Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-17
BURNING SANDS
PARCH THROATS
SHRlNERS AND CAMELS WIND
WEARY WAYS
One Hundred Pilgrims Walk Across
Traekless Waste OF Desert, but
Find Grateful Oasis
at Last

Over the long journey from the hin
terland, far away, where the snow flies
and the horse flies mingle in blizzardy
chill; from beyond the mountain ranges
that hedge about the icebound climes,
they came. Footsore and weary, their
turbans dropping and their tongues
hanging out, they clambered down the
steep slopes and made their weary way
across the trackless deserts. The burn
ing sands paTched their throats and the
dust choked them. Their feet were
scorched and their legs were sore with
much walking.
With them came their faithful camels,
humping themselves slowly and fear
somely. (They say a camel can go
eight days on one drlnk-but who the
h wants to be a camel?) The noble
beasts carried their heads afar front,
and their necks stretched, rubbering
all the journey through, and shifting
for the perfume of the flowers and the
scent of the salty sea.
And SO, over the scorching sands, the
caravan came, and into the Angelic
city oasis blew great bunch of good
fellows, each adorned with fez and full
evening clothes.
And here, in this oasis. meath the
shade of the sheltering palm, where the
ever-summer sea kisses the strands
gilded by the setting sun, where the
flowers never cease to bloom and the
air is heavy with the perfume of the
orange, the acacia, the magnolia and
the rose, they found rest for their
weary souls.
And Now Comes Cancels Milk
And, too, here their thirsty threats
were washed with cames milk and the
zem-zem wells were found to be ever
flowing and never dry, and The gushers
gushed and the sweet waters were wet
and the band played "a Hot Time"
and all went merry as a wedding bell
and then some.
1t was the annual initiation of AL
Malaikah temple, and they did it just
right. A class of $50 odd were sent the
route over the sand dunes and across
the valley of death. They were taught
to ride the camels-and the goat-to
take the awesome oath and to cock
the fez over the left optic; to give the
grip and the pass word. In the Spring
street armory an oasis was established
and there the work was done. 1t was
hard work and lively, and the initiates
will never regret that they went the
pace-though today they dive off the
mantelpiece and walk with that uncer-
tain tread which denotes great pertur-
baton.
But even the initiates were not so
incommoded that they could not take
their first trip beneath the fez to the
great feast meath the palm at the oasis
established under the rooftree of one
AL Levy, there to Al-LeVy-ate their
hunger-and thirst. And there, they
again quaffed the zem-zem and the
camePS milk and ate the dates and
figs, but now as full-hedged Shriners,
along with the host of their brethren
of the scimitar and the star.
The Great Feast
Oh, what a feast it was. And what
precursor of those greater doings when
the ShrinerS come in May!
All told, there were 1900 of them reg
istered-and all were there. Up on the
top floor, Levy threw several great
rooms together and thus made places
for the herd. Every place was taken
and the overflow stood outside and
hungered. For the brass band had led
a mighty host and the promise it gave
Of "a Hot Time" was more than veri-
fed. Marching up the steps it sounded
like the charge of mighty army and
seated about the table it looked as If
all Los Angeles had sent it's men folk
to dine at the same time.
1t was a sans ceremonie" throng. The
band played SHOW me how to get
home" and was hooted; it footed "Hot
Time" many times and everyone sang.
Then they applauded and then they
howled. Mott Flint walked about and
grinned like Cheshire cat and showed
the overflow downstairs to other rooms.
The army of walters could scarcely
navigate, but mighty cheers greeted
their every appearance. 1t was Levys
supreme test as a caterer = and he
met it.
OF course an utter lack of formality
prevailed al the function Everyone
knew everyone else and If he didn't
is was his ownsfault Everyone had
good time. save the pair of candidates
in chains. who looked on, but ate not
because that was not allowed to them.
And 1t was awful!