Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-05-15
THE LONG AGO AND THE LATER ON.
An Experience of Eighty Ye<rs of Life.
(BY GEORGE TIsDALE BROMLEY

dlSH HrlssJ. Lei him enter Mos'
excellent Cardinal. whom have you
here?"
cardinal: "a stranger from a
strange land"
High Priest: HAS he passed the
ordeal of the election committee?'
Cardinal: He has, without one
feather dropping"
High Priest: "Then bring forth the
paraphernalia and sound the gong"
The owl and the loving cup resting
upon a small table were then placed
before the candidate and he was thus
addressed by the high priest:
"Illustrious Neophyte: Before you
are permitted to know what this is all
about, you will truly answer the ques-
ton / am about to PROFOUND. But, as
your future happiness may be affect
ed by any mistake in your answer,
1 will reply to it for YOU"
The answer being satisfactory, the
candidate was requested to prepare
himself for the obligation by taking
the loving-cup in his right hand and
placing his left in his trousers pocket,
as in the act of paying for the drink,
being given to understand that that
was as far as the true Bohemian ever
got in paying for anything. The fol-
lowing is the obligation conferred:
I'm the presence of the Owl and this
July and August body,
1 hereby pledge my word in this Bo-
hemian toddy
That ! will cherish with feelings of
delight
The 'high-old' initiation / am passing
through tonight,
Nor will tell what hath been told me
for friendship or for pelf,
Except it be to some one who knows
how it is himself,
To the rules and regulations / will
rigidly adhere
By always drinking champagne in pre-
ference to beer.
1 will love each true Bohemian wher-
FER on earth he goes
Till he turns up to the daisies his
emaciated toes.
All this I truly promise on the honor
of my name,
And wilr do my level best to keep and
perform the same;
Should I e'er divulge the secrets I'm
here permitted to know,
May the wind blow through my whisk-
ers when they're allowed to
grow"
The high priest and the candidate
then partook of the punch from the
loving-cup, an invisible chorus mean
time singing:
For love Jemima, Jemima loves me,
I'm stuck on Jemima, you bet, ha, hal"
which added greatly to the sublimity
of the initiatory ceren- ony. At the
close of the singing each of the char
tiers represented in costume recited an
appropriate quotation from the play.
During the evening Mr.. Irving took
Mr.. Peter Robertson aside and asked
to be shown the way to the stage.
Peter took him through the kitchen,
the pantry and the pots and kettles,
and having arrived. he requested the
boy to raise the curtain, revealing
himself to the surprise and delight Of
all present. When the applause had
subsidized he recited in his own sweet
way the sweetest poem ever heard in
Bohemia.
Shortly after the opening Of the
dramatic season Henry Irving gave a
banquet at TortonPs to about forty
members Of the Bohemian club. At
eleven o'clock, after the performance
was over, the guests were seated at the
table, with the actor at the head.
When all was in readiness the host
arose and said: There are to be no
speeches here tonight, and but one
sentiment, which I will now propose,
and I want you all to rise and drink
a response to it." The sentiment he
gave was: May God bless us ALL
From that time unit half-past five the
next morning 1t is safe to say that no
banqueters ever enjoyed themselves
more heartily and more thoroughly,
for every eye beamed happiness and
all hearts were glad. When Mr.. Irving
returned to London he sent to each
of the members Of the Bohemian club
a perpetual pass to his New Lyceum
theater enclosed in a neat little vel
vet case. / have devoted considerable
space to Henry Irving's visit to San
Francisco, but among those who par
ticipated in the reception it is regard
ed as one of the most memorable
events in the clubs history
The annual midsummer high jinks
Of the club is an event which is always
looked forward to with the liveliest
as it gives the members
two weeks Of solid enjoyment under
the shade Of the great redwoods dur
ing the delightful days, where with
music, song and stories, it gives one
a new lease of life. For months pre-
vious to the event, preparations are
being made for the entertainment, and
many who are engaged in the busy
walks of life arrange to enjoy their
encamped in the luxurious
tents beneath the spreading branches
OF the monarchs of the forest. The
Kitchen is marvel in its way and is
permanent The dining tables, with
seating capacity Of three hundred, are
arranged in the open air
with no fear of rain, as it is the dry
season mot with the Bohemians)
cooks and walters are in attendance
from the club: every morning fresh
rGapixTnH bn 1if ~.
q very attractive bar with all the mod
ern requirements is conveniently To-
Gated to provide immediate relief in
case of sickness or accident. Thus 1t
will be observed that in that seques-
tered spot the tired Bohemian has all
the comforts of a home.
At the close Of the high jinks the
ceremony of the Cremation of Care is
solemniZed, and it is not easy to con-
neive of a more solemn ceremony. On
the top of the hill in the rear of the
high jinks' stage are gathered those
who are to participate in the crema-
ton, and when the sire declares the
high jinks closed he requests the audi
ence to remain seated. and the signal
is given for the procession to move.
The band, playing the Dead March,
Is followed by the. high priest and the
bearers of the casket containing the
reIldlHs OF care. linen comes the
bearing torches, and as they
descend the winding pathway, light
ed by varied colored lights, it is Ger
tainly one of the most solemn sights
ever witnessed, for nowhere Selse could
De seen such magnificent surrouNd-
ngs.
AS the procession passes the audi
ence they all fall in and proceed to
The ravine where the funeral pyre has
been erected, and after marching twice
around the pyre, the casket is then
deposited thereon, the band plays
short dirge, and the master of cere-