The Twentieth Centmy 191 



On the next day when all is in readiness for the reception of Neptune and 

 Party, the navigator reports the ship is on the "line." Davy Jones appears and 

 reports to the Officer of the Deck that the Captain is to he informed that 

 Neptunus Rex and Party have been sighted ahead. The Flag of Neptune is 

 broken when Neptune and Comi appear on deck. The bugle call "attention" 

 is sounded; officers and crew fall in at quarters or where designated. The Royal 

 Party then proceeds slowly aft to meet Davy Jones. 



Neptune ( when he meets Davy Jones ) : Well, well, what a fine ship and what 

 a cargo of landlubbers. 



Officer of the Deck salutes and reports with much dignity that the Captain 

 awaits the Royal Party. Party proceeds. 

 Captain: A sailor's welcome to you, Neptimus Rex; it is a great pleasure to 



have you with us. 

 Neptime: The pleasiKe is mine (a short speech). Allow me to present Royal 

 Navigator Shellback who will reheve you. I am glad to be with you again. 

 Captain, and have prepared for a busy day in order to make your land- 

 lubbers fit subjects of my great sea domain. 

 Captain: May I invite your attention to the fact that I have several young 

 officers and members of the crew aboard who have not been in the Service 

 long enough to have had an opportunity to visit your domain and become 

 shellbacks. I beg you to be as lenient with them as possible. 

 Neptime: Ah! Captain, I wül be as severe as I can — as severe as I can. 



Captain then introduces officers who have crossed the line before. These 

 officers converse with the immediate personal staff of Neptune for a minute 

 or so. 



Captain: Neptime, I turn over my command to you for such time as you wish. 

 Neptime: Very well. Captain, thank you. Turning to Royal Navigator. Royal 

 Navigator proceed to the bridge and direct the ship on the course assigned. 

 Royal Party is then escorted to the throne. They ascend. Initiation com- 

 mences with officers first. 



Dramatis Personae. — Amphitrite, Neptune, Royal Baby, Davy Jones, 

 Royal Chaplain, Royal Navigator, Neptune's Officer of the Day, Judges, 

 Attorneys, Barbers, Doctors, Bears, Pohce.^ 



Note, — The writer is indebted to Lieutenant Commander T. R. Cooley, U. S. 

 Navy, for an opportunity to examine the original manusript of dialogue 

 and ceremony used aboard the U.S.S. Sacramento and U.S.S. Pruitt when 

 those ships "crossed the line." Much fun may be derived from charges and 

 specifications that deal with the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of the "vic- 

 tims" of the initiation. The Sacramento received advance dispatches and 

 letters from Neptune much to the discomfiture of landlubbers. 



1 The U.S.S. Henderson and Chaumont, which make frequent cruises across the Pacific, have 

 instituted the ritual of initiation into the Realm of the Golden Dragon, when ships cross the inter- 

 national date hne on saiHng to the westward. The neophytes, both officers and men, are sub- 

 poenaed and appear before the Court of the Grand Dragon for sentence and initiation. 



