THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



151 



system, the six receiving the highest num- 

 ber of votes being the candidates. These 

 six names are then coupled in three pairs, 

 the arrangement being amicably made by 

 the candidates. 



A CHILD CHOOSES THE REGENTS 



The cortege then issues from the pal- 

 ace — the regents, in their medieval state 

 costumes, accompanied by attendants in 

 livery bearing torches. Up the steep 

 street to the near-by cathedral, the cor- 

 tege goes. At the door of the church the 

 regents are met by the archpriest, who 

 awaits them with holy water and blesses 

 them. 



The religious element of primitive times 

 in San Marino's government is evidenced 

 in all the modern ceremonies. The re- 

 gents take their posts of honor on the 

 canopied throne beside the high altar. 

 Guards, carabinieri, the entire cortege, 

 stand at attention in the long nave. The 

 archpriest offers a prayer to San Marino ; 

 then he reads the six names and puts the 

 three couplets in three little silver balls. 

 They are placed in a silver urn, shaken 

 about, and a child is called to draw out 

 one of them. The little one holds it up 

 before the breathless congregation. It 

 is then given to the regents, who open it 

 and read the names. They in turn go to 

 the high altar and give the paper to the 

 priest, who reads aloud the names of the 

 new heads of the government. Instantly, 

 the band sounds the national hymn and 

 the cortege with flaming torches winds its 

 way back to the palace. The newly 

 elected regents are officially notified with 

 medieval ceremony. 



THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY 



The inauguration is the big event of the 

 Republic, when the tradespeople, a num- 

 ber of whom are souvenir-sellers, look 

 forward to their chief profits from vis- 

 itors. The simplicity of life here is such 

 that 20 or 25 strangers are regarded as a 

 great invasion, and the whole community 

 is agog. 



The important occasion is announced 

 the night before by the ringing of the 

 fortress bell. On the morning of the in- 

 auguration a series of parades begins. 

 The noble guards, resplendent in be- 

 plumed hats and gold-braided uniforms, 



preceded by the band, first march to the 

 homes of the regents to escort them to 

 the palace in Via Giosue Carducci, where 

 they clothe themselves in the state gar- 

 ments. 



At ten the gorgeous procession moves 

 through the narrow streets to the govern- 

 ment palace. The regents having entered, 

 the populace, with all the cortege, stands 

 at attention for the moment when the 

 flag is unfurled from an upper balcony. 

 As the banner, blue and white, with the 

 coat of arms of the Republic — the three 

 plumed towers, encircled in a laurel and 

 oak wreath tied with a ribbon bearing 

 the motto "Libertas" — is raised, the band 

 strikes up the national hymn, a quaint, 

 unmartial air, founded on an ancient 

 theme of Guido Monaco. 



The spectacular moment which the 

 populace awaits is when the regents leave 

 the palace to attend mass in the church 

 where lie the relics of the Republic's 

 saintly founder. Following mass, at 

 which the regents assist in their official 

 posts beside the altar, the retiring regents 

 on the canopied throne, the new ones in 

 a simple pew, the cortege goes back to 

 the palace, where the inauguration cere- 

 mony takes place. 



An address by a former regent is al- 

 ways delivered. Then the new regents 

 take the oath of office and the old ones, 

 removing their insignia of power, place 

 them upon the future heads of govern- 

 ment, bestowing upon them the seals and 

 the keys of State. The ex-regents step 

 down from their seats of authority and 

 the new ones take their place. Then the 

 ceremony is over and the cortege accom- 

 panies the regents to their homes. 



The whole day, however, is one of 

 gaiety. The band serenades the regents, 

 who in turn receive the townspeople. 

 From all the hamlets of the Republic 

 people crowd to the capital. It is a con- 

 stantly changing picture of life which 

 seems far removed from the world of 

 today. 



The eete OE saint MARINO 



The spirit of primitive times, developed 

 into picturesque customs during the mid- 

 dle ages, casts its spell over the Republic 

 on its day of veneration and rejoicing, 

 September 3, the fete of Saint Marino. 



