Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1888-01-14

A Carious club of weli.to-sIo Ger.
mans and Their Odd ways.

Newark, n. j., has one of the oldes,
associations in the country. Probably
there is nothing like it in the world.
u Is known as the Sneezing Snuffers'
Club, and is composed exclusively OF
prominent Germans. The rules Of the
organization are as stringent as they
are unique. A candidate for admis-
sion must be German and under 45
years Of age. He must show that he
has at least 5000 in cash and must
own piece Of real estate in the city.
lie must prove that when he came to
this country he was poor, having less
than 81 200 TO begin with, and
his increased wealth was not
herited, but obtained through his own
exertions. II must be demonstrated
that the applicant can drink fifteen
glasses Of beer in rapid succession
without becoming intoxicated and
that he knows how to play pino-
Gle and various other games. Ii the
applicant receives three black balls he
is rejected and cannot be proposed for
year.
The initiation is decidedly odd. The
new member is brought into the room,
where all the members are seated
around the table. The chairman asks
the victim: How will you have it,
hot or cold?" The victim has no idea
what "it /" means. II he says he will
take it hot he is at once blindfolded
and can Of hot beer is brought in.
The applicant is required to drink
three glasses Of this beer in a short
space OF time. When he has fin
ished he is presented with pipeful of
snuff, which he is compelled 10 smoke |
for three minutes. Should the neo-
phyte elect TO take it cold" two
glasses are placed in front OF him.
One is an ordinary wine glass filed
with syrup, over which cayenne pep
per has been sprinkled. The other is
a large tankard containing a pint and
a hall Of beer. The applicant is told |
he must drink whichever glass he Sc
lects at one draught. Ordinarily the
victim selects the smaller glass, and |
has to gulp down the sickly syrup and |
the hot pepper. A failure to comply |
with any of the initiatory require |
ments debars the applicant for a
month. When he comes up the sec
ond time he is put through a new Sc
ries OF tortures TO his palate.
When the neophyte has successfully |
gone through with the initiation the |
bandage is taken from his eyes and he |
is given handsome silver snuf-box,
which constitutes the badge OF mem |
bership. At given signal from the |
chairman each member produces his |
snuff. and takes a pinch Of snuff,
and when the chairman sneezes the
members must join in at once. Should
any member sneeze in advance OF the |
chairman he has TO pay for round Of
drinks for the entire club. A new
member, after the initiation il COM
pleted, nas to " set up" keg OF lager. |
Only one member is initiated at a |
meeting.
The club meets on Monday, Wednes-
day and Sunday evenings, in their
different halls, with beer attachments. |
These halls are known as the Monday |
Night Hall, the Wednesday Night |
Hall and the Sunday Night Hall. |
The Sunday Night Hall is the |
headquarters Of the club, where the |
members can go on other evenings. |
The club is purely social, and is, as
might be supposed from the descrip- |
tion, limited in membership. Family |
sociables are often held, when the |
members bring their families and
friends and listen to music and sing |
ing. All the refreshments are free ON |
such occasions. The members are
pledged TO help one another financially |
when it is necessary, and also to ex-
tend help to deserving Germans in |
general. Professional paupers are
never assisted, nor those whose pow
erty is due to drink and thriftlessness.
N. Y. Mail and Express.