David McKee, looking like a Revolutionary-era Santa Claus in his well-made costume and graying beard, clanged his handbell yesterday afternoon and quickly got the attention of the crowd gathered before him: "Taxpayers of Maryland," bellowed the town crier of Brantford, Ontario, "beware."
He told the tale - in just a few artful stanzas - of a new contraption called the telephone invented in his hometown. He dismissed it as a "toy" the governor of Maryland wanted installed in his mansion in the late 19th century. "Support your town crier by saying nay to the governor's intention," McKee said. Not to worry, though. Despite the interest in this new contraption, McKee deadpanned, the telephone could never turn town criers into mere ceremonial figures.
Alas, that day did come. But yesterday, town criers from as far away as Washington state and Bermuda got their due once again as the city of Annapolis welcomed 24 of them for the North American Town Crier Championships.
Just as some people play golf and others attend Renaissance festivals in their spare time, this group has its own, somewhat eccentric, hobby: playing town crier and spreading the news the old-fashioned way.
"From days of old, they would read the announcements of the day, the births, deaths, the general news," said Fred Taylor - Squire Frederick to this crowd - the official town crier of Annapolis since 2006. "In Colonial times in Annapolis, the town crier was actually a drummer. He'd beat the drums to call the Assembly. If they didn't appear by the third drum beat, they were fined 100 pounds of tobacco."
Now, though, town criers are ceremonial figures, goodwill ambassadors of their cities who like to get together to show off their clever cries and try to earn bragging rights until the next get-together.
Yesterday's competition was part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the chartering of Annapolis in 1708.
"Me lords, me ladies, come gather round," Taylor cried, kicking off the contest. "I bid thee grand welcome on behalf of the town. Not a crier shall leave til a champion is crowned."
A cry traditionally begins with either "Hear Ye! Hear Ye!" or the more common "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" which Taylor said is the French equivalent.
Each crier participated in three rounds of cries - one about where they are from, one about the city of Annapolis and a "free cry" of their choosing. The cries could be no shorter than 100 words and no longer than 125. They would be judged on content, clarity, volume and deportment.
