New Britain herald., 1924-06-11
SAN MARINO HOLDS
 QUAINT CEREMONY
Republics Inauguration Re
 Sarded as Most Unique

l Washington D. c. June 1l--Photo- 1 graphs are just reaching this country of the worlds quaintcst Inauguration ! the inycstiture Of the regents Of san
 Marino.
 The tiny republic, oldest state of Europe, has 3S square miles and 1S,- 900 people. 1t is governed by re- gents who change every six months. The National Geographic society quotes u communication from Alice Rohe describing their election and inauguration, as follows:
 "On. the 18th of September and the 18th Of March, at the hour of Ava Maria, the bells Of the government palace and the fortress announce the hour Of elccting the new regents. San Marine nocks 10 the Piazza della I.ibcrta. Within, the council is in session, the regents having been es- eortcd from their homes in pictures que cortege to the palace.
 "The ceremony Of choosing the new regents is an ancient one. First of all, hy extracting names, I2 nomina- tors are chosen. Each Of these must name a candidate, ono in whom he has full faith and also one who has not for three years held that office. The 12 names are then voted upon by the white and black ball system. the six receiving the highest number of votes being the candidates. These six rames are then coupled in three pairs. inc arrangement being amicably made by the candidates.
 The cortcEe then issues from thc palace--the regents. in their medieval state costumes. accompanied by at tandants in livery bearing torches. Up tbs steep street to the nearby catlie- dral the CorteEs goes. At the door Of the church the regents are met by the srrhpries', who awaits them with holy water and blesses them.
 "The regents take their post nf honor on the canopicd throne beside tho high altar Guards, carahinieri, Inc entire cortege. stand at attention tn the long nave. The archpricst off, fers prayer 10 San Marine. then he reads inc six names and puts the ihree roupiets in three little silver halls. They are placed in a silver urn. shaken about.' and child is called to draw out ono of them. The little one holde if up before tho breath1ass congregation. Ii IS then given to the regents. wFo open if and read the names. They in turn ge to inc high altar and give the paper to the priest. who reads aloud the names Of ths new heads of the government. Instantly. the band sounds the national hymn and the cortege with flaming torches winds it= vay hack to the palace. The newly efoated regents are officially uoiined with madiata1 ceremony.
 Turnty -Iixr strangers an Inission
 ''The iuauEnration is thr big event of the republic. when the tradespeo- Jtie a number of whom are souvenir saiirrs. Ibok forward to, their chief profits from visitors. The simplicity CT fife here is such that 2h or 25 sfrau@efs are regarded as a great i'm tasiou.
 'THr important oc-asion is au- H0urrrd thr night btrorc by the ring iHE of thn forirrss beIi. On the morning of the inauguration series of para1es begins. The noble guards. r"spl"n1eui in brpluIned hats and refd-bFaiIsd uniforms. preceded by inc IaHd. h-st rnars-h fa fhe hofncs nt th.. rs-eat= ts s-rort them fo The palace in Via Giosus Cafducci. where