The Washington times., 1907-02-17

may be that in the middle ages. FOR
the custom has been continued for
centuries. pondcrosity was considered
a qualification for office holding. AS
the ceremony only IS performed pub
licly at both the beginning and end OF
the mayors term Of office and the
figures are carefully recorded. the pur-
pose may be 10 ascertain whether the
magistrate has grown fiat IN public
ofice-anyhOw The custom would show
some Interesting figures n carried out
i'm American cities.
The origin OF municipal graft may
perhaps be traced back 90 the middle
ages I'm the Irish town OF Limerick.
where for centuries past the mayor
has got his coal free. He has. IN fact.
the strange privilege Of lcvyinE a toll
OF quarter of ton Of coal on every
cargo brought into the city. and as
five or Sx hundred coaI-Iaden ships
enter the port every year. he gets
plenty OF fuel. the greater portion OF
which he IS said to give to the Door.
The coal dealers Of Limerick have
made repeated attempts 10 down his
custom Of Legitimate graft through
the courts. but the judge has insisted
that tradition must not be sacrificed
10 justice.
The lord mayor Of Cork annually
claims harbor Jurisdiction by throw
Ing dart Escorted by all the CITY
officials and invited guests. he steams
in launch 10 a certain spot IN the
bay and from the bow OF the boat he
throws a dart as far seaward as ms
sible. This point defines the bounda-
ries belonging to the city so far as
claiming proper duties and harbor
rights is concerned. AS It is natu-
rally to Cork's advantage that
the dart should go as far as nos
slble, the respective mayors do con-
siderable practicing before election.
each trying to outdo his predecessor.
In Chard, Somersetshire. the mrcf.
cipal council nOminates church officers
The mayor must attend IN state the
services at the parish church on Eas-
ter Sunday. During the worship n
loud knock at the doors Interrupts the
service and a verger invites the knock
ers TO enter The chief OF police. arniLd
with strange sort Of immense mace
marches up the' aisle TO the mfuister
ana presents document containing
the nominations. These arc of7cio1Iy-
read and the worship continues.
Ihe mayor or Cardiff IN Wales he
ne married or single, must annually de-
liver n little sermon on ;he privileges
ana 0utlcS Of marriage. This Is done
when ne hands over 10 the most yIr-
tuOus servant girl of the city n dov-rv
OF $50 at the time of her marriage.
ms dowry was provided for by the
late Marquis Of Butte for the purDOsp
OF enabling deserving couples to rtar-
~ and it is always presented publicly.
me mayor n Ripon is favored with
nightly sereuade. An official known
as tne 'Nakeman.' drives about ti!c
town every night at an appointed hour
IN special conveyance lie is dressed
IN uniform with Il threc-cOrnered nat
and has thrown over his shoulders
norm said to be 800 years old. At the
mayors residence the official horn
blower gives three vigorous fourteenth
century blasts This ceremony is an
parently the outcome of the old days
OF cuTfew bells.
once I'm five years at St. Ives. m
Cornwall, the mayor mUsS do a pub
lie dance. A certain John KniU left z
large bequest to the town ages ago
upon condition that tha vicar and
mayor Of the town should dance once
in five years around q monument
erected 70 him just outside ST. Ives.
A procession is formed Of young girls
In white dresses and widows in blacE.
and they escort the performers 20 tht
scene. The spectacle naturally at
tracts admiring crowds from all parts
u NOi n WdL4, u ne ldtNC lJdnlb IN TINS
vaudeville show are well paid out of
ths KniH bequest after ;Eeir stunt"
Is Oone.
At PeterbOro one OF the mayor's
duties IS prOClaiming the bridge fair.
He leads a gorgeous procession Of cftf-
zen5 through the town TO the meadows
by The Meme, where the Fair Is held.
Many stops on the way are made and
the town clerk reads alouad- the cordi-
tione under which the fair shall he
held. A visit TO the cathedral Is made
and a final proclamation is delivered
hv the mayor allowing the fair to be
held. A sausage supper" winds up
the gala day.