The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-30
ouATNT cusToMs.
Many Stnl Prevails IN England in In
auguratiug Mayors.

\ Some quaint customs are observed Ia
connection with tie induction into Of
Zee 81 she new orcupant 81 the maycral
chair The mayor Of Lincoln j. duly
elected by the placing upon his finger
~ an ancient wing, which his predeees'
sors have worn ior centuries. This
ring Possesses a curious power for
Z when the mayor sends Il TO amy school
within the city The schoolmnster is
bound 60 give his pupil holiday for
{ the day a similar custom prevails a.
Chichester an ancient tuquois ring be-
ing usel in this case TIE chief magis-
trate Of Chichester Il also armed with
god.mOunred maIacca cane. At
Aore. both the lord mayor and lady
ntayoress are equipped with q silver.
mounted oak slaves which have mark
ell their authority for centuries More.
ovet the lady mayufess enjoys the dis
tmcti0n 81 beng the only lady in the
lnnd provided with q chain Of oiilee by
the corporation. She : also entitled 70
retain the prefix LADY Tor the re-
malndef Of her life, There o local
rhyme which snys
The mayor Is lord Tor year
and a day.
But his wife Is q LADY for ever and
aye.
At Brightlingsea limb Of the Cinque
porst the ceremony attaching To the
election Of mayor has taken place IN
the parish church belfry from TINS i'm
memorial
The retiring mayor Of Bnurnemouth,
on investing his successor with the
civic regalia confirms him into Office
with an old time lowing kiss. A SIM
lar salutatiou awaits the incoming
mayor OF Hanisy.
A striking ceremony marks the eX-
l,irati0u Of the 6Tantnam Mayors ten
urp 81 Office The robe * stripped Cd
him. the chain ~ taken from about bis
heck. aud with a small wooden hammer
he town clerk taps the ex-mayoT on
the bead, IN token Of the demise Of bis
authority.
The Mayor az DFfnstabie has to sub
nit 70 somewhat trring ordeal I'm
niCdiately after his election. the chief
magistrate aldermen and councillors.
headed by brass hand proceed t. the
Rearest point Of The BOUNDARY waich
happens 10 be in the middle Of
ploughed field. Here huge crowd s1r-
rounds post Tho bellman ciaugs his
bell for order. the charter Of the Dor
cugh J. read and the MAYER Is taer
seized by staiWRrt arms, lifted and
bumped vigorously on the top Of tnc
post. This process Is repeated az every
point Of the boundary. 80 that when
The ceremony j. ccnrlnded the MAYOR
has every reason 70 Remember exactly
where tne borders 0f has jurisdiction
cea 49,.
Directly after electiag the new mayor
a; High y yconhe tne members II the
town council adjourn to thu borough q
bee Of weights and measures. where the
Eetv ucr1pant of the mayn-al chair. and
esch alderman and councillor Is public
Is weighed ami these records form 0ne
0f the trea srres stored u the municipal
archieves The Lord Mayor Of BirmlRg
ham IS required 70 poss befgre the pho-
tographeT immediately after his elee-
tiun. and 3 cgpy together with 3 few
Biographical details l. placed Ia ali a.
bun containing portraits Of all the
p,ntjemen WIN have occupied seats on
rha Council arG this finds q nlaes n
tas mHabaipal library.
A genera holiaar is observed al New
stie-lnsief Lyme OF Nny. o. when the
newly elseged mayor j. publicly pro
claIn1e3 frGm t1e f1m0as nlarke. rrass.
q custom whici has been followed since
thu frst mayor WAS elected far fhs 5aT
cuEh 759 years ago
The pscturesaUa ceremony Of eleetimC
tee nav Lord Afavof of Loudon taEea
place sonie wrecks befare Nov Q and
i- preesdea iyy & reliviose service 81 s.
Lawrence lewyv. fae parish church NJ
she ciesc chamber. THIS service has
been held continuously Tor more than
five hundred wears THE Inrd Naynr
sheriff ard aldermen ID their glitter
iHg eAain= of Office scarlet robes and
aacb ea1 wing a nosezE OF autumn
Flows ems, assemble at the CfuiidhaB ard
march To the church il procession
to the service tine process
sion returns to the Guiidhall. which u
strpwn with sweet herbs. where the
Lord Msvor aldermen and officers take /
,lleir places on the hastEnwe THE bus
mess Of she eleetien j. preaarsed hv the
1on1non cgfers proclamation that all
PERSONS be uncovered and Thar all
lhose VIM are MOI iiyervmeu shaH de-
zart The hall on pain Of imprisonment p
the name Of the alderman eligible Tor
election il then ptft to The rueering. and
gfgtr this has been re4aiyed with az.
clause various qsusttoas are put t0 the
-ewiv elected Lord Mayor a spirit 81
rood .natured banter permea1Ing the
whole proceedings AiaN Gazetge.