Evening star., 1925-12-02
ANCIENT TRIBUTE
COLLECTION COSTLY
Duke Gets SO in Drive, But
Spends Much More to
Feed "Drivers."
Correspondence Of The star and New YORK
World

World
LONDON, November IA quaint
ceremony survival Of Norman con
quest times, and designed TO empha
size "manorial rights" dating back $50
years, was staged November 10 on
knightlow Hill, just off the main Lon
don Birmingham road, between Rugb.
and Coventry when His Grace the
Duke of Buccleugh collected 'wroth
silver.
His present Grace Of Buccleugh il 2
Scottish nobleman who might be ..
pected TO have but few rights ove,
plain midland Englishmen Even the
ducal Monta gu Douglas Scott famll,
can trace descent, for II comes from
q privilege given by William the Con
queror TO one of his knights. which he
passed through many families until il
came TO the Buccleushs a few cen.
turies ago
Imposition Slight.
Actually ii is not any great inipos
tion on the midland Englishmen WI"
have TO pay tribute. for the due
amount TO sums varying from to 10
cents United States currency arf
which are paid BY only % ancient pa
ishes. Payment Of dues is supposed -
recoup the Duke of Buccleugh for an.
expenses he may incur for road repair
and upkeep. but naturally the preseu
Duke Of Buccleugh IS far too wise ~
incur any liabilities for English road :.
when the recompense is so small
The 'Wroth silver" tribute In SUP
posed 10 he paid annually, hut th-
| Buccleughs have not troubled about
II regularly because they lose monsN
by collecting II. However. the Duke
Of Buccleugh. as holders Of the "urotF-
silver tribute rights. have certain
privileges in the use of neighborine
roads uhe duke has an estate at ker.
terins. nearby. and in order to en
force them they have to collect then
dues occasionally. otherwise. under
various moldy English laws. such priv
lleges would automatically lapse. Ard
no Englishman having historic rights
cares 70 reIinquish them
Accordingly, before sunrising -as
laid down by time honored custom
the Duke of Buccleughs steward
held court from a huge block Of
stone. around which the persons re
sponsible for payment ~ tribute gath
cred. In proper rote the representa-
tives of the various parishes were
called upon 10 render services ana
AZ they tmostly municipal officials tak-
ing much. desired Joy ride a1
vanced and rendered the amour.
charged against them the sreward
called out Good service which aC
quilted thom Of further la bility unrt
next time.
Collects But So
The total amount collected for the
ducal Golfers amounted to around 8
United States currency. UhereafleT
The party. numbering something more
than 100 adjourned to the village inn
for reakfa st-st the expense of his
grace he Duke Of Bucc1eugh who
could not have persuaded me mos
cenerous-minded caterer IN feed such
2 company for Ss Also the whoia
company had Ia drink the health of
his grace he Duke nf Buecleugh rs
generous drauEhts 4" ne. MIX an
rum rum costs = /. }..rtie +,
land. and NOR" than half Z dozen bot
Ties We're seen emp. #4 -a- 4a.l.
board.
M protests haze been reEstere3
against the continuance If his hozr-
eXaction from the public. - the
! Duke of Buccleush is still entitled
collect "wroth silver next YEAR
he feels he can afford the luxury