The Washington herald., 1909-11-21
MAYORS INSTALLED
IN QUAINT MANNER
Ancient Ceremonies Duly
Performed in England.
ONCE ATTENDED BY ROYALTY
Mr. Pepys, In His Diary, Tells of
Lord Mayors Banquet, at Which
There Was Plenty of Wine and Ten
Good Dishes to Mess-OFigIn OF
Custom Dates Back 10 Early Days.

London, Nov. 20-The lord mayors
banquet on the night Of November . was
TO entertain his majesy's ministers F"
In the days Of the Georges it was no I'M
common thing for royalty to attend the
banquet. but this is never the case nova
days. Ia 1874 the Prince Regent. after
ward George ", accompanied by the
Emperor OF Russia and the King Of Prus-
STA. was at the Guildhal feast and the
prince was SO pleased with the lavish
hospitality OF the new lord mayor that
he made him baronet on the spot The
price paid for the honor. one which al
ways has 70 be paid for. was not incon-
siderable, for the dinner cost $4,000.
Mr.. Pepys records I'm his diary that NJ
the table at which he sat at a lord
mayors banquet there We're ten good
dishes TO a mess. and plenty Of wine OF
all sorts: but we had no napkins no
change OF trenchers. and drank out Of
earthen pitchers or wooden dishes
Many Quaint Ceremonies.
The installation OF the years mayors,
which takes place throughout the whole
country on November 8. was in many
towns accompanied by some quaint cere-
mony or custom At Brightlingsea the
induction was performed In the parish
belfry. The retiring mayor OF Bourne
mouth. after placing the mayoral chain
round his successors neck. saluted him
with a kiss.
The new mayer OF Dunstable bea;
the boundaries. After his formal cleo
ton the members Of the corporation
formed a procession. and, headed by a
brass band. marched 10 the nearest poinl
Of the towns boundary. There is a post
to mark the spot. and after the bellman.
or town crier, has rung his ben for order
and the borough charter has been read
the new mayor Is lifted shoulder high
and seated more or less gently on the
peated at other points in the boundary
and when the tale OF posts is complete
the mayor should have no excuse Tor
ignorance as 20 where his jurisdiction
begins and ends.
Had to Keep Boundaries.
The origin OF this very old custom Of
beating the bounds IS simple enough. In
DAYS when maps were scarce and SUR
veys unknown tradition alone served ID
keep the town limits. and an annual
Recommendation OF the boundaries kept
their position clear In the minds Of the
townsmen. In some boroughs where the
custom still obtains the mayor PLAYS a
less active part and at certain points a
young boy Is ducked in a pond or river
or otherwise has &c physically impressed
upon his MIND and body that this IS 9
place ne must remember. BY thus inn
pressing a young boy it is hoped that for
one generation at least that particular
spot on the boundary will not be Tor
gotten.
At overwhelmingly the new
mayor, following a custom more than 7o
years old is publicly proclaimed at tht
market cross. The mayor OF Lincoln re-
ceives an ancient ring, which has beer
worn by his predecessors for centuries
Both the lord mayor and the lady mayor
ess OF York receive silver-headed oal
slaves and both have chains Of Office
At High Wycombe the new mayor anS
all the other members Of the council pro
coed after the election 20 the room in th'
town hall where the official weights anC
measures are kept. and there ell arr
solemnly weighed, the figures being KEEP
among the municipal records.