The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-06-19
How Ire Reubenstein Joined &
Secret Society"

e Austin. "Den be brothers NIT lots o.
t peoples already, und it viii helup my
Freshness. reads in dose bapers apoui
Mason vat vas going to half his head
cut off by Turk, ven dot Mason some
signs made, and dot Turk did not dot
Mason's head cut off, but he took him
home und made him shustis off de
beace und married him NIT gouble off
young womans for wives. 1t vas q
nice ding to be Mason, don't it? I
will join Won off dose societies"
Ike was recommended to join the Or
der of the Arctic Circle, new society
lately started. He sent in his applica-
ton. A night was appointed for his in
itiation. Ike was much embarrassed
when he was admitted to the ante-room
of the Lodge to find that besides the
door keeper, who was in his shirtsleeves,
there were six men who were dressed
in blue gowns, tin helmets on their
heads, masks on their faces, and drawn
swords in their hands. The door keep
er put green flannel night gown on
Ike. blindfolded him with handker-
chief that smelled of tobacco and made |
his eyes smart, and then one of the |
knights took Ike by the arm and led |
him into darkened chamber where he |
was marched around eleven times, while
Grand Marshals and the Past Pluperfect
Chaplain read all manner of wise adj
monitions to him out of book, and the
knights swords clanked as the process
sion moved around. There was an air of
mystery surrounding everything, and
premonition of something dreadful yet to
come took hold of Ike.
He sincerely wished that he had new
er heard of secret society, and he reg
istered solemn vow in his own mind
that if he got out of this with his life he
would never join another.
His guide made him kneel down on .
the floor, and with his right hand on his
throat and his left hand on human
skull made him swear that he would ,
never divulge the secrets of the Order. :
The bandage was taken from his eyes
and he was conducted out to the ante a
room. O
A gray Mother Hubbard dress was
put on him and he was escorted back to u
he chamber of mysteries. Here, after
Ome preliminaries, he was led in front Ii
# small circular saw that was revolv- b
ng with extraordinary rapidity. A al
Walking cane and piece of stove wood O.,
we're successfully sawed in pieces that .,
Ike might see how effectively the saw h,
id its work. He was then marched
round the chamber, brought up in front II
the saw again and informed in a Sc al
ulcral voice, by the Grand High Past su
or-other, that, as a test of n
is courage, he would be required to sp
lace the index finger of his right hand e t
front of the saw and allow it to be on
1t off at the second joint. 40
III will not any such dings do" an
id Ike, his hair standing on end with oh
rror. "Vat sense is dot for seegret tb
cietles to cut man up? Off had WI
zen acquainted mid dose dings you r;r
egret society men does, I would not sta
ID holdings to do NIT you already. L sIi,
mt to go away from here und stop wi,
,es foolishness." 70
The Past Grand Guardian of the Post wo
n Gate now told Ike that he was act saw
g in manner that if he persisted in VIII
,uld draw down the dire vengeance of cnf
3 Knights of the Arctic Circle. He tor
d that by Ike's lack of confidence he Che
d already incurred an additional pen hin
y, and it would now be necessary ac- the
rding to the laws and bylaws of the ban
der, that he put two fingers to the cav,
v to be cut off before he could be adj o,d
tied to full fellowship, and the P. feet
q of tho y O. advised HIN, &c n |
" VI .ne T. ~, ADVISED MN as hell
I'll" w pio0eeu "0 onoe ano sd" Ineln was
stea
ne saiu' want no sucn 1e!owshlp. boa
would be tam fool fellowship to cut fine
my fingers to please you fellows NIT the
watering pots on. tells you wants mot
90 from this blaze away. &c
Brethren, it pains me to use harsh afte
lsures, but as this candidate refuses A
hey the orders of the Lodge he must senf
er the penalty. command you to Fri
3 him, bind him. and hold his wrist ,yos
inst the saw until his hand is cut off. to1d
that doctor is in attendance" Four ind
ghts caught Ike. He struggled and adm
led, but it was of no avail. His legs a m,
9 tied, his left arm was secured to 1yho,
waist, and he was brought in front of n,ys
saw. He begged for mercy, but no dom
cy was shown him. One Knight ord
yested that vote be taken to de-
nine if it was not better to saw the
lidate's head of. Then they brought T
light hand closer and closer to the d,
living saw, and the closer it came -.
louder Ike begged for mercy. There hat
no mercy for him. At last his hand ians
pushed violently against the teeth and
le saw and the Knights yelled as or,;s,
'oft paper saw, polished with black vs.
and had been substituted for the more
saw while Ike was being escorted The
nd the room-was torn to pieces but q
Ike fell back breathless and faint All C
Loud and long was the The
h of the Knights, and Ike soon which
d the hilarity. He was so happy law {
Id that it was only "joke off dose the d
eImet fellers. empl
EN- he received lecture on ODE est n
e, and was given the signs and thous
words OF the Order. branc