The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-10-05
LOWING or NEPTUNE AT EQUATOR
syWetTB Baxter in the Outlook

Inc BARRIERS Assistant. The Bath Steward
Two EXecutioners The Boatswaii.. a Sailor
ocean Police. Two Sailors, Two Passeng-
ers Qmmune,. having crossed the line)
"".....The Butcher, The Second Cook
This indicates the democracy OF the
occasion, the ships officers. crew and
passengers all standing on an equal
footing. We Candidates." having been
duly warned. had taken precautions to
appear IN appropriate costume-paia-
mas atheltlc running dress (shirt and
short drawersl, or any old clothes that
~ handy. In the soft tropic sea air
there was no fear of any chill as we
stood in waiting, however lightly clad.
PASSENGERS for any reason disinclined
10 undergo the ordeal were permitted
~ pulGllase m on payment Of
one dollar. But seven of us We're ready
70 take he whole thing for the sake
OF the experience and the fun of II
however the prospect. The
captaln presented his imperial majesty
WIN a llst or passengers who had not
doubt as to whether Mr.. Larrinaga
should be included.
Policeman" cried the secretary.
One of Neptune's finest" the in;..
sais ~. -. on the turned-up rim of
nus sou Wester, stepped forward. Go
fetch Mr.. Larrinaga," the secretary or
dered. u
n delegate from Porto Rico came
forward. Closely cross-questioned bv
ms majesty. he explained how he had
crossed the line in 1856, naming the
vessel. ene
Il do not know that Ship" erim,v
remarked the monarch.
The prospec for Mr.. Larrinaga be-
gan to look dark. But Captain Cado-
gan lnterceded: :" "a vouch for Mr..
=; III ne said: III must be all
right If he avs So"
so the honored Don Tulio was gra-
ciously passed. Others were success
slVely sent for. Some pleaded i'll health.
one scraped his knee in the DO.
t thto race. The doctor gravely felt
s she,i oyer pouheed them, made them
snow their tongues. Exemption penal
ties having been duly imposed, the mi
lialion proceedings began. The first
candidate was conducted to the steer
g deck and was seated on the rim of
q ans Dig rg tanka az sail held between two
spafs and filled With sea water. A
large reflector with electric glow
ialnps suspended above the tank bril-
ilantly lit the scene for the SPECTATORS
fo u on from the deck above as
from a theater gallery. The doctor
t uairaed hit the victim a glass of some
II WATER. 10 orc
vent any possible chill. Then the har-
per appeared with his lather fo11r-
pasle) ana asked a question: "a close
shave, Sir?" Siose
The opening of the candidates mouth
10 respond was the signal for - t ron
from a huge brusfful of the st,,ff fas
loWed by a generous lathering n%rali,oi-
nary 10 a shave of three or foI,r st,oi,a,
l ac d Dig wooden razor in the hands
ont 'ne nafners assistant. Then, with
from 1aai ,nag came a vigorous push
dldate turned a complete so1narsa,i+
pachWard into the tepid sea watarM
really, a pleasant bath despite the sud
zen immersion! Then came a del,1g-
was was S li13e t11a from the ships hose; it
Amidst applause and laughter from
above, the candidate emerged a div
accredited subject of NEPTUNE. Ths
olhers followed in quick succession:
r rne secretary OF the delegation, the di-
Herald's representative was an exe
perlenced sea dog and a veteran Of tho
Jack Hunt Ca plucky how
reaay FOR everything going), the clerk
OF the legatio and the young rep
emery trusts in the states. The reg
ular ceremony over, the members Of
Neptune's suite, according to invariahIa
all proceeded to duck each
T-p symboliZing the return
10 their native element! No one ven
tured to lay hands upon Neptune. Re-
spect for royalty's person was main
tanned. Moreover, the impersonation
was a particularly tall and husky
quartermaster. Tho dye-stuff from the
turned the water in the tank
turbid and inky. Then some of the
gathered on the promenade deck
and sang for the passengers. Mrs.
scored a hit with "Finne-
CAMS Wake" and u particular cham
per steward developed a strikingly true
ana sympathetic tenor. Commenting
the democratic freedom of the oc-
caslon, one of the passengers remarked:
Under the circumstances. a little lat
itude has to be given" The humor
may have been unconscious. But, con-
sidering that our latitude was zero. II
a a capital jest.
Did you note how the devil was on.
Of the characters?" remarked a philo.
commentator There was realI,
no motive for dragging him in. But hA
Is invariably a character of the old
mystery plays, also of the Span
lsh 'pastariles,' and the like. Doesn't
that indicate a very ancient deriya.
ton for this Neptune dra1na?"
We afterwards learned that the
Charleston had had a most elaborate
day. Out of 400 odd there
were over 200 initiated, including not a
ensigns, lieutenants and other Of
icers. Among the characters were two
'mermaids" enacted by comely youths. {
Managing a Boy. ,
From the New York Weekly. ,
Husband Ia literary man)-I wish /
you would stop watching little Dick for s
awhile.