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Adventures that Marked Trip Around the World
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ILT THK OTITKR WALLS OF THE KINGDOM, WHERE KEEPER FOWBLD DISMISSED THE
WANDERERS. - - . ..
WHERE A LESSON IN ASTRONOMY AND GLOBE GIRDLING COMBINED WAS GIVEN.
07
NO itrangar craft ever floated on the
dark waters of the StygJan river;
no bullboat, macktnaw or catboat
which Jumped from snag Ho snag
on the Missouri river in the early
days ot navigation was more original in de
sign than the craft which was used by Sam
son, pilot to King Ak-Sar-Ben, to bring trusty
and trusting candidates from the displumed
hills of Nowhere Into the ports of the King
dom of Qulvera and the service of his ma
Jesty, Ak-Sar-Ben XIV. ,
The log of this old boat contains more
Interesting Incidents than that kept by the
ghosts on Charon's old boat, and the tales of
Its voyages during the summer nights of the
year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred,
and eight rival those pictures of boats which
made voyages to strange Islands of tourlstry.
The great. hand-Illuminated book kept by
Samson and his mate tells the story of the
initiation received by all who were knighted.
All crossed the gang plank equal as they were
when they came into this world, without
money on their persons, and hoping after a
struggle of brief duration to niche themselves
into a safe place in life and enjoy the com
panionship of knights in a land of plenty,
where corn Is 50 cents per bushel, music
throbs sweet on the celestial air, wheat sells
for $1, things are made bright by the laugh
ter of children and bank clearings break the
record every day.
And the realization was not disappointing
Samson gave every candidate his money's
worth and then some. Thu land has been
reached by thousands and, unlike those who
take the last great boat ride, many have re
turned to tell about the country over which
Ak-Sar-Ben rates, of his throne city of Omaha,
set away like a jewel in a kingdom of corn,
and of the words of wisdom and folly ad
dressed to them by the court harlequins and
magi.
Entering the "den" of the king, which Is
at Twentieth and Paul streets, the candidates
were first greeted by a tawdry masquerade
of men in courtly costumes. Over the en
trance was the handwriting on the wall, "He
Who Enters Here Shows He Is Not Behind."
"Throw Out the Life Line," sang out the
mate, which being translated by a Shrlner
meant "hang onto the rope."
Once a-hold of the rope there was no turn
ing back. Hundreds in front were pulling.
Scores of timid ones behind were pushing on
ward, afraid to turn back. There was a bab
blement of strange noises, and the candidates,
like lambs led to slaughter, entered a great
tunnel, from which they Imagined the sul
phur flames were leaping bursting hot from
the fiery mouths ot several cook stoves.
But there was no fire. . The candidates
had usually heard that all were thrown alike
into some strange furnace, but the air in the
long tunnel was only hot because of its hun
dreds. It was more like the heat and dust
which herders on the Great Plains have ex
perienced when in the midst of stampeding '
cattle.
Down, down, went the long line, the rope
slipping sometimes through trembling fingers
of the candidates as the goat leading the
line pushed onward in great glee as he
thought of the Innocent ones Tor whom he
was the leading ram. Stumbling blocks there
were In the dark tunnel, which passes en
tirely under the great coliseum and opens
into a great chamber, like the ante-room of
a Roman amphitheater, at the north end of
the building. Sufficient time Is necessary to
make the trip through the tunnel to give the
candidates time for reflection. It is while in
the dark alone or surrounded by strangers
that men are in fear, and the trip through
the tunnel beneath the den of King Ak-Sar-Ben
prepares the minds ot candidates to
stand in awe of most anything from an or
dinary slapstick to a gallows.
In the ante-chamber to the palace of the
king the grand imperial keeper of the outer
walls separates the wheat from the tares.
The clerks, with voices lke chanters of
litany, read off the names. The lesson taught
is that "many there are who are called, but
few chosen." ,
And to be one of the chosen at the outer
wall means something. It means an oppor
tunity to sit comfortable at ttie .north, ptfie
of a minltiture earth enjoying the realization
that Walter Wellman and Captain Peary have
never reached such, a height in northern lati
tudes, and then Tf a sudden tne earth begins
to revolve in the wrong direction; planets
and suns run lawless through the sky, being
on being is wrecked and world on world.
