Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-09
OLD NEPTUNE'S COURT.
WHEN THE VESSELS CROSS THE
EQUATORIAL LINE.
a Great Day on Board an American
Man-of- War-Preparing Neptunus
Rex for the Reception
The Sailors Diploma.

the old ceremonies incident To cross
ing the hne" on our men of-war are
falling into innocuous desuetude.
Nothing OF the sort was one OF
ships crew on one OF our finest cruis-
ers which entered the equatorial wa
tiers in one OF the earlier months OF
the yer OF grace. 1892. In our case
the men began preparation several
days before the equator was reached
and on the momentous day when our
latitude was y degrees. all was in
readiness for the ship to be boarded
by his marine majesty Neptune.
Neptunes crown was readily fash
toned from tin coffee box. with tho
aid OF pair of shears as was also
his trident made fast to the end OF a
boat hook. Old MANILA rope yarns
combed fine made his long grizzied
hair and beard, and his otner make
up was fashioned from old clothes.
on which were scwed old shells and
seaweed. and by the resources OF our
sailor men that seemed TO have no
end. Aphrodite mis- queen. was taken
ly a smooth-faced apprentice boy
whose beauty of complexion. fur
nished by the painter from his stores
and whose gowa o. wondrou5 texture
must have put TO shame all previous
efforts to represent this famous god
dess. though it was rather startling
to see on her bare neck and arms in
Vulnerable pieces OF sailors tattoo
work.
So .nll ,s,r
the crew who had not crossed the
line before and these received from
Neptune's secretary the following
subpTna furnished by the sh lps
printer:
subpoena, OH Report of Board of In
spsction On board the United states dag
ship Philadelphia. y. =. n, January
1892 Whereas, IL having been herAldei
by Mother Cary's chickens hit the above
named man-ofwar is TO b. in our domain
on the %, h inst, ana, looking over the high
royal roster have come 20 the conclusion
that It IS high time for the sud and wan.
dering nautical sou, OF thai much blsed
body OF John Smith, lauGsmaT., L. 5. ~.
10 appear before the high tribunal of Ncp-
tune
"Resolved, That we demand the presence
Of the above in BODY, mind and soul on
the spar dock Of the aforesaid man-of-war.
and then and there 10 give an account of
his life, ana rend n unto the high court and
royal sign of Neptune ths everlasting
respect which is due them. Fail no Pen
atty will be most horrible incarc Grafton in
Dlvy Jones locker.
WASH CLOTHES,
Lord High Executioner
"HoLYSTONE-THE-D sCKs,
Chief Clerk High Tribunal
"PCTAwAYDiTTY-Bo Bones,
"High To1soril Artist"
While subp rnas were being served
other preparat .ons were going on
The barber was preparing his razor
Of pine wood about two feet loug. on
which tin edge was tackled; and his
scissors also OF wood and OF about
the same proportions An old pork
barrel was his cup and held his
lather the recipe OF which has never
been diyulged though it IS popularity
supposed To be made Of any proper
tions Of -four vinegar molasses and
saltwater soap. For his brush the
barber selects the largest whitcwash
brush in the ship 5 stores and with
this at the proper time the latiler is
applied to the face OF the victim.
Exactly at | o'clock p. m the day
on which the ship actuclly passed
from North latitude to South. Nep-
tune boarded the ship over tho bow.
or in reality issued forth from the
topgallant forecasile. His chariot
was made OF the carriage OF field
piece. and on it he sat in all his
awful dignity with the Queen. Aphro-
dte. beside him The chariot was
ornamented with sea weeds and GOV
cred with sea curiosities from which
the water was still dripping as it
was from the long hair and boards OF
his attendants The throne was
drawn aft in The starboard gangway.
his policemen. his bearers and his bar
Der bringing up the rear
The train then marched forward on
the topgallant forecastle. where u suit
able throne more dazzling than his
chariot. had been erected for their
royal highnesses. The secretary
stepped forward and in loud voice
called Chaplain Brown who inn
mediately placed himself before the
royal throne Here he was ques.
toned. and Neptune making sure he
had not seen him before in his do.
main. pronounced his punishment
In the case of ali officers Neptune
lets them OF with fine. which is
US ally so many bottles Of beer and a
number OF cigars.
After the officers, had been dealt
with. the members OF tho ships
crew were called and. one by one,
they appeared and each, seamen.
landsmen. marines. firemep. coal
beavers machiuists. servants were
put through some form OF initiation.
As the first is called. he is questioned
then seated in the BARRIERS chair and
lathered with the awful mixture be-
fore described. Each one was rapidly
scraped with the wood and tin razor
which brings tears to the eyes OF the
victim as easily as it does laughter
to the onlookers.
With his eyes nose and mouth still
full of lather no receives u handful
OF -four TO smooth the skin, and. be-
fore he can realize it spring in the
chair a fouched and he is fired from il