186 Crossing the Line 



1922, continued 



Spanish on board, who would have failed to understand the shaving, dipping 

 in the sea-bath, and otlier old customs of the solemn occasion. 



But the health of Father Neptune was drunk, and we celebrated the oc- 

 casion with some 1911 Vintage Melnotte champagne in a big electroplated 

 jug, and plenty of ice to cool it, in my cabin with some of our friends on board. 



(Frank Hedges Butler. Round the world. New York: Frederick A. Stokes 

 Company [1923?] p. 89.) 



In January 1955, J. B. Lippincott wrote that it had taken over the Stokes Company, had no 

 objection to quoting thus, but could not "grant a clear permission since our records do not 

 indicate that we have the authority to do so." Dihgent search followed but brought nothing 

 clearer. The quotation is therefore made with the earnest hope that no rights are now and thus 

 damaged. 



1923 



[1923, after September] The great day of crossing the Hne at last arrived, 

 and I was vastly reheved to know that King Neptune had absolved me from 

 going through the ordeal of making my obeisances to his court. My com- 

 panions explained that although they did not beUeve my protestations that I 

 had crossed the line before, tliey would nevertlieless give me the benefit of the 

 doubt and let me oflf the ceremony. To this magnanimous concession I, though 

 inwardly grateful, replied that if the court could not accept my word I would 

 insist on going through the bath. The doctor, who was to receive his initiation 

 this day, rather too enthusiastically seconded my proposal and things were 

 coming to a deadlock when Manager Andersen struck the very bright idea 

 of creating me oflBcial photographer to the royal court, an honor I immediately 

 accepted. I informed the doctor that I should have much pleasmre in photo- 

 graphing him in the throes of the bath and the clutches of the bears. He did 

 not see eye to eye with me on this matter, but I did my dutv. 



At the appointed hour the mournful drones of an accordion accompanied 

 by svmdry improvised instruments were heard, instruments whose only virtue 

 seemed to be that they kept a strange sort of time. 



From my vantage-point on the bridge I saw the strangest procession I ever 

 beheld pass along slowly and with comic dignity, below, to the throne of 

 King Neptune, preceded by his band. King Neptune, dressed with the pomp 

 that befitted his Royal Heaviness, took his post majestically, and was fol- 

 lowed by the royal physician, royal barber and assistants, royal bears, royal 

 pohce, and ninnerous royal smaller fry whose duties were probably known 

 onlv to themselves. 



The squad of pohce of the royal household searched difigently for skulkers 

 who might be hiding in the out-of-tlie-way corners of the ship, and when they 

 did catch one of these misguided deserters, the punishment was dire and 

 dreadful — an extra dose of the royal physician's medicine, according to the 

 victim's capacity to take it. 



