Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1913 — ODD CIVIC SHOWS [ARTICLE]

ODD CIVIC SHOWS

Oueer English Election Ceremonies Seldom Heard Of.

Water Is Drunk to the Memory of Sir Francis Drake—Perquisites of London’s Mayor—One Sheriff Fined 50 Pounds for Insult.

London.—There are several towns in the united kingdom which boast an annual show day. London’s lord mayor’s show, so far as the procession is concerned, has no rival; but, nevertheless, the election of mayors of provincial towns is attended with functions both interesting and curious.

For instance, the annual election of the mayor of High Wycombe is not considered complete unless his worship is “weighed in.” The mayor, as well as each member of the corporation, 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. It is declared that the custom dates back to the reign of Edward 1. When a man reaches the mayorship of Plymouth he is supposed, according to an ancient custom, to pay, at least one visit during his reign of office to the Lake of Bu’rrator. When this function takes place the whole corporation turns out in all its finery, and, led by the mayor, journeys to the lake.

Arriving there, two lines are formed, and a couple of ancient golden goblets, filled with water taken from the lake, are passed round from mouth to mouth. The mayor and corporation drink to the memory of Sir Francis Drake, who, when mayor of Plymouth, brought water to the town by moans 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 arm’s| 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 being a sucking pig. The mayor of Peterborough’s show Is held every October, and his worship and the members of the corporation make their way to Bridge Fair, and declare it open from the bridge spanning the river. The bridge unites two counties —Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire —and the mayor, after adjuring all visitors to the fair to conduct themselves soberly and civilly, goes on to declare that “the fair may be held as well in Northamptonshire as in Huntingdonshire today, tomorrow and the day afterward.” A very ancient custom Is the presenting to London’s mayor and mayoress every year a selection of pears, apples and grapes by the master of the Fruiterers' company and the general purpeesn committee of the city of London.

It is interesting to know that in earlier times the lord mayor of London was entitled to a proportion of every consignment of fruit arriving In the metropolis by Bhip. The axaction of this due caused a good deal of disagreement in days gone by, and it was finally arranged that a yearly presentation of fruit should be accepted in its place. Ever since the days of William the Conqueror, the chief magistrate of the cit.' haj received four bucks from the Royal forests, while each sheriff has received three bucks, and the recorder, the common sergeant, the chamberlain and other city officials one each. Since the title of lord mayor was bestowed on Sir Thomas Legge by Edward 111., in 1354, the high office hah carried with it all manner of titles and dignities. In early days he sometimes used his power to the disadvantage of those lq office under him. For instance, Harrison, referring to the lord mayor for the year 1479, says: This year Thomas Byfield, one of the

sheriffs of London, was fined £SO by the court of alderman for affronting the lord mayor, which -arose from no other cause than his kneeling too near the mayor during prayers at St. Paul’s cathedral.”