The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-01-17
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
an annual show day. London's lord
mayors show, so far as the process
sion is concerned, has no rival; Dut'
nevertheless, the election or 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
we'll as each member of the corpora
ton, takes a seat on pair OF glgantlc
scales, and the result is entered IN
big book kept at the town hall for
the purpose. 1t is declared that the
custom dates back to the reign o.
Edward l.
When a man reaches the mayorshlp
Of Plymouth he is supposed. accord
ing to an ancient custom, to pay at
least one visit during his reign OF
office to the Lake of Burrator. When
! this function takes place the whole
corporation turns out in all its nnery
and. led by the mayor. journeys to the
| lake.
! Arriving there, two lines are formed
and a couple OF ancient golden COB
let's, filled with water taken from the
lake, are passed round from mouth
10 mouth. The mayor and corpora
ton drink to the memory OF Sill
Francis Drake. who, when mayor o
| Plymouth, brought water to the tow
by means of canal more than invent,
miles in length. When the water
placed in the goblets is consumed th'
! vessels are filled with wine, and tn
mayor. holding one at arms length
.xclaims: May the descendants Of hin
who gave us water never want wine.
The visit to Burrator lake conclude
with a feast, the first dish served be
Ing a sucking pig.
The mayor of Peterborough shoN
Is held every October, and his worshi
and the members of the corporatio
make their way to Bridge Fair. and d.
clare 1t open from the bridge spannin
the river. The bridge unites two couI
-Northamptcnshire and Hunting
donshire-and the mayor, after adju
ing all visitors to the fair to condut
themselves soberly and civilly. zoe
on to declare that the fair may
held as well in Northamptonshire q
In Huntingdonshire today. tomorro
and the day afterward."
A very ancient custom is the pr
4 senting to London's mayor and ma
DRESS every year selection of pear
apples and grapes by the master
the Fruiterers' company and the ge
eral purposes committee OF the eli
of London.
1t Is interesting to know that
!. | earlier times the lord mayor of Lo
4 don was entitled to a proportion
every consignment OF fruit arriviI
In the metropolis by ship. The a
action of this due caused good de
0 of disagreement in days gone by. al
it was finally arranged that a year
G presentation of srait should be q
: cepted il its place.
l. Ever since the days of William 4
Conqueror, the chief magistrate of 4
cit, has received four bucks from 4
Royal forests, while each sheriff h
r received three bucks. and the record'
the common sergeant, the chamb'
y lain and other city officials one eaC
d Since the title of lord mayor W
e bestowed on Sir Thomas Legge
= Edward III, In 1854. the high OH
has carried with 1t all manner of It'll
and dignities. In early days he SON
times used his power to the disadvs
o tage OF those in Office under him.
instance, Harrison, referring to I
r. lord mayor for the year 1479. say
Id "This year Thomas Byfield. one of