Year: 1859

are tried to test their ability to swim, to
sing. to play the drum or Instruments
and It must be amusing TO see staid. So
Der citizens lying down face foremost up
on .he floor, and striking out for dear
life from Florida to Cuba; as well as going
through other tests Of similar ridicu-
lous character. But then, each man
thinks, we suppose. that he must do MS
all good Sous Of Malta have done before
him, and therefore he goes the whole fig
ure,


After enough Of the above questions
are asked and answered, the candidates
take another solemn obligation having re-
ference to the conquest OF Cuba. which
IS administered to them in their bind
state, while each places his hand upon a
big book, which is always carried in the
procession, and which contains nothing
but the picture Of two Jackasses, one in
the prime Of life anil the other in the ra.
pid decline.


After this the candidates are told that
they must retire for moment and pre-.
pare to 60 through trying ordeal,
which will severely test their nerves and
manhood.


They retire and so ends ,cene sec
ond.


SCENE THIRD.


The candidates are now brought in one
at time. still blindfolded. Each candidate
is brought in, rapidly marched around
the room in double quick time between
two guards. and is then made 10 run up
a stoeple inclined ladder composed OF
rollers which are set close together, and
which turn under his feet at every step,
and make his legs fly past each other like
spokes of runaway buoy when he gets
to the top Of this ladder he lands upon a
platform, where stands two more guards
who turn him about and tell him to Sc,
down, he sits down, and they give him
shove down the ladder, over the rollers.
Without any slide, he rides this way to
the bottom Of the ladder where he strikes





a springing board, just as it is jerked up
by two stout men, which sends him with
n bound towards the ceiling Of the room;
as he comes down he is caught upon the
board in sitting posture one Of his legs
is then pulled about SO that ! e is astride
Of the board; and in this condition he is
carried around the room in procession
Of the members, while drums and gongs
are being be-tiny in some urious man
ner.


BY this time. the candidate, blind as
he is. begins to see through the matter,
and gets scared or riled according to the
state Of his feelings, bu! it is too late too
stop.


After taking him round the room on
the board, the G. g. says, ''let the cavern
be opened" and that moment the board
is lowered at one end and hoisted at the
other, and the can didate slices down to
the mouth Of large sheet iron cylinder
something similar to the smoke st ack Of a
steamboat land as he slides down, q
rough voice whispers in his ear crawl for
your life--following this advice lie crawls
through the thing, while all hands are
pounding on the outside Of it with sticks
just as he comes out he is taken again
up the steep ladder of rollers to the plat.
form at the top. He is now told to stand
up straight, and divest himself Of all
matter that spoils by coming in contact
with water.


While he is being thus prepared for the
water, the m embers have got ready
large convas sheet with rope all around
It; this is placed behind him, and held
by as many as can get hold
Of the ropes; as soon as all is ready,
the candidate is thrown from the plat.
form back npon the sheet, and away he
goes--up and down--no sooner down
than up again--like Saneho Panza tossed
in blanket--until the members get tir-
ed tossing him. at which time be is let
down upon mattress; from which he is
lifted back npon the platform. where he is
set upon the top roller with bis feet d.
rected towards the bottom; and umbrel-
la without any covering is then hoisted
and given him in his left hand, while in
his right hand is placed COW bell--he
is told to hold up the umbrella and ring