The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-04-08
SCRANTON MISSISSIPPI. FRIDAY, APRIL s. 1892

crowd enjoys his terror and pleas.
ant disappointment.
Occasionally electricity is called
into play. The plank before spok-
en- OF is fitted with a copper cover.
ing, 10 which battery is attached,
and the candidates. bare feel are
punciured by the electrical arrows
till he dances a lively measure.
Again the new man is declared The
herald oil the lodge, and he is in.
s'ucteG to blow a blast on a bugle
given HIM by the guide. lie at.
temp,s 10 do so, but only blows a
cloud of flour or burnt cork into
his own iace--lhat bugle is a de.
ceptlon. This trick is usually
played after a candidate thinks all
is over and that he is a member in
good standing.
Another scheme is the "chair
degree" 1t is conferred only on
prominent men--lawyers prelerr-
ed. After he regular "ihitiatlon"
has been concluded and the new
brother has taken his place in the
lodge some question is brought up
apparently in The order OF busi
ness, when the presiding officer finds
some excuse Tor leaving the chair
10 which he calls the newly initial.
ed member as best qualified to pre-.
side because nnacquainled with
the case, which is usually OF a per-
sonal nature. The victim being in
The chair, the lodge members pro
ceed TO entangle hlm in parliamen.
tary meshes, and openly and rude
ly crilicise his rulings. Finally
two brothers come to blows, and
one drawing a revolver, fires al
The other who by preconcerted
arrangement has taken a position
between The shooter and The chair
The sight of The pistol leveled al
him in The hands of an inluraie(
man generally sends thenew pre-
siding officer under the table OF
behind the nearest shelter regard
less of dignity or appearances
Then the brothers send up whoops
Of joy and the new man realizes
that he has been sold.
BurleSqne measurements Of the
candidate was another source OI
confusion for him and fun for TIE
boys. With an exaggerated rule
the guide measured the initiated
and announced in a loud voice rid
iculous sizes for ears. nose, feet
and other portions of the body. TC
suddenly remove the blindfold
leaving ihe candidate staring into
the depths Of a vessel not usual,
in evidence and containing browI
douchnu,s floating in beer, which
he was perempIorily com mande(
to cal and drink, was another form
of unpleasant pleasantly. Climb
ing smooth pole, singing, dane
ING, telling stories, and doing all
sorts of foolish things at The com
mand of the guide were little va
Iia'ions in the initiation. More
than once it has happened that the
candidate, driven to despair BY
shame or terror, has broken away
from the guides and rushed, sans
shoes, hat or clothing, to The street
seeking The protection of Il police.
man. Often, too, The officer on
the beat around The lodge hall has
sought for the source OF the shots
and The screams, supposing that
foul murder was being done. On
one special occasion a donkey was
brought up TO The hall with The
connivance of the Janilor. When
the ceremony was over the beast
refused to 90 into the elevator fol
the descent, and the guides were
obliged to swaddIe The donkey in
strong bandages and lower him
from the windows of the top story.
Now for important events they EN-.
plOy real goat.