Horne (CG 30) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 78 text:

IN SEARCH OF A QUEEN The selection of a queen worthy of King Neptune is a very serious task. She must possess great beauty, talent and charm. The men of HORNE offered the fairest of maidens . . . only one of which would be honored to sit beside His Majesty during the ceremonies. Sultry blondes competed with vivacious red heads in dances that would make Salome blush. A lush Caribbean beauty with ripe fruit piled on her head performed magic feats and sang with the voice of a nightingale. At last a queen was found! “Miss Ho National City’s favorite would take the throne beside her king.

Page 80 text:

DAY OF JUDGEMENT THE DOMAIN OF KING NEPTUNE Between Hawaii and Tahiti lies the mysterious realm of King Neptune . . . the Equator. As HORNE fearfully approached her rendezvous with destiny, plans for the time honored ceremony and initiations began. The experienced Shellbacks, who had passed through these awesome waters on other ships in earlier days, prepared to instruct the inexperienced Pollywogs to respect King Neptune, his queen, the Royal Babies and his court. Related ceremonies date hack to Viking times, when those hearty sailors were reported to have carried out severe initiations when crossing certain parallels. Today the Equator ceremony, in which the pollywogs must endure doses of hardship and humiliation to prove themselves worthy seamen, are carried out religiously, not only by U.S. Navy and merchant ships, but by ships of other nations as well. It goes without saying that HORNE s pollywogs withstood the ordeal bravely and now stand tall with the Shellbacks of ancient days as brothers of the sea. 78