The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-09
SECRET SOCIETY SKELETONS.
A Regular Part of the Regalia Dealers STOCK
An Initiation Described.

n Regular FarC OF the ISeSalla O0aIerS StOCsA
An Initiation Described.
New York Sun.
1.-THE most successful initiation ceremony that
l ever saw in a college secret society was one
that was popular at al Ohio school until an acct
dent happened. Then part of it was dropped.
That part was skeleton"
The speaker was dealer in society regalia.
He continued:
1--WE were initiating a sturdy young fellow,
who said he didn't believe in spirits or anything
supernatural. and this is how we did it: He was
stripped to the waist, one foot was bare, and he
carefully bindfolded Then we led him
into the darkened lodge ROOM where two guides
grasped his arms firmly. AS they led him slowly
around the room one of them said in melan-
choly voice: My friend-for I cannot yet call
you brother-the journey of life is before you.
Consider it. Life is what make it, but trials
must come, and sorrow and distress Look we'll
to your pathway"
'That injunction was rather aggravating to a
man who was blindfolded, and led by two strong
companions who were guiding him to a short,
smooth plank rising at an angle of forty-fve de-
grees Man rises suddenly in life,' said the
guide the victim Stun bled up the plank. and
quickly drops into pitfail and is lost, and the
victim dropped from the plank to a hassock
placed on edge, which rolled away and let him
sit down on the floor.
"He was picked up and led on as the guide
said, THE path may be smooth for time. but
distractions are sure TO lie across it, and then
the victim stumbled lengthwise over a ladder
supported three inches above the carpet, while
the conductors moaned in unison Even when
in trouble himself he may be called on TO help a
brother, and this he should do to the utmost,
said the guide, who helped himself to the vic
TINS pocketbook. Last of all comes death. He
is terrifying at best, but should it be your fate
to meet him alone show yourself man, for a
crown awaits you beyond
1.-THE victim had been led through double
doors into the closet. The Irvine that held the
hoodwink over his eyes was loosened. The
doors closed noiseessy and the guides and
other officers of the lodge placed their eyes to
the peepholes. For few minutes the victim
stood motionless; then the hoodwink dropped
off. He rubbed his eyes With his hand, and
then his jaw dropped. A blue light famed in
the skull of the skeleton before him, and
poured out of the eyes and through the pecu-
larly marked teeth, that were opened half
an inch. The air of the blue-lined closet seemed
to waver and dance as the right arm oe the
skeleton was slowly raised until the feshless
hand rested on the young mans shoulder. Then
the melancholy voice said i am thy fate
1.-THE victim drew his hand slowly across his
forehead, and then over his eyes, and looked
again at the skeleton more closely. Then he said,
AT last! and tainted
LAS l said, part of our ceremony had to be
dropped. The victim was not frightened; he had
recognized his fathers skeleton
do regular business secret societies use skele-
tons in their ceremonies"
OSIso Au0LO dIO oSVcTdI OIOSrS tIldG use
them. We keep them in stock constantly They
are packed in half-length cases made of pine or
walnut, and are shipped by express al over the
country.
Some skeletons are plain with steel articula-
tions; others have silver plated articulations,
and where there is likely to be no strain the
hinge may be made of silver. Some Of these
high priced skeletons are carefully polished and
glisten in the light of the lodge-room. Fine
cases go with hpriced goods"
"How high pricedP
"a fine skeleton, elegantly mounted will cost
as much as $50. One equally strong and able to
stand the racket of the goats attack may be had
for $780,"
Makes business for the resurrectionists?"
mo, it does not. These skeletons are all inn
ported, and are taken from the catacombs of the
old country. There is no tariff to protect home
industry in Skeletons and we can import them
cheaper than we could dig them here. The de-
mand is very irregular, according as an order is
spreading or not They are shipped to all parts
of the country impartialy and are very effective
in awning a fresh candidate for light and in
StructiOn -