aborgines, pioneers, soldiers,
statesmen and all the aegorical figures of birds
and flowers and grasshoppers interviewer with
the thread of the states history. The writer of
the book let us discover, the fact that Napoleon
laid the foundation for democracy over here as
direct coroary Of the military despotism he
was attempting to establish in Europe He also
cleverly brought in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln
10 iu1nisn tne inspiration 1or Andrew Johnson
part in opening the door for Nebraskas admis-
sion TO statehood. Presumably we may And here
the explanation why our state capital is called
Lincoln when it might just as well with historic
appropriateness be called Johnson" Still an
other innovation was the introduction Of process
sion of nursemaids wheeling doll infants in bug
gies-an incident which elected various jocular |
remarks about race-suicide for the good-natured
edifcation OF Colonel Roosevelt. But the music |
and the dancing were fine and the spectacular |
ensemble superb. With so much talent and ar
tstic effort and careful drilling put into the pro-
ductioh, it ought to have more than the few per-
formances given at Lincoln. 1t ought to be shown |
all over the state wherever there is town popu-
lous enough to furnish large audience.
The meeting to start off the Red Cross cam
pagn in Omaha will be put down as one of the
most inspiring gatherings ever held in this city
despite its decidedly limited attendance and the
results so auspcious that the success of the
movement is foreordaned The best part of it
is that all the credit is due to the efforts OF our
own people without the help of outside experts,
either in oratory in money raising. When it
comes to doing big things, we have the men and
women rightNhere in Omaha who can do them.