Item

The Old Bellman

Beacon
May 17/1906
The Passing of the Old Bellman

Beacon, April 24, 1890
It is curious with what tenacity we cling to the customs of the by gone ages.
To a stranger dropping into St. Andrews nothing awakens more interest than the quaint old custom, which has descended from our forefathers, of “belling” the town when an auction it to be held. For a couple of hours before the auction, the bellman travels the main thoroughfare with slow and measured tread, his feet keeping “time, time, in a sort Runic rhyme” to the jingling and jangling of the auction bell, which he swings in his hand. At every street corner he halts, and proclaims in as loud a voice as he can command the nature of the sale, terms, and names the auctioneer, concluding his harangue by the usual “God Save the Queen.” Tradition has it that one of the old bellmen of the town, was in the habit of extending his proclamation by uttering after the words “God Save the Queen,” “And Garret the tailor.” This was, no doubt, an ingenious advertising dodge, which both the bellman and the tailor found to their mutual advantage to perpetuate. The present knight of the bell, who has held his position for a number of ears, never fails to conclude his oration by holding out the expectation of great bargains. No matter what the nature of the sale is, “great bargains” may always be expected according to the bellman’s story.
[the town is still belled on auction days to some extent but the old bellman with his quaint proclamation has passed away for ever, leaving many fragrant memories behind.]