Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-09
ODD ENGLISH CUSTOMS.
only ono Peer o, the Realm May
Keep n nodyRunrd.

OnIy ono Pecr OF 7thc Realm May
Keep nodyEunrd.
Every family of aincient lineage his
some custom which Is faithfully OBJ
served by eacl succeeding generation,
though It's origin may l,e lost in OBJ
security. Two Of the most remarkable
have been prevalent In the Duke of
Rutland's family since the middle ages.
Those who Visit BclvoIr castle may
be astonIshcd to see Waterman pac-
Ing the battlcmcnts throughout the
night with hnlberd over his shoulder.
Every hour he cnlls aloud the time aud
the condition of the wcnther, then con-
tinucs his patrol MS before until day
break.
This observance has been zcalously
carried out ever since the beginning OF
the seventeenth century, and ii is only
lately that the watclnncn have been
permitted to abandon the E.lizahrthan
costume they formerly wore.
The second custom for which thr
dukes family Is famous Is even more
curious. AT Oakham castle is perhaps
the most remarkable collection Of horse.
shoes cNiani. bccauSc the Earon de Fer
rars, who was responsible for the crcc.
ton of this palatial residence, made Il
Imperative for every titled person on
passing through the city for the first
time to leave Il horseshoe Mt the castle
gates.
AS the custom was in vogue in the
sixteenth century, when Queen Eliza
beth herself left horseshoe there. it Is
scarcely surprising that the collection
of these commodities which adorns the
castle walls runs into several thou.
sands
The tenure Of the Lee and Carnwath
estates depends on remarkable func.
Ton. Every year race has to be run
OH the village green, the winner being
rewarded with a red stocking. If no
competitors enter for the event the
member OF the fumily who owns the
cstntc must run the course himself, in
lieu of which he would be required to
forfeit the property
Only one peer is permitted to retain
MI armed bodygunrd. md that Is the
Duke OF Atholl AT Blair castle. Perth
shire. are two companies of rctalners.
tho regulation height fOr admission to
one being SIX feet one and half Inches
nnd to the other five feet ten anu three
quarters inches. and the periodical In
spcction of this little army Is always
memorable event
Although II is really Illegal for any
subject Of the realm titled or other
wise. To maintain an armed force not
III the service OF the government. lie
claim Of the Duke Of Atholl was rcco.-
nizcd by Queen Victoria in 1914, when
she presented set of colors TO his
bOdyguard
Very romantic Is the custom which
has been observed for ages by the mar
pulses Of Ailesbury on the occasion of
visit from any member of the royal
family to their fpmily scat ut Saver
make forest, The royal guest Is provid-
ed with mn Ivory drinking vessel for
use during the visit, which he is after
ward requested to take away as me
mento.
This custom Is said to have original
cd during visit from Henry VIII,
who always drank from an ivory COB
let, which he took with him wherever
lie went. TO save him this trouble,
therefore, the marquis there ana then
offered to provide him and his success
ors with one OH the occasion of my
subsequent visit. the estate being q
crown grant. Stray Stories.