Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-07-09
AN INITIATION.
STARTLING INCIDENT IN A COLLEGE
SECRET SOCIETY.
Story Of "A Dealer in Regaiia-skeleton,
said to he a Part of the stock
Imported from Europe's
Catacombs.
New York sun I


"The INST successful initiation ceremony
that l ever saw in a college secret society
was one that was popular at an Ohio school
until accident happened. Then part Of IL
was dropped. That part was a skeleton
The speaker was dealer in society rega-
liza. He continued:
We were initiating a sturdy young TEL
low who said he didn't believe IL. spirits or
anything supernatural and this is how we
did it. He stripped 10 the waist. one
foot was bare, and he was carefully blind
folded When we led him into the dark
ened lodge-room, where two guards graspet
his arms firmly. As they led him slowly
around the room one Of them said, in a mel
ancholy voice: Ny friend-for | can not
yet call you brotaer-the journey Of life l.
before you. Consider 1T Life is what
make il, but trial must come, and sorrow
and distress. Look well TO your pathway.
That injunction was rather aggravating
10 man who was blindfoldei aud lei by
two strong companions who were guiding
him 10 "a short, smooth plank at an angle Of
forty live degrees Man rises suddenly in
life, said the guide the victim stumbled
up the plank, and quickly drops into a pit
fall and is iost,' and the victim dropped
from the plank TO hassock placed on edge.
which rollel 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 a time,
but distractions are sure To lie across il,
and then the victim stumbled lengt wise
over a ladder supported three inches above
the carpet. while his conductors moaned in
unison. Even when in trouble himself he
may lie called upon TO help brother, and
his he should do To the utmost said the
guide, who helped himself tn tae victims
pocketbook. Last Of all comes Death. He
is terrifying at best but sho;d il be your
fate to meet him alone show your-elf a man.
for crown awaits you beyond.
The victim had been led through double
DOORS into the closet The twine that held
the hoodwink over his eyes was loosenei.
The doors closed noiselessly. and the guide
and other officers Of the lodge placed their
eyes at the peep-holes. For moment 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 tue skeleton be-
fore him, and poured out Of the eyes and
through the peculiarly marked teeth. that
were opened half an inch. The air of the
blue-lined closet seemed To wave and dance
raj ed until the feshless hand rested on the
young mans shoulder Then the melancholy
voice said: 4 ann thy fate
The victim drew bis hand slowly across
his forehead. aud then over his eyes. and
looked again at tie skeleton more closely.
Then he said: At lastr and tainted
As ! said. part Of our ceremony had to b.
dropped The victim was not frightened, be
had recognizsd his fathers skeleton
"Do regular business secret societies use
skeletons in their ceremoniess'
Certainly. There are several orders that
use them. We keep them in stock con-
stantly. They are packed in half length
cases, made OF pine walnut, and
shipped by express all over the country"
"SomC skeletons plain with steel ar
ticulations; others have silver plated articu-
lations, and where there is likely to be no
strain the hinges may be made of silver.
Some Of these high-priced skeletons are care
fully polished and glisten in the light of the
lodge-room. Fine cases 20 with high-pricei
goods,
How high-pricedT
"A fine skeleton. elegantly mounted, will
cost as much as 500 One equally strong
and able 10 stand the racket Of the goats at
tacks may be had for $50
Makes business for the resurrectionistsp
"No, il does not These skeletons are all
imported, 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 demand is very irregular
according "a an order is spreading or not.
They are shipped to all parts Of the country
impartially, and are very effective in awing
tre.h caniilats for light AMI instruction