The Falls City tribune., 1911-02-10

AIN dii@' VI . 1S1 oi4 Nh( "|SA
Repulsive Is Bacon Swallowing"
Germany is, of all countries, the one
in which the science of hazing in mil
itary schools has attained the greatest
development. The army plays in the
fatbe-iand's life n part the importance
of which can hardly be realized by an
%untraveled American. Military service
is compulsory. and in time of peace
100000 men are kept armed. uniformed
and drilled. To command that huge
contingent $4,000 commissioned officers
are necessary.
This large officer corps has developed
customs. ethics. even a morality, of its
own. These customs and ethics are
initiated at an early age by the boy
who aspires to enjoy the veneration
which German officers generally re-
ceiye from the populace. Imitation
in a young nan usually means eXag-
geration. and some of the little mil
itary Snobs are on their first day ut
school Il JOY to behold. Very soon,
however. the precocious stiffness is
taken out of them.
4 harmless though repulsive form OF
hazing cadets whose appetite yerges
on gluttony is called bacon swallow.
ing" The plebes to be yictimiZed are
lined up on the grounds surrounded
by a group of second year men. \
slice of raw bacon is tied to a piece
of string. and the plebe whose name is
drawn first is made to swallow the
lunappetizing morsel. When the sick.
ening sensation of the twine tickling
his throat threatens to n%auseate him
the bacon is pulled out. The name OF
another unfortunate is drawn, and he
is in turn obliged to swallow the ba.
con, the appearance of which has not
been improved by the first mans
chewing. On it goes along the line
to the next man and up to the last one,
and for days and days the sight Of
bacon. a staple article in German
cuisine, will, if it does not spoil the
healthy Youngsters appetites, at least
remind them that undue haste in as.
similating food lacks refinement.
After a few hours spent in frogs
squat the most digni6ed and snob
DiSl IltGCS uS~ulie lIt SOOu ldiultd
and perfectly chummy attitude which
means that they have been tanned
Swelled heads are quickly noted anG
their owners made to sit on the looI
with their chins resting ON their knees,
and their ankles and wrists are bound
together. A solid stick passed under
the knee joints and forcing the fore.
own, I,af- Dpo-roptr 4hnr, fpor,, tq,nVina
arms or legs. and they are left there
facing one another in an unnatural,
cramped and ridiculous position.
Other forms of hazing are the stom.
ach dance. with or without obstacles;
finding the keyhole, tossing in a blan.
ket and star gazing. In the stomach
dance the cadet is put fat on his
stomach on a high table and -four tor
mentors take him by the hands and
feet and wbirl him around on the
table. In the ease of serious offenses
a few hard objects or obstacles are
scattered over the table. making the
'aance" rather painful.
Then comes finding the keyhole. The
cadet stands in front of a locker and
is blindfalded. He has to feel for the
keyhole with his forefinger Then an
other cadet places his head between
the locker and the finger, opens his
mouth and bites the finger till its own
er howls
Star gazing consists in being made to
watch the stars at night through a
coat sleeve held like Il telescope by
two cadets. \ third cadet then pours
a glass of muddy water in at top of
the sleeve.
When Il cadet is guilty of behavior
unbecOming TO Il gentleman, disgraces
his class by some breach of etiquette
or commits some petty theft he is
generally sentenced by the holy
vehm." or court of honor" to the
rod The penalty is applied ruthless
ly. a gag being placed in the punished
mans mouth to stife his cries for
help.
OF all the forms of hazing the most
brutal perhaps is the gauntlet of fire.
The freshman upon whom that punish
ment is to be visited is kept in a dark
room astride n wooden chair, to which
he is securely fastened. In the next
room his tormentors are twisting news
papers into imitation torches. which at
a given signal they light with matches.
When the torches are burning brightly
they form themselves in two lines;
another signal is sounded, the door of
the dark room is thrown Open, and the
freshman is ordered to ride between
the lines, while he is mercilessly
dashed with flaming brands.
However quickly he may run the
gantlet. by the time he has reached
the end of the blazing pathway his
hair, his eyebrows and lashes have
been singed to the skin, his eyelids are
scared and swollen. his lips blistered,
his uniform hopelessly damaged.
Basket Ball
Our biph school basket ball DOYS