Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-11-26
THE MAD MAYOR.

Oue OF lne mayors OF OOTuWall was
'the mad mayor of Gantick, who was
wise for a long day and then died of
it."
1t seems that the Cornish village of
Gantick was used once in every year
to purge itself of evil. To this end tho
villagers prepared a huge dragon of
pasteboard and marched out with it to
a sandy common, since cut up by tin
works, but still known as Dragons
Moor Here they would choose one
of their number to be mayor, and sub
nit to him all questions of conscience
and such cases of notorious eyil-living
as the law failed to provide for Sum
mary justice waited on all his deci-
sions; and as the village wag was usu-
ally chosen for the post, you may guess
that the horse-play was rough at times.
When this was over and the public
conscience purified the company fell
on the pasteboard dragon with sticks
and whacked him into small pieces,
which they buried in small hollow
called Dragon Pit; and so returned
gladly to their homes to start on an
other twelve months of sin.
This feast of publication fell always
on the II of July; and In the heyday
of its celebration there lived in a cot
tage a widow woman and her only
son, dementcd man about 40 years
old. There was no harm in the poor
creature, who worked at the Ian
thorne slate quarries, six miles Off as
a "hollibubber' is to say, in
carting away the refuse slate. Every
morning he walked to his work, num-
bling to himself rs he went, and though
the children followed him at times,
hooting and flinging stones, they grew
tired at last, finding that he never re-
sented it. His mother-a tall, silent
woman, with an inscrutable face-had
supper ready for him when he return
ed, and often was forced to feed him,
while he unlocked his tongue and bab-
bled over the small adventures of the
day. He was not one of those gifted
idiots who hear voices in the wind aud
know the language of the wild birds
His talk was merely imbecile; and, for
the rest, he had large grey eyes, feat
ures of that regularity which we call
Greek, and stood six feet two in his
shoes.
One hot morning-it was July 12-
he was starting for his work, when an
indescribable hubbub sounded up the
road, and presently came by the whole
rabble of Gantick. with cow-horns and
instruments of percussion, and in their
midst the famous dragon-all green,
with fiery, painted eyes. and long
tongue of red flannel. Behind it the
prisoners were escorted--a pale woman
or two, with dazed. terrified eyes, an
old man suspected of egg-stealing,
COW addicted to trespass. and so on.
The mayor was not chosen yet. this
ceremony being deferred by rule till
the crowd reached Dragons Moor.
But drawing near the cottage door
and catching sight of the half-witted
man, with his foot on the threshold,
village wit called out and proposed
that they should take "the Mounster"
Gas he was called) along with them
for mayor.
1t hit the mob's humor and they
cheered. The mounster's mother,
standing in the doorway, went white
as if painted.
Man in the Jumps hateful ami
NAL" she said to herself hoarsely;
''come indoors, Jonathan, an let 'em
go by"
Come an rule over us the crowd
invited him, and a CLEAN of proud
delight woke in his silly face.
"The heat-his head won't stand it,"
The woman looked up at the cloudless
sky. For Gods sake take your fun
elsewherew she cried.
The women who were led to judg-
ment looked at her stupidity. They.
too, suffered. without understanding.
the heavy sport of men. AT last one
said:
"Old woman, let him come. Wen
have more mercy from a mazed man"
Sister you've been loose, they tell
me-" answered the old woman. ''an'
must eat the bitter fruit OF. Bot my
sons an innocent. Jonathan. they'll
look for you at the works"
There's prouder work for me 'pon
Dragons Moor" the mounster de-
cided, with smiling eyes. Come
along. mother, an see me exalted"
The crowd bore him of at their
head. aud the din broke out again.
The new mayor strutted among them
with lifted chin and a radiant face.
He thought it glorious. His mother
ran into the cottage, fetched a bottle
and followed after the dusty trail Of
the procession. Once as they were
passing a running stream she halted
and filled the bottle carefully. empty
ing it again and again until the film
outside the glass was to her liking.
Then she followed and came to
Dragons Moor.
They sat the mayor on a mound.
took off his hat, placed a crown on his
head and a broomstick in his hand,
and brought him the cases TO try.
The first was a gray mare, possessed
Qhey alleged) with a devil. Her skin
hung like a sack on her bones.
''Tis Eli Thoms' mare. What's 10
be done to cure her?" they asked.
Let Eli Thoms buy a comb an
comb his mares tail while she eats her
feed. So Eli'll know il tits the devil
or no that steals oats from his
manger."
They applauded his wisdom and
brought forward the woman who had
pleaded just now with his mother.
who made herPn he asked. having
listened to the charge.
God. It's to be supposed"
God makes no evil
The devil. then"
Then whack the devil"
They fell upon the pasteboard dragon
lnd belabOred him. The sun poured
iown on the mayors throne. and bis
mother, who sat BY his right hand.
wondering at his sense. gave him wa
er to drink from the bottle They
brought third casa boy who bad
'een caught tortnring a COW. He had
aiken a saw and iried 10 saw Of one Of
Ier horns while she was tethered in
ler STALL
The mayor leaped from his seat