Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-31
NERvE.RAcKING IERRoRs
One Girl Falls Unconscious After
Her Initiation.
Clammy, Hand Grasp, Branding
With Ice and Haussatins Drink.
Neophytes Han Stripped.

NEW YORK, December 31.-The nerve
rackinS. even though fancied. terrors oil
an initiation. into Greek letter society
Of girls, students In private and preDara-
tory schools in the city, caused meeting
of twenty angry mothers At the home OF
Mrs. Elisabeth Moore, No. 1854 Broadway
yesterday afternoon. Their hrst purpose
Il to break up the local organisation Of
ond is to start a campaign Throughout,
the country against secret societies among
school girls.
1t was the story Of Julia Nils. not YET
seventeen, as told by her to her mother
that caused Mrs. Mills to take the firs,
steps against what she considers q dan
gerous organization. There are twenty.
six members OF the local chapter ct the
society. Miss Josephine Moore. daughter
Of Mrs. Elizabeth Moore. is the hisf
priestess Of the order. julia Mills wal
initiated Saturday night.
Staggered Home Half HystericaI.
The girl staggered home, half hysterical
and Mrs. Mile demanded an explanation
Fairly burning with indignation. she re-
peated the story yesterday at the meeting
Of the mothers.
The initiation was held at the Moore
home. -.s.s
Miss Mills. according to her story. wal
summoned to appear there last Saturday
When she WIS usheYed in she was led
Into q dtfaiy lighted room. Between two
columns OF black-robed. blAck-masked fig
ures she was led UP to the high priest.
cts. =.
Are you prepared to undergo ordeals
to prove yourself fit to become sister
Of this order?" soiemniy asked the
priestess. ..
II am" she answered and was, led to
an anteroon. At a signal she was led
back to the assembiage and told that
after this first test there could be nc
turning back.
Test Of Fortituds. .,,
This will be test Of your fertituds.
of your fitness to be a sister. You are
ordered to thrust your hand into a small
caidron OF molten lead which you see be-
fore you. Ready! Obey orders.' 20
Miss Mills dashed her hand into the
liquid and sank to her knees fff fright.
After she recovered her oomposure In
part she YVES surprised to note that the
ctldron was filled with mercury. Again
she was led from the room. When she
returned she was told to step over some
pillows to the top Of some heaped blocks
While she was maintaining her balance
there the prtesteSs told her that the Pill
out Of sight. =
Suddenly the lights went out Miss
Mills felt the blocks give way beiSeat h
her and she felt herself 30 down, down.
and then land on the pillows. A rope
had been tied to the lowest block and a
COME derAte had pulled II.
Test Of the Clsminy Hand.
Once again she was led into the ante.
room and brought back blindfolded. A
droning voice told of a severed, cIamny
hand. which each Of the beloved sisters
had Srasped before becoming one Of the
order. A prfestess was ordered to brina
In on tray the hand.
The candidate was ordered To grasp the
hand. for which she could only feel. shud.
dering, she involuntarily drew back her
arm when she felt the ciAInmy fingers.
Z She was led back bhndfolded into the
had grasped a wet chasnols skin glove
filed with sand, and not 4 human hand.
Again she was led forth, this time to
drink nauseatfnS liquid out OF skull
which liquid would serve to make her OF
one blood with her other prospective sis.
ters." Revolving at each guip.. she was
compelled to drain the skull. SO ti.s nerve.
racking tests went on. Finally the voice
OF the priestess was heard to say:
Final Supreme Test.
Now for the Anal supreme test. Gather
all your remaining courage which BY
this time was d minus quantity-''and pre-.
pare for the most severe test Of all. Faith
full guardians, lead the candidate to ar
ante-foom, strip her to the waist bind hei
arms behind her and then bring her
back"
In a few moments the girl, now almost
hysterical. was brought back. Then the
same droning voice went on:
I'm order that this ceremony be indelibly
placed on your mind, 1t Is necessary that
the letters OF our beloved fraternity b.
burned upon your back in acid. Guardians
brand the candidate
At the first touch Miss Mills sank sense.
less to the floor. When she had been re-
vived It was explained 70 her that the
branding had been done. with 4 piece Of
ice.
The initiators then took OF their robes
congratulated the bedr1gg1ed. worn-ou,
girl and taught her the grip and counter.
sign.
The girls mothers say that the girls
got their notions OF initiation from broth
ers who belong to college fraterntties.