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Show A UIDEOCSCEREMONY. Tbe Horrors of a Chinese Initiation at Viewed Through a Hole in the Wall. THE SWORDSMAN'S SKILL. A Chapter of Barbarous Ordeals and tbe Candidate is a Full Fledged Member. Among the riotous features that are characterizing the observance of the Chinese New Year, none are wilder than the hideous evolutions that for a wrek or more havo been of nightly occurrence oc-currence over in the block that is infested in-fested by nearly a hundred of them in Plum alley. The building seems to have Leen especially designed for tho use of the swarming hosts, .as the apartments apart-ments are scareoly larger than the state room on a Pullman sleeper while the tiers of bunks afford a sleeping place for at least eight to one apartment Into these narrow confines they have wedged themselves in perfect, but garrulous harmony. They are no particular source of annoyance annoy-ance to any one until tho f;ong with its brazen throat begins to ieat, and theu the tenants are vomited from chambers to gather at given hours in one spacious room. The lodge, a species of Masonry, is in session a moment mo-ment later and a pandemonium, in comparison with which a thunderstorm would be unbroken tranquillity, begins to reign. Nothing like it was ever conceived con-ceived by the civilized denizens of any civilized country. The candidate, who Is of a many varieties as there are physical phy-sical distinctions among the Mongolian race, Is brought before the robed chancellor, chan-cellor, whereupon the chatter emanates from the hundred or more in attendance attend-ance and continues until the decree is finally issued. Tho trembling candidate is then pinned to a sort of stock wall that is constructed of a sponey wood and in which tho hideous blades that are presently to bu introduced take ready hold. As secure as if ho was in t he stocks or a vice, the shivering client is held erect, while the horrible feature of the dispensation begins. A half dozen swordsmen skilled in the art of hurling the knife are now summoned to the floor, aud the braviery of the candidate, can-didate, the gamut which bis nerves are capable of reaching is tested, The glittering blades are driven into the wall within an ace of the candidate's writhing and contorted features, and in this blood-curdling ordeal he is confined con-fined until the chancellor signals the swordsmen to retire. Another ordeal is to be introduced, and without allowing the horror-stricken wretch time to recoup his strength he is placed in a dark vault and pinned face down to a stretcher. The most hideous boots and gvrations follow in which all tbe guests play a cruel part. The candidate is gibed and subjected to every species of mockery. He has not flinched, bow-ever, bow-ever, and he comes forth a full Hedged member of the lodge entitled to all its rights and franchises. TheJ gong begins be-gins its noisy chauta again and another candidate is subjected to the same barbarous bar-barous pleasantries. It was at this juncture, however, that the presence of the eaves-droppers.who included several "beads of the departments" depart-ments" and a Times reporter, was de tected and a wild rush was made for the orltice into which they were peering. peer-ing. "l'ou are making too d n much noise here," cried the head of a department. depart-ment. "The neighbors are kicking." Recognizing an arm of the law in the officer who had spoken the Mongolians retreated and the glim having been doused everything was as quiet as a monastery. The eaves-droppers stole away in tbe darkness. |