The New York herald., 1879-11-29
Figures and Fancies Of the LORD
Mayors Show.
GLAMOUR, GLITTER AND TINSEL.
LOndOn'S NOtabilities Pass the
UShers' Ordeal.
PICTURES AND PORTRAITS.

solid and stable, apparently, than that most gro
tesque and bizarre procession. Age cannot wither
nor custom stale it. although Ito continue the
Shakcspcarean quotationl perhaps that old. common
arbitrator Time will day end it, Anyhow this year
it nourishcd unimpared-nay. i'll unwonted vigor-
for we had no less than twenty knights in (tin)
armor. mounted upon as many war tcrcus) horses
and the noble company of shining warriors met
with no niishap. that the back armor Of OF
the steeds having become disarranged slipped over
the tail and caused the cavalier to behave in most
unkrightly fashion and the crowd to jeer most un-
sympatheticaly. In other respects the show
much the ever. Binners
bands. sailor boys. squadron Of cavalry,
fremen. watermen commonplace looking masters
of livery companies in seedy carriages gor-
geously embroidered footmen. and finally the great
fantastic. gided coach. with its six splendid horses
trapped III glittering harness, their names braided
with scarlet. Thus In semi-reSal, semi-theatrical
state does the year king OF the city the
streets on the 9th of November The feature of this
years show was. however. not SO much the Knights
in steel or the foresters IN green the iveries
Of the footmen the great attraction the ex-Lord
Mayor. who has rendered himself unpopular that,
his carriage passed the crowded streets. perfect
tempest Of Missing and yelling followed him. Cries of
'Zulul" aud doll painted to resemble in complex
ion one or King Cetywayo's scanty clad warriors
suggested to him the impropriety Of his recent alb
surd crusade against the corrupters of the morals
Of the rising generation. it being evidently
the opinion OF the crowd that the rising
generation could take of its own morals.
It must be admitted. however, that the ex-Lord
Mayor was equal to the OCCASION. He had announced
his intention of figuring in, the procession even if
he torn to pieces by the mob, and all through
out his any thing but triumphal progress he kept
smiling and bowing and waving pretty handker-
chief though he was the hero of an ova-
tion In this willy manner did he disarm
the malice Of the crowd and went to and from
Westminster outwardly rejoicing In the evening
he had his reward for his pluck. when his name
was announced at the reception which preceded the
banquet he received hearty round of cheering.
Altogether. as have said. the ex-Lord Mayor was
the feature of this show, and it is likely be
long remembered in the annals of the city Of Lon
don. The really great event, however, of Lord
Mayors Day is not the procession, but the
grand banquet to Her Majesty's Ministers
in the evening. which is always made
the occasion Of political speech from the Premier
in response to the toast with which his name is
coupled. The cable will long ago have given you
the text of Lord BeaconsAelds Grafton. there is
no need for quotation now. The sphinx was ex-
pected to say many and weishty things. but what
he did say was light the froth of
tho champagne i'll his glass. 1t was. as one
OF tho French papers says. very eloquent
silence At one moment he cheerfully
talking of the improvement in the chemical trade;
at the next, with lowered voice and impressive
manner. hc dwelt on the horrors Of tho Cabul mas
From the pleasantly of his badinagc on
old timo motto OF ancient Rome adopted by his own
Ministry. "The Empire and Liberty; and finally,
perorations RAISED the expectation Of his Brilliant
audience to fever heat. he simply turned
ITO tho Lord Mayor and said in effect;
Mayors very good health, and that he had but little
doubt that ON that very day a year hence he would
be congratulating him upon brilliant year OF Office.
1t was characteristic speech this extraordi.
nary man has ever uttered aud was fully as dissp-
pointing ~ far rs Information is concerned. as he
This great annual civic banquet is, take it
altogether. the most curious and amusing sight
which be in this country. and parallel to
1t cannot be found anywhere. 1t is strange tumble
of stateiness and farce. OF pageantry and mummery
and instructive. The guests hidden at six clock
and at about that time the carriages begin to roll
along the route knots of people gather merely to
the carriages OF the swelis flash through the murky
of King street. which leads up to the GulldhaI and
which Is shut of from Cheapside by stray bar
riers. there is dense crowd eager and swift to
display of tho ticket the gates thrown
open to admit them. In spendidly APP
pointed carriages, with portly coachmen and
hammer cloths III neat unobtrusive broughams in
civlc State carriages in hansom cabs and flour
wheelcrs" and tho cheap "Shanks' mare"
tho fortunate holders OF the red and white cards
pour through the street until ut last no less than
on tss sancsnt hs aoI library Of ths
Guilds of the city of London. Almost half tho
street is occupied by, temporary building OF
wood. we'll lighted and prettily decorated. which
forms vast vcstibule. Thence. passing between
double lines Of volunteer soldiery. who stand with
arms ordercd--ready to come to the present when
any illustrious person passes along you enter the
splenuid. lofty library. which is scarcely second
the great hall itself. Now IL you desirous of
having your shouted in stentorian tones three
times. II you willing to walk up q lane
OF the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor and
how to the Lady Mayoress; Il you wish to
with very litto elbow room. OF bearers
OF historic names and well known faces
II you want to do all this go straight and keep
stin upper lip. But IL your innate modesty or the
consciousness that. deserving you are, fame has
not yet made your name household word. prevents
your Drawing the terrors OF running tho gantlet,
turn sharp to tho right or left and get lost you
viii speedily be in the standing crowd behind the
six or eight ushers with silver tipped wands
keep tho passage clear II you execute this simple
man9uvre in u bold but firm you shall
presently see passing you in review. close that
you can touch them, some of the greatest people
tho land. Even II you do not know them sy sight
and what they are. Thus:--Amdst the hum
and buzz OF the conversation there will break
quick. sharp sound and hoarse pcremptory com.
nand. it is the guard of honor presenting arms; IN
another moment you hear the words Lord and
Lady Chelmsford" passed along the line of ushers,
aud the hero of Zululand. in full uniform. with
his VITO ON hs arm. comes along the lane the crowd
batter the hoor with the butt ends of
tncr staves. slowly and with gratifed
9or Ds pss na Aain ars rs' written
In every line that taco and every movement Of
the TAI " sss ss sS wss an % , rsps
lane until Tho hna roar Of the official at the far end
Of the hall tins .incident" comes to an end. Tne