The Portland daily press., 1896-02-22
CROSSING THE EQUATOR.
Neptune's Baptismal Service On
Shipboard.
An OId-time Custom Kept Up by the Crew
Grotesque Costumes and Proceedings.
(From the Christian Advocate. }

(From the Christian Advocate
No suspicion Of an approach to the
equator will occur to the South Ameri-
can voyager except for the preparations
for the steamer baptism. This is an old
time custom, gotten up by the sailors at
the expense of the passengers. Steamers
differ in the modus operandi according
to nationality, but the same object is
attained in giving the unwary traveller
a bath such as he has never received be-
fore and hopes never to get again. The
Germans are ardent participants in this
custom, and it is about one of their re-
cent baptisms on the North German
Lloyder Mark that this report is mad @;
The night before the crossing Of the
equator there was a cry of "Ship ahoyw
The passengers hurried to the ships side
and saw a grotesque figure climb up the
railing in high sea boots and dripping
with water. Answering the strangers
cry Lloyd signal fire was lit, and the
lookout shouted, "The Mark
The visitor was Titan, who addressed
the people as follows:
"Woloome, o noble ship and brave sail
ors, who have dared to approach with the
quickness of the storm the empire of my
lord and master. I come tonight with
message from the great sea god, Neptune.
l wish to tell you, my old friends. and
those who for the first time tomorrow
will cross tha equator, that his majesty
with his royal household, will arrive at
2. 30 p. m. for the purpose of cleansing
all those who have not until now smelled
the south sea air from the dirt of the
Northern hemisphere in order that they
may hereafter enjoy our protection and
travel through our southern seas without
fear or danger. 7. Titan, and Nep-
tune's s. Secretary of State, now ask all
those who tomorrow shall receive the rite
to prove themselves worthy, and not to
exotic in any way the wrath of the sea
god. 80 that the steamship Mark, known
as the swiftest vessel af1oat, can pursue
her journey through Neptune's southern
real m without peril and with all speed"
A great splashing followed this
speech as Titan returned to his watery
realm. Promptly at $50 O'Clock on the
following afternoon Father Neptune ap-
peared with his whole retinue. This
retinue consisted of delegates from the
countries bordering his kingdom, oon-
| spiouous among whom was the King Of
the Cannibal Islands. Nothing was
omitted to impress the passengers with
the power and extent of t he sea gods
domain. The patriarchal look of Nep-
tune himself was largely due TO his
luxuriant whiskers, a huge tuft Of hemp,
and the dignity with which he wore his
gilt pasteboard crown. His trident was
long handled pitchfork, decorated with
dried behring's. The royal astronomer
first took the measurement of the alti-
tude of the sun. When the zero degree
of the equator was reached silence
reigned, and Neptune, with great i'm
throne. He was assisted b his private
secretary, an individual with ssoge
pipe hat three feet high, six pair of Cog
giles and a red nose reaching to the
ground. Parts of the royal address,
with the secretary's intsrjsctions, are
here given:
Friends, as you have already been no.
titled by Titan, my ambassador, I. Nep-
tune, omnipoteht sea god Gland am
Neptune's secretary"), have come up
from the unfathomable depths to greet
you, my old acquaintance, and also to
ask my just tribute Of all those who are
for the first time crossing the frontiers OF
my kingdom. This tribute consists, as
1t may be already known, of solemn
sea baptism. Its purpose Is to cleanse of
all impurities those voyagers who now
pass the line OF the sun from the North
ern to the Southern hemisphere, in or
der that they may be worthy to live with
("And I am Neptune's private score
tary.") I trust no One will try to es-
cape this ceremony. My followers have
strict orders to proceed without mercy,
and deal harshly with those who at
tempt to escape. My anger will surely
overtake them before they reach their
| destination.
"My arm is long and my power is ter
rible. ('And am Neptune's private
secretary.') Come. therefore, all We who
ha We not yet received the rite and take it
with my benediction, which shall be up
on you in all your journeys across the
seas. In conclusion. dear friends, de-
sire to say that as the constitutions of
men are different, have arranged three
different kinds of baptism: The first sis
only the privilege Of the fair sex, and