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

One OF the mayors OF Cornwall was
'1he mad mayor Of Gantick, who was
wise for a long day and then died Of
st."
II seems that the Cornish village of
Gantick was used once in every year
TO purge itself of evil To this end tho
villagers prepared q huge dragon OF
pasteboard and marched out with ii 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 10 him all questions Of conscience
and such cases Of notorious evil-living
as the law failed to provide for. Sum-
mary Justice waited on all his deci-
sions; anf 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 a 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
of its celebration there lived in a cot
tage widow woman and her only
son, demented man about 40 years
old. There was no harm in the poor
creature. who worked at the Lam
thorne slate quarries, six miles of. as
"hollibubber"-tha is to say, in
carting away the refuse slate. Every
morning he walked TO his work. num-
bling to himself as 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 II. 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
Undesirable 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 a 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, a
village wit called out and proposed
that they should take 'the Mounster"
(as he was called) along with them
for mayor.
IL hit the mob's humor and they
cheered. The mounster's mother,
standing In the doorway. went white
as II painted.
Man In the Jumps hateful ami
mal,n she said to herself hoarsely;
''come indoors. Jonathan. an let 'em
60 by"
Come an rule over u.s." 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 oloudless
sky. ''For Gods sake take your fun
eleewhere" she cried.
The women who were led to judg-
ment looked at her stupidly. 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. IAN
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 pom
Dragons Moor" the mounster de-
clded, with smiling eyes. Come
along, mother, an see me exalted"
The crowd bore him of at their
head, and the din broke out again.
The new mayor strutted among them
with lifted chin and q radiant face.
He thought II glorious. His mother
ran into the cottage. fetched a bottle.
and followed after the dusty trail OF
the procession. Once as they we're
passing a running stream she halted
and filled the bottle carefully. empty
ing II again and again until the film
outside .he glass was to her liking.
Then she followed and eame 10
Dragons Moor.
They sat the mayor on a mound
TOOK on his hat, placed a crown on his
head and broomstick in bis hand
and brought him the cases to try.
The trst was a gray mare, possessed
(they alleged) with devil. Her skin
hung like a sack on her bones
'sTis Ell Thoms' mare. What's to
be done 10 cure herPn they asked.
Let Eli Thoms buy a comb an
comb his mares tail while she eats her
feed. So Elill know II tits the devil !
or no that steals oats from his
They applauded his wisdom and
brought forward the woman who had
pleaded just now with his mother.
who made herP" be asked. having
listened 10 the charge.
God. It's to be supposed"
God makes no eyil.n
The devil. then"
Then whack the devll.r
Ihcy fell upon the pasteboard dragon !
nd Delabored him. The sun poured
own on the mayors throne. and his ]
lother. who sat by his right hand, {
at bis sense. gave him wa ,
q 70 drink from the bottle. They
rought third case--a boy who had d
zen caught torturlng COW. He had 9
ken . saw and trlod 10 saw on one OF Il
4 horns while she was tethered In Y
b stall, b
yA' mayor lsspsa ir0al his seat, q