Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-16
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
EUREKA !-EUREKA!!

our friend and the villain our enemy.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
EUREKA EUREKA!
ASTOUNDING DEVELOPMENTSH
Mr.. EDITOR Having heard so much
said on the streets and in our papers about
the KNOW NOTHINGS having reached
Raleigh, have been on the gu; vive, ever
since their advent, to find out their places of
meeting, hoping that by 'judicious' espi-
onage l might get into the secrets of this
mysterious association. All my inquiries,
observations and searches bad been in vain,
however, until the night before our late cleo
tons got on the scent and tracked them to
hole in the gropnd,' and gaining fortu-
nate seat on a propitious limb overhead, [
gazed with anxious dread upon the mid
night scene. And, now, with the promise
that you will never disclose the name Of your
lucky, or unlucky, as the case may turn out
to be, Correspondent, I will give you an ac-
count of the terrible sights l Witnessed on
that memorable occasion.
At the mouth of the Cave, or more prop
erly, Hole in the Ground, were stationed
seven athletic men, one little lower down
than the other, in succession, until they land
ed on the broad area below that led to
spacious hall capable of holding just two
hundred and seven, and no more ! As the
members approached the entrance, Git was
bright moonlight night and I could see eve
rything very distinctly each one placed his
4sdrxter finger on his proooscis and gave.a
sound something like cracked clarionet,
which was responded to by big man No. 1
asking What do you know ?'-' know
nothing, please your highness,' and forth
with he was drawn into the Hole and hurled
head over heels to big man No. 2, who in
turn whirled him on, and so he was passed
down till he reached the bottom. Here
be was met by seven more mysterious look
ing personages who welcomed him, and be-
tween whom there passed conversation in
gutteral sounds so indistinct and unearthly
that could not divinethe much coveted secret.
Not little fretted at being unable to
crafty my laudable curiosity, determined
to keep my hiding place and see all | could,
/ if could not hear much. Soon the initia-
ton of a new member, came on, and then
I saaO sights The candidate was made to
crawl on his thumbs and big toes, no where
else touching ground, up TO the seat Of the
big he-devil at the south corner of the hole,
who sat enveloped in smoke and surrounded
by seven big leather-wing bat looking char
acters. As soon as he got in reach of them
they seized him and such a screeching and
screaming never was heard in Pandemonum.
Then there came the smell of birthstone, blue
: flames stole awfully up through the crevices,
and then such an oath as he was made to
take. A great beast, with seven heads and
J ten horns, was seated on a throne crimson
: red with the blood Of its victims by his
IL IL side was one who was called the great she
: devil fBabylon-behind sat his cloven-foot
: ed honor, even Beelzebub himself-aEd be-
D fore their altar the victim was led forth and
. just as the beast with seven heads and ter
y horns commenced reading the horrible oath
\ terrific noise, louder than seven-fold thun
= der, shook the cavern, and the poor victim
II fell in a swoon before the altar. All wen
~ = to work to apply restoratives and soon he re
= covered, when he was made to kick a pur
Vi pie robe, break mitre, abjure all outlandisl
j, languages, and then he was set to work +
~ make his own seat in the side of the Cave
~ this accomplished, he was pronounced one c
IS the incomprehensible order of Know Moth
ings, and whose peculiar province it was
"a a be-devil Catholics, mystify loco foco editor
lat dupe whig ditto, and act in an independer
en- way generally and severally.
'se While the general rejoicing over ne
cd convert was going on I thought ii a goc
en, time to retire lest might be observed ar
are dreadful consequences reward me for my t
icy merity. And as descended, perched upc
) II a lower limb, Judge my astonishment to fl
We seated there the very imp of the black a
ne who had abused and warned men to bewa
len of these very midnight fellows. Known
De that awful would oe my fate if caught the
;, in such company, was seized with awf
all tremblings SO that 1 fell from my hold, al
re re- in my fall dragged with me the cause
the my dreadful catastrophe. The noise occ
ose stoned by our fall brought forth the who
but crew Of INTERVALS and they lit upon US ii
IN duck on a june-bug.' And as they sh
IL their blue lights upon the face of my 'compa
mai ion in distress, general cry was heard.
avs Ho1n.oNi HON ouir-ond tber s,ob
Ter shout Of triumph as went up. We We
Try dragged down the mouth of the Cave
ue- out in their peculiar love or spite for h
nelr they seemed to forget me, and | stood a p
ties ri6ed spectator of the terrible scene beft
inst me.
'uld My unlucky companion was led before
rlhg dark screen and it being removed-o