The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1913-01-10
Queer English Election Cere.
monies Seldom Heard OF.
Water Is Drunk to the Memory Of
Sir Francis Drake-Perquisites Of
London's Mayor-one Sheriff
Fined SO Pounds for Insult.

London.-There are several towns
In the united kingdom which boast
en- annual show day. London's lord
mayors show. so far as the process
sion Is concerned, has no rival; but.
nevertheless, the election of mayors
of provincial towns is attended with
functions both interesting and curl
GUS.
For instance, the annual election Of
the mayor Of High Wycombe Is not
considered complete unless his wor.
ship Is weighed in" The mayor, as
well as each member OF the corpora
ton, takes a seat on a pair Of gigantic
scales, and the result is entered in a
big book kept at the town hall for
the purpose. 1t is declared that the
custom dates back to the reign of
Edward /.
When a Ia reaches the mayorship
or Plymouth he is supposed, accord
Ing to an ancient custom, to pay at
least one visit during his reign of
ot1ce to the Lake of Burrator. When
this function takes place the whole
corporation turns out in ali it's finery,
and, led by the mayor, journeys to the
lake.
Arriving there, two lines are formed.
and a couple Of ancient golden COB
ets, filed with water taken from the
lake, are passed round from mouth
TO mouth. The mayor and corpora
ton drink to the memory of Sir
Francis Drake. who, when mayor Of
Plymouth, brought water to the town
by means of a canal more than twenty
miles In length. When the water
placed in the goblets Is consumed the
vessels are filled with wine, and the
mayor, holding one at arms length,
exclaims: May the descendants OF him
who gave us water never want wine!"
The visit to Burrator lake concludes
with a feast, the first dish served be-
Ing a sucking pig.
The mayor of Peterborough's show
ia beld every October, and his worship
and the members of the corporation
make their way to Bridge Fair. and de.
clare 1t open from the bridge spanning
the river. The bridge unites two coun.
tios--Northamptonshire and Hunting.
donshire-and the mayor, after adtur.
Ing all visitors to the fair to conduct
themselves soberly and civilIy. goes
on to declare that the fair NAV he
held as well in Northamptonsbire as
In Huntingdonshire today, tomorrow
and the day nfterward."
A very ancient custom is the pre.
senting to London's mayor and NAV.
Dress every year a selection of pears
apples and grapes by the master Of
the Fruiterers' company and the gen.
eral purposes committee of the citv
OF London.
II Is interesting to know that in
earlier times the lord mayor of Lon.
don was entitled to a proportion of
every consignment OF fruit arriving
In the metropolis by ship. The az.
action Of this due caused a good deal
OF disagreement in days gone by. and
IL was hnally arranged that a yearly
presentation OF fruit should he az
cepted in its place.
Ever since the days Of William tho
Conqueror, the chief magistrate of the
clty a received four bucks from the
hoyal forests, while each sheriff has
received three bucks, and the recorder.
the common sergeant, the chamber.
ain n other city officials one each.
Since the title Of lord mayor was
bestowed on Sir Thomas Legge by
EDWARD Ill, In 1854. the high Office
has carried with 1t all manner Of titles
and dignities. In early days he some
used his power to the disadyan.
of those in office under him. For
instance, Harrison, referring to the
lord mayor for the year 1879. saws;
This year Thomas Byfield, one of the