The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-02-19


TIE Randolph, Ind, Enterprise o
last week published the following
4 proposition OF Grangers' iniatory GER
emony
On being brought into the ante
roem Of the lodge (Greengrocer Tenn
y pie No. l0I), / was told that had
been ballotfmd for and accepted. Myin.
formanf, who was securely masked by
what I afterwards found was large
burdOck leaf, perforated with holes
i for the eyes, told me that If / valued ms
I life It would be necessary for me &c
i strip. As / did consider that OF con-
siderable worth TO me, and as he ita-
Iicized his wishes by carelessly play
ling with seven shooter. withdrew
from my garments with eagerness.
My masked friend then furnished me
with the regalia Of the first degrees
kealled the Festive PIoWb0y-Which
consisted merely of one large cabbage
leaf attached to q Wafstband Of pota-
toe vines. In this airy costume I was
conducted to the door, where my
companion gave three distinct Taps.
/ I Was securely blindfolded by bind
ing a slice of rutabaga over each eye)-
A sepnlchral voice from within asked,
who eomesP
Ny guide answered: 81 youthful
agricultuisE who desires to become q
Granger.
6epulchraI Voics Have yOu look
ed him carefully overF
Guide-1 have, noble gate-keeper.'
S. Y.-Do you find any agricultural
marks about his person 2
Guide-I do
g V-tWhnf are thew p
Guide-eThe candidate mas caProty
hair, reddish whialzers an6 D turnup
nose
S. Wis well. Why do you de-
sire to become 3 Granger
Guide--ansWering for candidate
That I may be thereby better enabled
to harrow up the feelings of the ras-
cally politicians
S. YOU will bring in the can
didate. d y worthy STRIPPING, a. you
cannot see, [ viii cause you to feel
that You are received at the door on
the three points of q apitchfork, pierc-
ing the region Of the stomach, which
is 10 teach you the three fireat virtues
Faith, Hope ahd Charity. Faith In
yourself, Hope for cheaper machinery,
and Charity for the lightningrod ped
dler. You will now be harnessed, and
in representation of the horse, Pegasus.
will be tested as to endurance and
wind.
(The candidate is here attached to a
small imitation pIow, by means Of a
hempen harness. "A dried pumpkin
vine is put in his mouth for bit and
bridle--hc is made to get down upon
all fours, the guide seizes the bride,
aud urged on by a Granger armed
with a Canada thistle which he Wig
oToasly applies at the terminus of the
spine, the candidate is galiopped three
times around the room. While max
ing the circuit, the members arise and
sing
Get up and dust, you bully boy,
The w0aldnat be Grangers
II the thistle's prick don't cause you joy,
To feelings you must be estranged, ahl
After this violent exercise he is
rubbed dry with corncobs, beesWaxed
where thistIed, and brought up stand
ing before the Great Chfef-the Most
Worthy Pumpkin Head.)
M. w. p. H.-sWhy do you desire
to1be Granger p
Candidate (auswering for himself1
THAT i may learn TO extInguish
sewing machine agents.
M. w. p. H.-sHave your hands
been hardened with toll r
Candidate-'Not extensively, but
then l am not running for Office
M. w. p. H,-eTis well, for our
lodges contain several who are sup
posed to be ready to sacrifice them
selves for the good Of their constitu-
ents. Do you feel pretty smart this
fSa.,S:.s,x, ~. - 49,, L...t1.
goes on
N. w. P. Fl. (savagely)-'Give me
4 chaW of tobackerR
Candidate searches himself thor
oughlv buf, as there is no place about
but the Most Worshipful Pumpkin
Head interrupts him with,
Never mind my dear young friend
~ am well aware that in your pres
ent condition, you can no more fur
nish your friends with the weed than
Adam could be comfortable in a plug
hat and tight boots. tits merely TO
teach yon the great lesson of generosi-
ty-doing to others as you'd like to
have them do to yOu. You will now
be conducted to the Most Eminent
squash Producer, who will teach you
LAC 14A4A AAdAA1lS OLE II VI A2ABBLGb9s
The sign, my worthy brother, will en-
shire you against many of the ills of
the agricuIturist -amongst others,
against droughts and being bit by the
ferocious grasshopper.a
The candidate Is now conducted to
the Most Eminent Squash Producer,
who thus says-smy worthy BROTHER /
will now invest you with the order Of
the Festive Pioughboy, which you
have well won by your heroic achieve
meats while harnessed-maY you ever
wear it with pleasure to yourself and
may it be means of terror to your
enemies
(The III. 3. s. P. then proceeds to
invest the candidate with the regalia
of the FestiYe PlonghboY, which con-
sists of long Tomato necklace)
sThe Grand HaiIing Sign Of distress
IL made by gently closing the left eye,
laying the right fore finger alongside
the-nose, and violently Wagging the
ears. It requires practice, but the adj
vantages are intense. It also has an
important adjudication, which you
will do well to heed. The closing Of
the eye signifies that in all your deal
ings with mankind you are bound to
have an eye to business.
Laying the finger alongside the nose
is emblematical Of wisdom, and places
you at once among the knowing ones.
This is extremely handy in prognos-
ticating new weather, and saves the
wear and tear of alnanacs.
Wagging the ears signifies snbIim-
ity Of purpose, and Is thoughg to be
emblematical of schildhood's happy
hours It is also supposed by some /
profound scholars to have distinct
reference to apple-dumplings but this /
fact is somewhat obscured by the dust
Of ages.
IN token tnat you are one OF us, you /
ny is very impressive and consists of
two brands. They are both applied /
while the iron is hot and consist of 4
one letter of the alphabet each.
The first is the large letter g. on