Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-03-18


across the line were sure to be taken
care of and volunteers had been
called from amongst the passengers.
A list OF those willing to undergo the
initiation had been prepared and
names were called from time to time
Although | had signified my willing
ness to be one of the victims | was
we'll satisfied to have escaped. A
big bucket of lather had been made,
in readiness and the barber COM
menced sharpening his mammoth
razor on large StrOp suspended by
a ring big enough to pass over the
head of one of the assistants. If
those who were to be initiated did
not respond promptly, policemen at
once went in search of them and
none were permitted to escape. One
sailor ran over the top of the canvas
awning-the officers in hot pursuit,
and as the canvas was but a short
distance above the heads of the pas
sengerS some of them received a sur
prise. 1t ended by his being cap.
tured and brought to the bar of JUS
tice. After the person was placed
on the stand Neptunes assistant
read out of a big book to him, or her
as the case might be. If it was q
man. the barber Immediately got
busy lathering, using big brush
and not caring particularly where the
lather went nor the quantity. AS
rule when he got through the head as
well as the face was covered with
soap. Then shaving was in order.
After scraping most of the lather
off it would be necessary to apply
water, and this was readily supplied
by just tipping the candidate back
wards into the tank. 1t was salt
water and some of them had on good
clothes, but that made no difference.
There were two OF the black savages
in the tank who grabbed each man as
he fell in and ducked him under q
couple OF times. The candidates pre-
sented sad spectacle as the black
came off the savages' bodies and the
combination OF salt water and black
was hard on clothing and good looks
With the ladies the procedure was
. the same SO far as the reading out of
the book was concerned, but they
were only sprayed with a toilet water
and permitted to depart in peace.
The little girls were sprayed and
then set on their feet in the water
and permitted to find their way out
the best they could, but as the water
was shallow they were in no danger.
The men had their hair cut as rule,
or if being shaved particular atten-
ton was given that the bald portions
should be lathercd and shaved. 1t
was little embarrassing to some but
all took it in good nature.
1t was amusing to see the police
men clearing the way wien they
would be bringing up a candidate.
There would be great brandishing
of clubs and waving of spears, and as
the latter were tipped with blood.
they were formidable looking weap-
ons. and the crowd readily gave way
in order that they might perform
their duty. The barber on this fes-
tai occasion is the boatswain in every
day life aboard ship. He is short
and fat, and as he was bare legged
and wore high hat the combination
was so funny everyone had to smile.
They were using the hose same as
the barber does a bay-rum bottle, and
not being careful, the crowd often
got as much as the fellow in the tank.
The ceremonies took place amidships
and almost everyone was able to get
good view, many of the men and some
of the girls, took to the rigging, soas
to better witness the fun. 1t was an
odd sight to see the passengers way
above decks, hanging on to the rig
ging for dear life. Although about
an hour had elapsed all were intently
watching the performance. when sud-
denly from above there came show
er of water and there was q scramble
to get under cover. Those who were
in the rigging could not move out of
the wet zone as quickly as those on
the decks and so they had to pay for
their fine view. Later we learned
that hose had been placed upon the
masts in the night, so arranged they
would throw water over the entire
deck and at a given signal the water
was turned on and everybody sour
ried for shelter, but those who es-
capped initiation by means Of the tank
got taste of Neptune's treatment
in this manner. Having passed the
Equator. and being duly initiated,
certificates were given to each of us
stating that The Earth BOrn-so,
and So having been graciously
permitted to pass over the Equator,
and the christening having been sat
isfactorily performed, according to
custom, ! should. by order of Posei-
don. the only son of Chronos, Prince
Trident, Ruler of the Violet Blue
High Seas, Earth Girdler and Earth
Shaker. be henceforth called the sea
name-mine being Arion.