The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-04-12

cold water as part of his initiation. and subsequently, acquired pneumonia Another similar case was reported today where a boy was either ordered
 to jump into icy water, or was dipped at the end of a rope, and sustained a severe injury to his health: hazing and others have given cause for somewhat of 9 sensation in this city, it not being known how many young folks have been compelled to give up their studies for some time because of the indignities they had endured. Many a time a boy or away from school. The parents be- lieve that their child is just i'll, that's III. Little do they know that the into a secret society. Of course, this does not mean that all sickness is the result of limitations, but goodly part of those unknown ills can be traced to this cause.
 Some of the older members of the fraternitieS and sororitieS at the high school have been buckled. It seems these that the sufferings Miss Clark was obliged to endure were mild of others
 .'Did you ever hear of the hair singeing ordeal" said one of the alumni. That's done to everybody, receiving the same dose that their brother members have received be- lore CnSn1. In carIyl11S out LnlS form of initiation, the body of the initiated is stripped and the hair singed from it.
 Another common ordeal, where the hot iron is used, is that of branding the initials of the frat on the back, as are cattle branded.
 According to an eX-high school member, the aftermath of the brand ing keeps the boy in pain for at least two weeks. The fellow so treated can rarely. if ever, get about, with out 8 very noticeable stiffness to his body.
 One form of initiation, which was very brutal, was accomplished in one of the large buildings in this city only few months ago. A young man had signif1ed his intention of joining the secret order. It had impressed upon ing the secrets of that organization; what was necessary for him to do and many other matters. To further satisfy the youth of the secrets he was to keep to the grave, his com panions caused to be constructed a pine box, coffin shaped, which they blindfoided as in many of these cases, but was placed into the box, the cov- CT screwed on to further bring out the reality of a funeral. But that was not all, that box was lifted from end to end, the young man at times standing on his head and many other carried to the head of 8 long stair way, where they let it fall, the box turning several complete turn overs. before it rgaehed the & end @ or the the moved from the box, the youth was found in heap, luckily without any bones broken, but with few scratch es and his clothes torn. He was speeches. and dazed, so much so. that his brother members had to see Tim home that evening.
 There are a number of relatively Innocent practices, which are very well in a way. but which in some cases are known to have accomplish ed very serious results.
 A common winter practice IS to strip an unfortunate victim Of his vestments. He is laid on a tempor- all about him, masked members with operating instruments. Cabinets of eoncoctions, poisons and medicines line the walls. Then the members gather about his form, telling each other of a supposed malady. and that an operation is imperative. By this time the victim is in a terrible state of nervousness. To end with, he is while one of the mem bers, with an icicle in hand, moves the point of it over the victims ex- posed flesh. The sensation which is conveyed is that 1ncisions have been made into the flesh.
 Another great foo1er is to place the victim in a stretched position on a plane with his feet at one end. On the other end is a large iron ball, which, rolling down, will strike him on the head. The iron ball before it 1 reaches it's destination, falls to the floor.
 Then follows an argument among the members of the calamity that might have happened had the ball l fallen on the feet of one of them. l The ball is again placed on the plank along with a. large rubber ball. The iron ball is pounded on the plank, l while the rubber ball is let go of and bowled toward the unsuspecting vic tim at the other end of the plank. l The youth cannot see anything else | after the ball strikes him, but a fractured cranium. These and other forms of initiation the School Board i will have to deal with in their in vestigation.