sed to him numerous questions. Some of these questions were
grave, and occasionally a faulty answer resulted in the candidate's
rejection. For the most part they were absurd to the last degree. If
the answers were satisfactory, the obligation to secrecy, already
administered, was exacted a second time. Then the Grand Cyclops
commanded:

"Place him before the royal altar and adorn his head with the regal
crown."

The "royal altar" was a large looking glass. The "regal crown" was a
huge hat bedecked with two enormous donkey ears. In this headgear the
candidate was placed before the mirror and directed to repeat the
couplet:

"O wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel's as ithers see us."

As the last word was falling from his lips, the Grand Turk removed the
bandage from his eyes, and before the candidate was his own ludicrous
image in the mirror. To increase the discomfiture and chagrin which
any man in such a situation would naturally feel, the removal of the
bandage was the signal to the Klan for indulgence in the most
uproarious and boisterous mirth. The Grand Cyclops relaxed the rigor
of his rule, and the decorum hitherto maintained disappeared, and the
"den" rang with shouts and peals of laughter; and worse than all, as
he looked about him, he saw that he was surrounded by men dressed in
hideous garb and masked, so that he could not recognize one of them.

The character of these initiatory proceedings explains why, from the
very first, secrecy was so much insisted on. A single "tale out of
school" would have spoiled the fun. For the same reason the Klan, in
its early history, was careful in regard to the character of the men
admitted. Rash and imprudent men--such as could not be confidently
relied upon to respect their obligation to secrecy--were excluded. Nor
were those admitted who were addicted to the use of intoxicants. Later
on in the history they were not so careful, but in the earlier period
of its existence the Klan was composed of men of good habits.[29]

In some instances, persons not regarded as eligible to membership, or
not desirable, were persistent even to annoyance in their efforts to
gain admission to the order. Such persistence was occasionally rebuked
in a manner more emphatic than tender.

One young man had a consuming desire to be a Ku Klux. The sole
objection, to him was his youth. When he presented himself to the
Lictor, the latter received him kindly, and led him blind