White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19
Friends ! Who will do MS no harm!''
To which the G.. @. answers On
IBID them Beware Beware! q,

To which all the members respond
welcome to enter here %
The candidates are then led in; singl,
fils. each holding to the coal; tail Of the
other. In total blindpsss they rsro thu
marched about tho room several, time:
while the room is lighted brilliantly
All is now silence and grins-except or
the the part of the candidates, who arr
sternly commanded to indulge in "Nc
Levity." They are brought to the chail
ofthe Grand Commander, and are there
asked all manner of questions touching
their fitness to bear arms, to swim, to
march, as to the condition. of their health,
their teeth, etc.-as to their moral tenn
perament-whether they have been OF
are MISUNDERSTANDING they have over
stepped the bounds of chastity, and so on.
In order to get this information one OF
the previously initiated heads the line and
stsmmers out in a low voice, an answer
to the questions gradually and painfully,
making himself out mighty bad fellow.
The others, who are blinded and cannot
see, of course hold themselves in honor
bound to speak out the whole truth in
such solemn place they imagine this
still to be--as they cannot see how the
scene is changed. At each answer the
G.. G. says ''let it be recorded" and the
recorder, in a low, hollow tone, as he
writes it down in great book: at
has been recorded 70 NoTE.-The re-
cords in the book must be interesting
During these questions the candidates
ere tried, to test their ability to swim, to
play the drum or instruments--and it
must be amusing to see staid, sober cit
liens lying down face foremost on the
Aoor, and striking out" as if swimming
for dear life from Florida to Cuba; as
we'll as going through other tests of a
similar ridiculous character But then,
each man thinks, we suppose, that he
must do as all good "Sons of Malta"
have done before him, and therefore he
goes the whole figure. ...l
After enough of the above questions are
asked and answered, the candidates take
another solemn obligation having refer
ence to the conquest of Cubs. which is
administered to them. in their blind state,
while each places his hand upon large
book, which is always carried in process
sion, and which contains nothing but the
pictures Of two jackasses, one in the
prime of life and the other il 8 rapid de-
cline.
They retire. and so ends scene second.
SCENE THIRD. ..-r
The candidates are now brought in one
at time, still blindfolded. Each can
didate is brought in. rapidly marched
around the room in double quick time,
between two guards, and is then made to
run up a steeply inclined lsader compos-
ed of rollers which are set close together,
and which turn under his feet at every
step and make his legs Fly past each other
like spokes of run away buggy--when
he gets to the top of the ladder he lands
upon platform, where stand two more
guards who turn him about and tell him
to sit down the ladder over the rollers.
Without any sled he rides this way to
the bottom of the ladder. where he strikes
Q springing board. Just as it is jerked up
by two stout men, which sends him with
. bound up towards the ceiling of the
room--as he comes down he is caught
upon the board in sitting posture-ons
Of his legs is then pulled about, SO that
he is astride of the board; and in this
condition he lie carried around 10 apro-
Oession of the members, while drums--a and
gongs are being beaten in most furious
manner.
By this time the candidate. blind as he
is, begins to see through the matter; and
gets scared or riled according to the state
Of his feelings. but it is too late to stop.
After taking him round the room on
board, the G.. G. says. ''let the cavern be
opened" and at that moment the board is
lowered at one end and hoisted at the
other. and the candidate slides down to
the mouth Of large sheet iron cylinder
something similar to the smoke-staek
of stambost--and Is he slides down q
reugh voice whispers in his ear Crawl
for your lifs"-following this advice he
crawls through the thing. while all hands
are pounding on the outside Of it with
sticks-iust as he is taken, again, up the
steep ladder of rollers to the platform at
the top. He is now told to stand up
straight. and divest himself Of all matter
that will spoil by coming in contact with
water. While he is being thus prepared
for water the members have got ready .
large canvas sheet with rope around il (;
this is placed behind him, and held out
stretched by as many as can get hold OF
the ropes a. soon as all Is ready the can
dids,s is thrown from the platform back
anon the sheet, and away he goes--up
and down-no sooner down than up
aosin-like Sancho Panza tossed in
blankst-until the members get tired
tossing him, ct which time he is let down
mon mattress; from which he IL lifted
back upon the platform. where he is set
upou the top roller with his feet direct
Al toward the bottom; an umbrellas with
ont .ny covering is then hoisted and
o;vsn 10 him in his left hand, while in
his right hand is placed cow-beli-he
= told 70 hold to the umbrella and ring
the bell. and thus he sails down over the
rollers into tab. full Of vet spongss. at
ths bottom. Here the blinds are taken
from his eyes and be bsholds himself sur
rounded BY about 6ay persons. in their
shirt sleeves. al laughing st him.
| AT hrst the candidate Is astonished,