Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-08
WHERE KISSING IS COMPULSORY
Odd Customs of English Villages
 Grateful Austrian Maidens.


 Hungerford in Berkshire. has an an- nual kissing day each April, when it celebrates its Hocktide festival. Then certain duly appointed officials hold court, collect the tithes and claim kiss from the woman of each house they have to visit during the cere- mony. The two fortunate officials thus appointed are known as ''tutty men," or tithe men, and usually there is no small competition for the honor among the eligibles of Hungerford. The custom is hundreds of years old, and neither husband nor wife. as q rule, objects to the advent of the tutty men, with the inevitable result
 Once every five years the good town of Newcastle on Tyne has heen in the habit of holding a festival known as "barge day" on which day the mayor and corporation go down to the river in a fine state barge to claim the rights of the town to cer- tain dues at an appointed spot. Then the procession returns up the river to a well known stone, where the mayor selects any woman he likes from the large crowd generally tLere and kisses her before the assembled company. and-let it be said softly before the good mayoress herself. His worship then gives the favored wo- man a sovereign as present, while the mayoress. to show that there Is no III feeling. adds a gift of her Owp. such as a satchel. purse or other ap. propriate article.
 Not only is it the duty of the mayor to do the kissing fin this fashion. but the appointed sheriff. not willing to be left out In the cold on such occa. sions. also duly carries out similar privilege. He chooses another lady. and after saluting her gravely-or otherwise-hc also hands to her a useful present. This curious cere- mony, which Is supposed 10 take place quinquennially. was last per formed. I believe. in the year 1901. But of course it always rests with the mayor for the time being whether it shall be performed. When the pretty Thames town of Maidenhead takes it Into its head to have q beating of the bounds" the steward appointed by large crowd of curious people. These help him, of think they do. when he has to climb over houses which stand ia his path. or to get through windows un' der which the bounds pass. Also when the party meets any man by chance during It's progress 1t proceeds gravely to "bump" that individuai but if the person met should he a | lady. she Is given the choice as tf whether she will be bumped" ol | kissed.
 Nor is our own country the cnly one with such compulsory hssiuf ceremonies. Halmagen. in Austria has an annual fair on St Theodore, day. at which every man present hat the right to claim one lady and t kiss her without her having any rirb 10 object This strange custom .s ths 1 outcome of a raid which was cnc' | made on the town by Turkish brie apds. who carried of all the uonler ss capffyes. But a band of Hief [ trayeiing in the district chsncsd ts meet the eaptors and forced them t' give up their victims who were ther kindly escorted to their bones and | friends. Tn grateful remembrance oi inc day the Insidtns of Halma-en sn uusIIy offer their lips mosiestIy snf freely to the strangers who frequent tb. town during the fair of St Iheo' tDre-