Those who are "called" pass into the am
phitheater, where they are given comfortable
seats by the side of big tanks of lemonade
the monk-looking clerks and the keeper with
a port-wine face. The candidates are huddled
together in the little room and when they
see the wall falling feel the stones from its
canvas walls ' pounding their heads and
shoulders. Heaven in indness had hidden
from them the Book of Fate, or they would
not have been laughing and joking but a few
moments before.
But when the wall is within a few feet
of their unprotected heads it stops suddenly.
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THIS IS WIJAT GUS THINKS A REAL WHALE LOOKS LIKE.
and beneath great lights which throw their
strong and searching flashes, first on the min
iature world which 1b wrecked and then on
Samson's pleasure boat as it glides over the
shifty and ungenlal stream.
But all receive a thriller while waiting
the pleasure of the king at the outer wall.
With faces upturned in the darkness toward
the chanting clerks and the stern-faced
keeper, the throng is Jeered by men in a
gallery above the turrets and balconies. Sud
denly there is a crash. The whole stone-looking
wall begins to descend, bearing with it
The man with the unrefungent face shouts
"traitors" and suppresses a charge of laughter
which is about to cause his safety valve to
pop. The wall is drawn back Into place by
two strong cables. The crowd in the bal
conies continues to Jeer and the wheat is
separated from the tares, and long lines pa6s
to the right hand and to the left hand, enter
ing the palace of the king.
Those who pass to the left are the oneB
"chosen" and destined to see the meteorlogl-
(Continued on Page Twelve.)
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8. a AQUARIA AND CREW HERE SEAMANSHIP IN ALL ITS BRANCHES WAS TAUGHT.
THRONE Of THK MUFTI. WHERE A LESSON IN PATRIOTISM WAS INCULCATED.
IPFlce List
Ladles' List
Plain Waists
Silk Waists
. Plain Skirts
Plaited Skirts . .
Skirt and Drop .
Jacket (short) .
Length, lined
4 length, unllned
Cravenettes .
Men's List
Jrj Cltanlnr Vjtinir and
til Prvnlnf Tftuinf
.50
.75
.75.
1.00
1.25
1.00
2.00
1.60
1.50
11.00
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.00
1.50
2.50
2.60
Dry or Steam ClM.nlns',
Cleaning- and Bjralnf and
Suits ,
Coats
Vests
Pants ,
Overcoats
Ulsters (heavy)
Gloves
Neckties
I..
11.50
.75
.50
.50
1.50
2.00
. .10
:io
FrMalnf
$2.60
1.25
.75
1.00
2.50
3.00
We also clean Ball Costumes, Party Dresses, Opera
Robes, etc., without in the least injuring the fabric or'
color. AVagons to all parts of the city.
The FANTORIUlVI
"Good Cleaners and Dyers"
1513 Jones Street Both Phones
P. S. Rent a Dress Suit here for the Ak-Sar-Ben Ball. .. .$3.50
2Z
,11k
lb la
fo)fo)(n)
mm
FIRST-CLASS
PLUMBING
REPAIR WORK A SPECIALTY
Telephone Doug, 1477 or
Call at 70S South 16th St
FOR ESTIMATES
THE
LETTER
MAN
"When in the course
of human events it
becomes necessary"
for you to use
Typewritten
Letters
j It will be well for
you to place your
order with
MANGUM & COMPANY
4
Auto. Phone,
1
A-1885
LETTER FACTORY
109 South Thirteenth Street
OMAHA
Reed and Rattan Suit Cases
PRICES FROM $2.00 UP.
They are Light, Roomy and Durable. Let us chow
you our line.
Omaha Trunk Factory
1200 Fanuun Street.
BAILEY (El MACH
DENTISTS
1 1 THIRD
J Beat 1
.y Hixheet
FLOOR PAXTON BLOC
Corner ldtb and Faroam BtrwU.
equipped DenUl office la the middle weel
Hffheet grade Dentistry at Reaeoaable rnoee.
FercelalB lUUaca. Jut Uke Ue teeU,