Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-03-18

of the country, so that some equally
wonderful products may be substitu-
ted in the North and West for the
cabbage leaf, pumpkin vine, etc.,
mentioned below. As to the gym.
nastic performance, "glven with the
heel of the left foot. three feet and
three inches above the bottom of the
gate" that is so accurately stated as
to seem credible. However. our
readers will bear in mind that is a
Carolinian view of "a Peep into the
Grange and it reads in this seriou.
wise:
at is not often that uninltiat-
ed are allowed even a transient
glimpse of the Grange during its
regular sessions but, as a special IA
vor to the readers of the Rural
Cdrolmian we are permitted to give
them (confdentially) in the fronts
piece of this number, a correct repre-
sentation of a Grange room, with the
officers and members in their respec-
tive places, and every thing in work.
ing order.
Now, would you like to know how
a candidate gets into the grange, what
solemn obligations are administered,
and what awful tests he is subjected
to in the course of the ceremonial of
initiation Well, we dare not reveal
the most terrible scenes enacted, es
pecially in the never-to.be-forgotten
ordeals of the Fourth Degree, but,
again as special favor to our readers,
and never to be spoken beyond their
circle, we shall take the responsible.
ty of giving them slight mixing of
the nature Of our secret work.
Observe in the lower right hand
corner of the picture that plank
thrown across the ditch. The first
thing the candidate is required to do
is to walk this plank, his ankles be-
ing tied together with pair Of plow
lines, and his eyes securely blind
folded by a cabbage leaf, bound on
with several yards of pumpkin vine.
Squads of brothers, armed with pitch
forks, are posted at each end Of the
plank, to remind the novice, il need
be, of the duty of upright dealing
and straight forward conduct. After
being led barefoot, in devious ways
(still blindfolded) through an old
field Astounding in horse nettles and
blackberry thickcts (thisis to remind
him of the Importance of eradicating
noxious weeds the candidate reach
es the stile of three steps, up which
entrance is gained to the 'ten-acre
field These steps must be mounted
backward, with the cabbage leaf still
bound over the eyes and several
sharp pitchforks pointed at the
breast.
The ten acre field, having just been
cleared, is full Of stumps and other
obstructions, and is rather difficult
to cross III the dark without guide.
Sepulchral voices call him in various
directions, but he must heed none Of
them. Should he be fortunate
enough to get across the field in safe
ty, he will come to the high, double
boItcd front gate, where he must give,
ns previously instructed, the double
and-twisted everlasting Signal of the
Order, which consists of certain
number OF distinct raps, given With
the heel of the left foot, thee feet
three inches above the bottom of the
gate. The gate-keeper will open a
small, secret panel, and demand
What do you want here at this time
of night?' The answer must be the
untranslatable Latin Pass Word of
the Patrons Greek 10 most farmers,
which sounds so much like 'KICKUP-
A.FUss.' that the difference will never
be distinguished. This must be
shouted at the top Of the voice, as
the gate>keeper Is generally hard of
hearing. Well, this is the way, in
part, that one must get into the
Grange, except that the ladies are
excused from some Of the more diff
cult gymnastic performances.
We dare not describe the more
solemn rites performed within the in
ner gate, including the hot plowshare
ordeal and the invigorating horseback
exercise On the sacred goat side sad
dies are provided for the ladies > but
we can assure all who may wish to
become Patrons that pluck and en-
durance will generally carry one safe
through them all, with not more than
one or two fainting fits on the part Of
the Sisters. and that the latter, in
addition to the ordinary solemn,
death-penalty OATH will only be re-
quired to swear never to dlvulge,
even to husband or lover, the cabalis-
tic words which the A. S. may wbis
per in their ears during the ceremony
Of 'crowning the sacred heifer."