The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-01-12

the prime of life and the other in rapid
decline.
They retire, and so ends scene second.
SCENE THIRD.
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 steeply inclined ladder. COM
posed of rollers, which are set close to-
gether 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
stands two more guards who turn him
about and tell him to sit down. he sits
down, and they give him shove down
the ladder over the rollers. Without any
sled he rides this way to the bottom of
the ladder, where he strikes springing
board, just as it is jerked up by two stout
men, which sends him with a bound up
towards the ceiling of the room-as he
comes down he is caught upon the board
in sitting posture-one OF his legs is
then pulled about, so that he is astride of
the board and in this condition he is
carried around the room in procession
of the members while drums and gongs
are being beaten in most furious man
ner.
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 a
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 a large sheet iron cylinder
something similar to the smoke-stack
of steamboat-and as be slides down a
rough voice whispers in his ear. =" Crawl
for your life"-following this advice he
crawls through the thing, while all hands
are pounding on the outside Of it with
sticks-just as he comes out 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 it; this is placed behind
him, and held outstretched by as many
as can get hold Of the ropes as soon as
all is ready the candidate is thrown from
the platform back upon the sheet and
away he goes-up and down-no sooner
down than up again-like Sancho Panza
tossed in blanket until the members
get tired tossing him, at which time he
is let down upon mattress from which
he is lifted back upon the platform, where
he is set upon the top roller with his feet
directed toward the bottom; an umbrel-
la without any covering is then hoisted
and given to him in his left hand, while
in his right hand is placed COW bell
he is told TO hold to the umbrella and
ring the bell, and thus he sails down
over the rollers into a tub, full of wet
sponges. at the bottom. Here the blinds
are taken from his eyes and he beholds
himself surrounded by about fifty per-
sons, in their shirt sleeves, all laughing
at him.
At first the candidate is astonished,
then he gets angry, and finally he laughs
with the rest, and he becomes Jealous
member Of the Venerable Order.
He is then instructed how he is to get
into the lodge. He is instructed to come
to the outside door, sneeze twice and rap
once, at this the sentinel raises the slide
or wicket in the door and the candidate
says "Squi," 10 which the sentinel says
Bob" then both say "Squibob," and
the member enters. He then advances
to the inside door where be sneezes
once and blows his nose and raps, at
which the slide is lifted and the candi-
date says :" Lager" to which the SEN
tinel responds a Beer and then both
say "Swei- Glass" and the candidate
enters-proceeds TO the centre of the
room where he flaps his two open hands
at the top of his head, after the manner
of a jackass tapping his ears, and takes
his seat. These signs will give admis-
sion into any lodge Of the Sons in the
world if they are properly given.
There are more of these ceremonies,
but these are the chief of them.
Of course we do not vouch for the
truth of all this, but it is probably true
We tell the tale as it was told TO US.
At the Union Saving Meeting in Fan.