The Washington times., 1907-02-17
Queer Stunts" of British MAYORS

A MEXICAN college fratcrnitIes
" and other secret orders require
n Of their Initiates few more
curious or exactlng stunts"
than the citizens or many towns in the
British Isles stiH exact from success
ful candidates for the office OF mayor
The Englishman is known 10 stick 90
old ways about as tenaciously as the
Old Man OF the Sea stuck to Siuhad
the Sailor, but some OF the may0raI
inauguration ceremonies still observed
i'm the ancient towns may be described
In American slang as the limit"
Moreover, in places where these OLD
customs have been allowed 90 die a
natural death. an attempt is being
made to resurrect them. This IS the
result OF many noblemen ahd~men OF
wealth having defeated business men
IN the run for Office, the former hav-
ing more time and regard for the pres
ervation OF the ancient ceremonies.
many OF which date back to the Mid
die Ages
The strangest Of these ceremonies
and customs are now observed In the
so-calied Cinque ports. OF which Lord
Curzon was once lord warden and
where. at Walmar Castle, the late
Lady Curzon was taken with her seri-
Gus Illness.
The eldest OF the towns, a tributary
Of and belonging 10 the Cinque ports. is
Brightlingsea. a little place famous for
It's oysters, and for having furnished
shippers FOR several American cup
challengers, the last OF these having
been Captain Sycamore
Although Il has a town haH. Bright
lingsea's municipal election Is held In
the belfry or the parish church. on the
first Monday IN January. The church
bell summo1s the voters. and they
gather in procession at the church
yard gate. Headed by the deputy. for
such is she chief magistrate called.
and other officials with ancient names.
they proceed 10 the belfry. A ships
captain carries the deputys regaIla,
consisting Of a truncheOn and a hand
some chain formed Of gold models OF
oysters and silver models Of fish The
Keeper OF The records asks the free
men 20 elect a Deputy for the Clnuue
Ports Liberty" Several nominations
being made, the nominees have to re-
tire while the ballotlng is done. None
can refuse to accept any office to
which he IS elected on penalty Of con
fiscatiOn OF his property
At the recent election. W. r Wen
lock was elected by a majority Of one
vote He assumed the office after
tourneying 70 Sandwich, the ancient
royal town. where he was installed.
He then returned In full reEaIIa TO his
own city hall where he was proclaimed
deputy. A fish dinner, 90 which all
freemen OF any einque port were in
vited, wound up the day in a blaze of
glory.
Among the other ceremonies which
attend the election OF mayors in Eng
land is a queer one at Tiverton. a IA
nous old country town I'm Devonshire
There the "ducking' OF the mayor is
an invariable part of the program.
A stream Of water was presented to
the town by Isabella. Countess Of
Devon. some six centuries ago. An
nually since then. according to the
conditions Of the inheritance. the
towns chief magistrate and the high
bslin have been thrown bodily INTO
the water TO remind the officials and
citizens that the stream is a gift OF the
kind countess.
As may be imagined this method Of
Derpetuating The noble Iady's memory
is uneommonly effective. and. how
ever futile II may seem. Il cannot be
said 10 be as dry as some OF IN.
inauguration ceremonies the newer
towns put up with.
The mayors Of High Wyeombe In
Bucklnghamshire are literally weighed
IN 'he balance. and apparently never
louha wanting. This Is for some rea-
son unknown In High Wycombe. 1t