The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-22

as it Is called. produced much laughter and applause from those who saw it for the first time. but there were many se- rious faces among the young recruits who looked forward with some anxiety to the time when they should fall Into the hands of these fearful-looking mon sters of the deep who were constantly threatening dire things to those land lubbers" and "haymakers" who ventured to invade their domain without permis- sion.
 F Father Neptune in every case knew the officers and men whom he had met before and he welcomed them with few kind words, mentioning the name of the ship in which each had sailed, and wish ing them a fair wind for all time. So perfect were the costumes of the King and his court on board the flagship that l failed to recognize single man of the more than 50 who constituted the suite. I presented them with cigars enough to keep them going, wished them a success full day, and the frolic began. Seats had been arranged on the forward bridge for the officers who had crossed the line be- fore, and from this point we observed the ceremonies. The day was exceedingly hot and We were all dressed in our thin- nest white uniforms. After I had been watching the fun for several hours I felt a peculiar cold wind blowing on my back which so chilled me that l was forced to retire to my cabin, where in the evening l found myself helpless with an attack of inhammatory rheumatism which caused me intense suffering, often re- cured, and eventually compelled me to give up the command of t1e Atlantic heet-a misfortune which might well break the heart of any flag officer who loved his profession as I have always done.
 Before leaving the United States tho "old hands, had provided the certificates for Neptune to sign. They were hand somely printed on sea-green paper and made very pretty souvenirs for the re- cruits to preserve. Indeed. I should not say recruits for there were many men, and officers as well, who had been around the world several times. men of many years service, who had never crossed the equator This may be easily under stood after glance at the map where 1t will be seen how one leaving San Fran cisco can cross the Pacific proceed through the Mediterranean, and so cross the Atlantic to New York without once crossing the equator. and this many off, cers and men had done. When once the Panama canal is completed the equatorial ocean regions will be much more lonely than they are now. King Neptune al- ways offers the officers the privilege of paying their footing; that is contributing 80 many cigars or so many bottles of beer instead of being regularly initiated but on this occasion the midshipman decided that they would take their medicine with the rest and they were the first to receive the rites; that is to say, be shaved by the barber with d long wooden razor and then "tumbled into the bath where the
 mermaids," sharks" and "porpoises' saw that they were thoroughly and prop erly tucked. The Ward Room preferred to pay
 AS each man of the crew received his ducking he became an energetic recruit in the ranks of Neptune and Joined the sea policemen who with stuffed clubs were searching the ship for those who attempted to escape the ordeal. This was particularly the case with many of the colored men on board who were serving in the capacity of mess men. None were allowed to escape, and as I looked on I could tell. very easily, the men, both black and white, who had in any way made themselves. offensive to the crew. Such persons came out of the tank pretty full of soapsuds and salt water! But In no case was any man maltreated or injured. It was form of hearty approval. When ali hands had re- ceived his attention the certificates wero signed and presented by Neptune. and the 15,000 men of the fleet were at last proper men to sail the salt seas. l doubt if so many men ever before crossed the line at one time.