Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-16
UNIQUE SECRET ORDER
Customs and Origin of the
 Society of Capitalists.
THEIR ONLY DUES PAID AT DEATH

Twelve Thousand Members Cedes
 His Skull to the Soctety-Banquets
 Are Held Amid Grewsome Relics of
 Friends-CfrcIes Are Being Formed
 the World Over.
 Many versions, mostly fanciful, con- corning the secret society of Capitalists have been published, but the truth far exceeds in interest the uncanny tales all have read, says the New York American.
 The Capitalists number 412, 2,0O0, ac- cording to the general secretary and founder, Max Schroff, a prominent architect of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
 Starting with the idea that the mem bership be cemented with pact devis- ing the skulls of all to the society, the original thirteen have added to their number until the half million mark is in sight The Capitalists have no lodge rooms and pay no fees or dues save the one paid after death, the skull. Each member signs the following pact.
 I hereby redeem my promise and cede my skull to the above (Cephalist) fra ternity.
 The members are mostly free think CTS, men who feel no qualms over as- sociation with the skulls of their for mer associates. Each year or oftener. as occasion offers, they sit down to a the departed, each labeled across the frontal bone with the name of the owner.
 No. ic the skull of L. G. Krueder, who was one of the original thirteen and held the office of Diogenes. The original society was like Portuguese company, all officers save one. The of ficers were fancifully named from president down to Buddha, Vishnu, Confucius, Brahnna, Faustus, Ammon, Diogenes, Ganymede, Giganticus, Osi- ris, Vosnius and Aristoteles. MT. Schroff was Faustus, or secretary.
 The secretary. who is the planet about whom all the lesser lights swing, conceived the weird idea of the society in the sixties through an odd expert ence. He formed one of a party of students of the, University of Stuttgart who in 1885 undertook the exploration of the Nile
 Among the party was Homer Clarke, young American, son of former Gov ernor Clarke of Ohio, who sickened un- der the fierce sun of the desert and fell dead from the back of his camel. The body was temporarily buried in the sands. The party continued its explo- ration to the third cataract and, re- turning, exhumed the body. It was l<x 4o <>x,& %I1x@ mains; still MT. Schrof was unwilling to permit his friends remains to rest in the sands.
 II pondered a long time," says Mir. Schroff. T had always believed that the seat of dignity in man rested in the skull; so I decapitated my friend and took the head home with me. At first intended sending it to his father, but friends restrained me, representing that it might be considered ghastly. Finally had it prepared and brought it to this country. There it is"
 MT. Schrof nodded to polished skull over his head resting upon the top of his desk. The grinning relic held long French brierwood pipe be- tween the teeth.
 ''Yes, Homer, old boy" continued the secretary, addressing the skull, i've have been companions for many years, and when go my headpiece will join you"
 "A good many die,'' he resumed. s'There are 14O skulls within ten feet of me. They are all properly labeled and numbered, and with each is a rec ord of the owners achievements, to- gether with a chronological estimate of the skull. Only one of the original thirteen is dead. But we are all get ting to be old fellows, and our head pieces must soon go on to the shelves with the others.
 "We are not cranks. We believe that the head, the birthplace and repository of noble thoughts, should not be com mitted to the annihilating flames nor get to the worms in the grave; there fore we preserve the skull. We are performing great scientific service, for our phrenologists are enabled to compare the bumps upon the skulls with the known attainments, peculiari- ties and attributes of the owner.
 Capitalists have grown to the num- Der of 412.0O0 in twelve years. We form circles all over the world, and the circles are growing. By and by the circumferences of the circles will touch"
 INITIATION SONG OF THE CAPITALISTS. Our mission is to have in trust
 The skulls of men of our kind.
 Their bodies may decay and rust;
 Their skulls with us place will find, That they may prove, in ages hence They have not lived for priest and pail, Which shows they had enough of sense
 To gain niche in our skull halli
 The basis of this brotherhood
 In number thirteen is expressed!
 Each one in compensation should
 Consign his skull to us addressed
 And add to 1t each year one head
 From friends who may with us concede That we may claim, when they are dead,
 Their skulls. by their own will and deed. Fill out this blank, your name and seal.
 And in our honor do confide
 That when you soon take your last meal
 Your skull we shall claim on our side.
 At present the headquarters of the S~ %ho ,xclx, P,xr