The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-06-19
NO. S32
AN INITIATION,
START LING INCIDENT IN A COLLEGE
SECRET SOCIETY.
Story Of Dealer In RegaIia--S Skeletons
Said to BE a Part of the Stock
Imported from Europe's
Catacombs
New York SUM-

tNC" Iofh DUN.
"The most successful initiation ceremony
that ever saw in a college secret society
was one that was popular at an Ohio school
until accident happened Then part of 1t
was dropped. That part was a skeleton"
The speaker was dealer in society rega-
liza. He continued:
ave We're initiating a sturdy young fell
low 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 was carefully blind
folded When we led him into the dark
ened lodge-room, where two guards grasped
his arms firmly. As they led him slowly
around the room one Of them said, in mel
ancholy voice: My friend-for can not
yet call you brother-the journey of life is
before you. Consider it Life Is what we
make it, but trial must come, and sorrow
and distress. Look we'll to your pathway.
THAT injunction was rather aggravating
to a man who was blindfolded and lei by
two strong companions who were guiding
him to a short, smooth plank at an angle Of
forty-fve degrees. Man rises suddenly In
life, said the guide as the victim stumbled
up the plank, and quickly drops into a pit
fall and is lost and the victim dropped
from the plank to 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 a time,
but obstructions are sure to lie across it,
and then the victim stumbled lengthwise
over ladder supported three inches above
the carpet, while his conductors moaned In
unison Even when in trouble himself he
may be called upon to help a brother, and
kt he. Il H.
guide, who helped himself to the victims
pocketbook. Last Of all comes Death. He
is terrifying at be,t but should it be your
fate to meet him alone show yourself man.
for a 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 loosened.
The doors closed noiselessly, and the guide
and other officers Of the lodge placed their
eyes at the peep-holes For a moment the
victim stood motionless: then the hoodwink
dropped of. He rubbed his eyes with his
hand, and then his jaw dropped. A blue
light famed in the skull of the ske 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
as the right arm Of the skeleton was slowly
raised until the feshless hand rested on the
young mans shoulder Then the melancholy
voice said: 4 am thy fate
The victim drew his hand slowly across
his forehead, and then over his eyes, and
looked again at the skeleton more closely.
Then he saids AT lastp and tainted
"As 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
skeletons in their ceremoniesf"
Certainly. There are several orders that
use them. We keep them in stock con-
stantly. They are packed in aH-length
cases, made Of pine or walnut and are
shipped by express all over the country"
"Some skeletons are 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 60 with high priced
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 at
tacks may be had fer $3O"
makes business for the resurrectionistsi"
"No, it 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 as an order is spreading or not
They are shipped to all parts Of the country
impartially, and are very effective in awning
q fresh candidate for light and instruction"