New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-10
QUAINT MAYoRAL CUSTOMS.
Odd Ceremonies of Inauguration Observed in
Many English Cities.

Some quaint customs are observed in connection
with the Induction into Office of the new occupant
OF the mayoral chair in England The Mayor Of
Lincoln is duly elected by the placing upon his
finger OF an ancient ring, which his predecessors
have worn for centuries. This ring possesses a
curious power, for when the Mayor sends 1t TO
any school within the city the schoolmaster is
bound to give his pupils holiday for the day. \
similar custom prevails Chichester. ancient
turquoise ring being used in this case. The CHIEF
magistrate of Chichester is also armed with a gold
mounted malacca At York both the Lord
Mayor and Lady Mayoress are equipped with silver
mounted oak slaves, which have marked their au-
thority for centuries. Moreover the Lady Mayoress
enjoys the distinction OF being the only lady In the
land provided with chain of Office by the cor
poraton. She is also entitled to retain the prefix
Lady for the remainder of her life. There Is a
local rhyme which says:
The Mayor a lord year day
his wife a lady for and
At BrightIingsea, a limb of the Cirque Ports,
the ceremony attaching to the election OF Mayor
has taken place IN the parish church belfry from
time immemorial says The Pail Mall Gazette"
The retiring Mayor OF Bournemouth investing
his successor with the civic regalia. confirms him
into ONCE with oldtime loving kiss a similar
salutation awaits the incoming Mayor of Hanley.
A striking" ceremony marks the expiration OF
the Grantham Mayors tenure of office. The robe Is
stripped on him the chain is taken from about ms
clerk taps the ex-Mayor the head. in token OF
The Mayor Of Duns.able has TO submit to a
election the chief magistrates, aldermen and coun-
ciIors, headed by brass bard. proceed to the
nearest point of the boundary which happens To
be in the middle of a ploughed field. Here a huge
crowd surrounds post. The bellman clangS his
bell for order charter OF the borough is read.
ana the Mayor Is then seized by stalwart arms.
lifted and bumped vigorously on the top OF the
post This process is repeated at every point OF the
boundary SO that when the ceremony is concluded
the Mayor has every reason to remember exactly
where the borders OF his jurisdiction cease
Directly after electing the new Mayor at High
Wycombe. the members OF the Town Council ad-
iolIrn 10 the borough Office OF weights and meas
ures. where the new occupant Of the mayoral chair
and each Alderman and Councillor is publicly
weighed and these records form one Of the treas
ureS stored In the municipal archives, The Lord
Mayor of Birmingham is required TO pose before
the photographer Immediately after his election.
and a copy, together with a few biographical de-
tails. is placed in album containing portraits OF
all the gentlemen who have occupied seats on the
council. and this finds place in the municipal
library,
A general holiday is observed at Newcastle I'M
der-Lyme November 2, when the newly elected
Mayor is publicly proclaimed from the famous mar
ket cross custom which has been followed since
the FIRST Mayor elected for the borough s5S
years
Fhe picturesque ceremony OF electiug the new
Lord Mayor of London takes place some weeks be-
fore November 2, and Is preceded BY religious
service at ST. Lawrence Jewry. the parish church