Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-03-22
UNCANNY IMMIGRANTS.
FOREIGNERS WHO CONE HERE LONG
AFTER THEY ARE DEAD.

=
Bones for Use in secret societies -skel-
etons Arc strung Together Cheaper
Abroad.
Very few men would care to die in the
knowledge that their skeletons, instead
of decently crumbling into dust. would
eventually be parading about in "a world
which their owners had quilted forever.
Occasionally man gives up the ghost
and at the same time gives up his bones,
for professional or commercial uses; but
snch a man is invariably an abnormal
creature, whom no one loved while liv-
ing or incurred when dead
Through poverty and crime many
skeletons are available, but it is seldom
that one is articulated in this country
except by clever surgeon, and then
only for his own use. 1t is a fact not
generally known that all skeletons used
Ly secret societies and in other ways III
the United States are imported from
Europe.
This uncanny traffic over the sea Ii
not due to any scarcity Of skeletons here.
but to an absence of the peculiar skilled
labor necessary to the proper stringing
of the bones together. No doubt the in
dustry could be successfully introduced
here were it protected by the tariff. but
skeletons being on the free list there is
no encouragement to enter into coInpeti-
ton with the cheaper labor Of Europe.
A mistaken impression prevails in the
popular mind that nearly all strictly
secret societies use human skeletons i'll
their ceremonies, the fact being that
only limited number among such or
CARNATIONS use them. For this reason
no stock of this sort is kept on hand, and
articulated skeletons are imported on the
receipt of orders.
COST OF A SKELETON.
The number of firms who import hui
man skeletons in New York is small
probably not more than three-and such
importation forms but an insignificant
branch of general business either in
surgical supplies or society parapher
MALTA 1t is seldom, too, that the mem
bers of lodge or council, aside from its
officers, know by what firm its skeleton
is supplied.
This fact is to be accounted for by the
reluctance of the importers to figure
openly in such transactions. They pre-
| fer to conduct them quietly and unos-
| tentatiously. A layman, unless an init
mate friend, can seldom get a merchant
to acknowledge plainly that he deals in
skeletons. He will evade the question,
and may compromise ON the statement
that he once dealt in them, but no longer
does so.
The average cost of the skeleton of
a foreigner, properly articulated and
mounted for use, is about $50, although
they may run us high rs $50. where more
elaborate material is used. The same
work, if turned out on this side of the
water, would probably cost double the
amount.
Imported skeletons are always good
specimens, and most of them come from
| France and Germany, where skilled la
Dor of this sort is most readily found
and cultivated. They come as rule in
ordinary black baskets, to one end of
bones may swing freely. and they pass
the customs inspectors without exciting
comment.
TREATED WITH REVERENCE.
A curious case of mistaken public ex-
element will be recalled, where skele-
ton imported to order for a secret society
| of Waltham, Mass, was duly shipped to
! its destination, but owing to some error
| in the directions on the box was refused
by the person to whom the express com
pany delivered it. The box was there
! .,f In,
the discovery of its contents created Il
positive sensation until the shipper came
| forward and explained.
| While there is something CHASTITY at
first sight in mans bones thus being
withheld from the earth and travelling
about the globe, it is certain that, hav-
ing started on their travels, they could
not fall into better hands than those of u
secret order. Instead of meeting with
levity or neglect, they are here treated
with al the reverence and care that
would be accorded the dead body in any
assemblage.
Their office, in conveying sense of
the httleness of human existence and
! the awfulness of death, is too serious to
admit Of any other treatment and a
case Is known to the writer where,
some years ago. member of lodge
was suspended in disgrace for display
ing such skeleton to party of friends
in the lodge room during "A facetious
mood.
Ii one must remain skeleton, better
be reverently bestowed in a secret lodge
| than on surgeons table.
In some cases, however, where lodge
does not care to import skeleton, a do
nestle imitation poorly and imperfectly
artlculated, can be obtained, and is east
ly manufactured. Being symbolic it,
OF course, serves the purpose in a meas
ure, but with majority of men can
scarcely be expected to carry the same
impression as the genuine article.-New
/ York News.
Peculiar Roses.
| One of the wars of the roses, the fierc-
est and deadilest of them all, was fought