The San Francisco call., 1896-08-23

to this City, and these occasions partake
generally of more than the usual gayety.
Not an infrequent occurrence at these
gatherings is duel over some imagined
offense. The gauntlet is thrown down to
the alleged offender, who promptly ac-
cepts the challenge. The character OF the
combat is then decided by the Ober
Schlaraffe. 1t may be of the material or
the intellectual. If of the former. each
principal selects three seconds. Six
glasses of beer are then placed upon a
table, three for each group of seconds.
The principals, after tasting the contents
of each glass, hands one to each of his
seconds, and the latter must drain them
to the last drop. The side which con-
cludes the task with the greater expedi-
ton is declared the victor, Should one
drop be spilled defeat falls to the knight
on whose side the faux pas has been made.
More interesting, however, is the IN
teIlectual contest. When the Ober Schla-
raffe pronounces his fiat that the battle
is to be of the mind the combatants retire
to the secIusion of their studios and there
concoct the poem, song, canvas or piece
of sculpture that is intended to bring them
victory and honor. The verdict is rem
dered by the presiding Schlaraffe. The
productions of both knights become the
property of the club, and the victor is
presented with q medal as an award OF
merit.
There are three Ober Schlaraffen elected
for each club. One attends to all inside
affairs, another to outside business and
the third looks after the artistic side OF
the organization.
Emil Meyer, r. Fenner and G. Herr
mann are the reigning Schlaraffen OF the
local club, and among its prominent
and active members are Otto Dobbertin,
the sculptor; Ernest A. Otto, the artist;
John 81. Sievers and others prominent in
professional and artistic circles.
I'm Arte Voluptas" is the motto of the
Schlaraffen, and diligently do they seek
pleasure in art, and unselfshly do they
provide entertainment for visiting
brethren, come they whence and when
they may. Occasionally the wives and
daughters of members are admitted to the
mysteries of the '.sippung" or meeting.
and also strangers. But all non-mem bers
must be vouched for by the member who
introduces them, for who enters here must
take an iron bound pledge of secrecy.
Each initiated Schlaraffe bears an IN
sigma of his affiliation, but this is minute
in size and its significance is not to be be-
trayed to any outsider. Unless one is a
member of the select circle the secret
badge of Bohemianlsm would probably
never be discerned, though usually worn
in plain sight.
Though caste is eliminated from this
brotherhood of pleasure-seekers. rank is
feature. There are the grafen, the ritter,
the junker, the knappen and the proba-
TONERS. Strangers who are permitted to
PASS the sacred portals of the 'burg." or
meeting place, are known as ''pilger."
An act O. disobedlence or disloyalty is
punished by confinement in the Jail of the
burg" generally particular corner of
the apartment, and the prisoner is de-
prived for a fixed period of his usual al
lowance of beer and other inspiriting
LIQUID refreshment.
For the past hfteen years the order has
Prague under the sanction and SUPER
vision of the mother club. Herein are
printed the effusions of the literary mem
bers and they are of more than ordinary
merit. Recently this publication, which
bears the name of the organization it rep
resents, celebrated the issuance of its two
hundredth number by specially hand
some edition, with unique poster design
on the cover in colors. None but mem bers
are allowed to become subscribers to this
journal nor are the unaffiliated permitted
to peruse it.
Raps the Great is the most notable
figure in the history of the Schlaraffia.
He was one of the early Ober- Schlaraffen
of the mother society and did more by his
individual efforts to bring the organiza-
ton to its present and past state of popu-
larity than any other dignitary of the
Bohemian band. His wit was of the keen
est and always readyto flash. While he
reigned there was no dull moment pos
sible during the s1ppnng. Monotony was
his abomination, and his inventive genius
evolved new ideas as rapidly as the occa-
sion required. His name to the ery-day
acquaintance was John Eichler, and he
followed the calling OF sugar broker.
Who knows naueht of Raps the Great is
not a true Schlaraffe.