Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-15
Little Rock-covered Spring in Bemis Park
Center of Many Fond Memories and Secrets
Hundreds Of Weary Citi-
zens Come From Near
and Far to Drink its
Cold, Pure Water.

uaily perfecting all the glorious out
of-door possibilities for summers
beauties and one of the first mem.
cries to be uncovered in Omahans
minds is that Of the quiet little rock
covered spring, hidden down in
Bemis Park.
Not that it is bubbling, tumbiing
spring. for il isn't. II flows quiet
". in . steady clear stream from
its rock home down into the ce-
mented basin below. Memory alone
tells those who know II where to
60 and strangers only accidently
find II while walking.
No matter how many sit on the
three small steps, so invitingly
built, or how many circle around
the cemented terrace to watch the
crowd Of little children who have
been stopping their game of hide
and seek, or the autoist who runs
down the bank for drink from a
fountain that asks no war tax. the
little spring has never yet refused
a drink to anyone and never grown
"pouty" even for . time.
Center OF Children's Play.
II seems rather to enjoy having
perhaps eight or 10 little children
lean down from the terrace and feel
the first spring water squirt over
their hands, and 1t does not murn1ur
louder when the excess Of springs
spirit OF frolic makes them splash
The snray over each other and send
Il gushing on both sides. But even
this early in the season II has
choked severely, when . number OF
thoughtless boys, old enough 70
know better In the opinion OF the
little spring, filled its beautiful clear
basin, with matted brush and sod
until many Of its friends feared lest
IL be choked to death.
Down in the shade, II seems con-
tinually to invite people and those
who have known Il the longest say
that from the time spring FIRST un.
chains the little stream there Is
never Z day nor hour when some
one does not seek Its cold, refresh
ing water.
It's fame has spread beyond the
Bemis Park district and In addition
to the women who just run across
before dinner with 4 pitcher are
those who come In cars, with. not
one pitcher, but several; with Their
mos bottles and jars.
Laborers Garry Water.
Laborers are seen in the evening
about S or 6 o'clock to bring old
fashioned "jugs," fiji them with
water and hurry on carrying them
together by rope.
But with those Bcmis park resi-
dents, who rather pride to claim the
little spring - their own, the trips
take the appearance Of daily pill
grimagc to shrine.
From 2 o'clock until twilight be-
comes actual night there 10 a strag.
Cling procession OF men, women and
children with their cups or glasses
who walk to the spring for
drink" and return with their little
glasses full. except for what has
splashcd out on the way.
Human interest stories II could
tell by the hundreds had anyone
but the ear to hear and understand.
But one OF the most beautiful aides
to the pleasure that this little
spring gives Is that its gift to the
hot, tired, poorly-drcssed visitor is
just as cold, just as pure as to The
richly dressed man or woman who,
for diversion, stops from the car
long enough ito drink until they
reach the soda fountain" And It
keeps all their secrets.
On one night this spring two OF
Its first unusual callers came and for
some reason or other, the others
gradually withdrew.
He was middle aged, stability
dressed and lame.
She was perhaps In years. not APP
pearance, little younger; her one
piece dress sagged in back and her
hair, rather fluffy originally, was
gathered together in an oily knot.
Came Unnoticcd.
No one saw them coming. They
seemed to arise from nowhere in
the park. They walked on, he pre-
ceding and she about FIVE steps be-
hind. Once In a while, she would
stop and breathe in the spring eve
ming air and look around at the
others who were hurrying summer
tennis courts by knocking balls ON
the green, or those who were at
least pretending to read aloud under
the trees.
Finally they came to the spring,
They stood and watched it, but had
no cup. It was with difficulty that
he could stoop. She had just lean
cd over to scoop some up with her
hands when little girl playing near
timidly offered them peanut butter |
glass which she had. With the help
OF his cane he sat down on one edge |
and she on the other. She leaned
over, and while the water flied and