The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-25
ALNAS TEMPLE OUTING
Mystic ShrinerS Put in q joyful
Day at River View.
Three Steamer Loads of Members md
Drills, Dancing, and other Amuae-
ments Make Up The Programme.


River View when the last Arab of Alma
Temple, Mystic Shrine, folded his tent
! and stole back to the city after an even
ing Of great enjoyment. Despite the fact
that the morning boat brought to the
pleasure grounds but fifteen visitors and
the afternoon boat Il few ever a hun
dred to the annual outing OF the local
Shrineis, the arrivals en- the three even
ing boats left nothing to be desired in
the attendance and the event was a great
success, which will be reflected In the
Christmas charities of the temple, for the
benefit of which the funds derived from
yesterdays excursion will be devoted.
Three steamers left the Seventh Street
wharf at 6:45 D. IN. carrying a quota of
passengers that filled the limit Of their
capacity. AS the boats arrived opposite
River View fireworks were set off from
the shore. Greek lights were set burning,
and rockets and Roman candles filled the
air with a shower of burning colors The
display continued until the last passenger
had left the boats.
The throng hurried to the lakeside,
near where the horses. King and Queen,
make their plunge from a considerable
height into tank containing depth of
twelve feet of water. When the act had
been ACCOMPLISHED ard appIauded the
visitors collected in the dance pavilion.
where an entertainment had been ar
ranged for the amusement Of the guests
Of Almas Temple under the direction of
Noble J. C. Johnson. -Four Young ladies',
Known as the Victoria Fou..T iinaugu-
rateT the programme with vocal quar-
tette which was encored several times
Cara J. Stevens. assisted by La Petite
Alma. tot of tender years, both clad in
brilliant red, gave an exhibition ofitoe and
character dancing, which was much APP
plauded.
The event of the evening was the ex-
hitition drill OF the Arab Patrol clad in
their velvet uniforms of red trousers and
blue jackets. with the red fez OF the
sArlne. Marching by twos and fours. for
wfrI and obliQuely. in circles and double
circles, in spirals and figure Fights, dis,
played the skill OF the body in fancy evo.
buttons, under the command OF Capt s.
Porter House
Noble Harry Stamford. however. took
public occasion, as the representative of
the Shrine, TO find exception to the man
ner in which the drill was performed He
demanded the surrender of the sword car
ried by Captain House, on the plea that
he was following out his instructions. and
that The leader of the patrol would short
ly require the use of both his hands A
solid silver, gold-lined service was then
presented 10 Captain House, as the gift of
the temple in recognition of his services
in drilling the Arab patrol. Captain House
responded with few words of thanks
At his moment the quiet of the occa-
sion was disturbed by the invasion of the
pavilion by brass band, followed by a
squad OF pseudo policemen, co..umed in
the robes OF the Capitals guardians, and
armed with cigars and bladder clubs.
After marching few times about the pa
vilion the policemen started trough house"
and made an attack on several OF lbe
Arab patrol. whom they proceeded TO club
into Submission with all the brutal iy
which could be extracted from their bau-
Bile batons. Arabs TO the rescue" was the
battle word, and in a moment every repre-
sentative of the force had been hustled
out of the enclosure.
A cake walk followed this contretemp,
and was enacted on the floor of the pa
vilion by dusky gentleman and his lady.
clad in picturesque uniforms. The police
reappeared at this time and after consid-
ering the cake walk for a few moments
decided that 1t was OF a character that
could not be permitted. The cake walkers
were dubbed and thrown out Of the pa
vilion at the instant. The pavilion was
then given over TO dancing.
Subsequently at the lake side an initia-
tion OF one of the Mobiles to the fourth
thirty seventh degree was publicly en-
acted for the benefit Of the visitors The
Noble was blindfolded and stood upon his
feet while his fellow craftsmen gathered
around with full bottles of charged water.
At the command the contents were dis
charged on the novitiate. who stood ground
brsvely. His ordeal, however, was not
yet complete for suddenly he was seized
and thrown into blanket. After tossing
the victim in the air several times he
was cast into the water of the lake. where
he houndered wildly until helped TO shore.
Not in the programme of the initiation
was the unexpected plunge into the water
of one of the in:tiators while tossing the
blanket from which he was unable TO re-
lease himself at the psychological mo-
ment. He fell into the water to his middle
amid roars of laughter from his comrades
and their guests.
The shoot the chutes' apparatus had
been doing business through the evening
Shortly after the initiation was over at
the lakeside an occupant of one of the
skifs used in making the descent as II
struck the lake level, fell overheard into
the water. The fake accident occasioned |
little sympathy for the man immersed, |
who came ashore amid general laughter
Almas Temple and their guests embarked |
for the city after night of general jol- |
lily. The Shriners sustained their repu-
tation as fun makers and the Christmas !
fund was considerably and deservedly aug
mented by the receipts of the occasion.
IN THE POLICE COURT.