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As I promised
to attend most of the founding and opening ceremonies of the
public buildings I provided in my native county, I had to economise
time carefully when pursuing what the West Briton called my
"Campaigns in Cornwall." For instance, when opening
the Redruth Free Library in May, 1895, Mr. W. D. Bain, one of
the speakers, said: "That was already the fourth time that
week that Mr. Edwards had performed stone-laying or opening
ceremonies in Cornwall. The first was the laying the memorial
stone of the Cottage Hospital at Liskeard; the following day
he did similar service for the Newlyn Art Gallery;13
the following day again he did ditto at Camborne; to-day he
opens the Redruth Free Library; and to-morrow he is appointed
to perform a similar function for the Truro Free Library."
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is a considerable difference in the way such things are done in Cornwall
and in London. In London the foundation or memorial stone is in formal
language declared to be ''well and truly laid." A few short speeches
are delivered, votes of thanks given, and all is over in about an
hour. First, on such occasions in Cornwall a general half-holiday
is conspicuously adopted and enjoyed by all. Then there is a well-organised
procession, in which all the town officials and representatives of
educational, friendly, and other societies take part; at the ceremony
itself several speeches are delivered. Then follows a banquet accompanied
by another copious stream of speeches; and, finally, there is sometimes
"a carnival", consisting, as it did in Redruth, of music,
fireworks, and a procession of allegorical representations. |
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