The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-18

about Mrs. Bowser--but, all things ccn-
sidered he got through very we'll
There were NO roars Of laughter All
about him was silence and dignity.
The Gay Old Boys have never yet for.
gotten what Is due to themselves.
"Mr. Bowser was then posed on q
beer keg standing on end aud was
draped as Julius Caesar, while four
members of the club, provided with
potatoes, retired to the other side OF
the hall and threw at him. He OBJ
jected at first. but finally announced
that he would go through with 1t to
spite Mrs. Bowser.
Gle was then draped as Napoleon
and was given glass OF sour butter
milk to drink. He drank II off with
the observation that there were no flies
on him.
"He was then seated on the keg,I
with each bare foot In a pail of Ice
water, and told to look like Washing
ton crossing the Delaware. In the
course of FIVE minutes Mr.. Bowser as
sumed twenty-seven different express
sions of countenance, but he finally
struck the right one at last and held
1t like conqueror. There was no
cheering, however. The Gay Old Boys
never cheer. They show their appre-
citation by their dignity and silence.
"As the next step AIr. Bowser was
asked to name three different school
ma'ams he had fallen I'm love with be-
fore he was twenty years old. He
promptly named seven, but followed
1t by an impassioned appeal that we
should not say anything to Mrs. Bow
ser. Upon being asked IL he was
afraid of her he denied that he was,
but explained that she had little
way of making him uncomfortable at
times.
"As the last step in Mr.. Bowser's In
itiation he was required to lie at full
length on his back on the floor while
forty members marched over him. This
was to show proper humiliation of
spirit. Each of the forty halted for a
few seconds and stood on the candi-
dates stomach. Mr.. Bowser was about
to protest, but when told that James
X. Polk had submitted to the same
thing he remained silent.
Hailed as . Brother.
'The initiation thus concluded, Mr..
Bowser was taken by the arms and
run four times around the room and
then hailed as q brother and a bottle
Of champagne placed before him. In a
few minutes and without any prompt |
ing from a member he arose and sang
Old Black Joe 1t was a different
old Black joe from any that we had I,
ever heard. and it was somewhat
mixed with Annie Laurie and John |
Brown but no criticisms were made. |
The Gay Old Boys never criticise.
"A few minutes later Mr.. Bowser
asked permission to deliver an grafton
In Latin. He was not encouraged and
not refused, and he went ahead. In
delivering his grafton the name of Mrs. |
BOwser was frequently used. but We
could not exactly make out what he
was driving at. The Gay Old Boys
never interfere in family matters.
1T was noticed In casual way that
Mr.. Bowser had got hold of second
quart of champagne, but no remarks
We're made. The Gay Old Boys never
remark.
''We were about to sing Aud Lang
Syne' and disperse when Mr.. Bowser
rose up and said that he would like to
put the gloves on with some one for a
couple of rounds.
"The remark was laid ON the table.
"Then the newborn member an
runner of the United States and that
he would run any member of the club
distance of thirty miles for any
wager named.
'"rhe remark was laid under the ta-
ble
"Ar. Bowser then asked the privilege
Of making few remarks on the death
Of Cicero, but the meeting adjourned
without listening to him, though not
before appointing two members to see
him home and unlock the front door.
That they did their brotherly duty by
him there is no cause for doubt. He
was received ut the door by Mrs. Bow
ser. and as far as the members could
satisfy themselves he was not dragged
upstairs feet first.
$50 far as this club is concerned. not
a word would have been said to the
outside world had not Mr. Bowser, by
his explanations to Mrs. Bowser. forced
us into the attitude taken.
&c. QUILL,
Secretary Gay Old Boys Club"
Per Nj. Quad.