Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-21
AT GUILDHALL.
The Banques 10 Her msjessyss HaIn-
tsgerss


London Dispatch to Nese York Her,.ld
The banquet to Her Maiesty's Minis.
tiers, as it is officially called fevervbodv
who is asked to it always SAYS, '4'm
going to dine With Her Maiestys Minis
tiers, tonight" although they may be as
far removed from speaking to those
august personages as if the banquet were
held at Delmonico's), was a sumptuous
affair. The Lord Mayor, Sir JohI. Whit.
taker Ellis, having been created Baro.
net for conspicuous merit. does things
on grand scale. Besides his salary of
10000 he spends another ten dur
ing his one years term of
office. He is the most princelv
Lord Mayor that London has had for
years. To see him and the Sheriffs ar
rive in carriages that seem made all of
gold, with f1unkeys behind and in front.
whose golden blazonry and livery fairly
makes ones eyes ache, was q sight
in itself, and attracted a large crowd.
The POSTMASTER, who was selected for
the office on account of tremendous
bass voice (his father, people say, who
occupied the same position, had a still
more extraordinary one), called out the
names of the guests as they entered the
reception hall, where the Lord Mayor. in
gorgeous robes, and the Lady Mayoress
stood to shake hands with everybody.
1t was amusing to notice the difference
OF peoples manner as he did so.
Here was a noble sprig of a young
Marquis with wife who seemed over
weighted with his marquisate, as he
stepped up with coldly measured mien
and extended rather stiff hand. Then
came an old jolly distinguished
General, who fairly bounced forward as
he eagerly rushed to take the Lady
Mayoress' and the Lord Mayors hands.
Immediately afterward followed we'll
known English journalist whose hair
was so shiny from a liberal application
of some glossy pomatum as to make even
his rubicund face look less refulgent for
the time being. OF the journalistic
world, by the way, Mr.. Labouchere, who
is always invited, was absent, but Mr.
Chenery, of the Times G. A Sala, of
the 16legrG PHI, Mr.. Edmund Yates and
his associate, Mr.. T. S. Escott, and your
humble servant were there.
When Mrs. Gladstone was announced
and tripped gaYly forward (she has a
very exuberant and youthful manner)
there was some applause, which increas-
ed when Mr.. Gladstone appeared behind
her, but | am told that it was very faint
compared with the enthusiastic ovation
which greeted Lord Beaconsfield on his
last similar appearance, indeed, it was
very conservative gathering, for the
Lord Mayor and the greet city folks are
nearly all strong Conservatives. When the
Lord Mayor, who delivered the toasts and
speeches with much aplomb and in
effective style, said, in toasting the
House of Lords, that it was an instltu-
ton that every Englishman in the land
must be proud of, there was enthusiastic
| cheering. All illusions to the govern
ment were received with but stinted an.
| plause except complimentary refer
ence to Mr.. Gladstone's career, when
the cheers were purely personal to
him. Many of the most distinguished
men in London sat down to dinner.
Muic was represented by Sir Julius
Benedict, dramatic art by Mr.. Bran
Stoker, who came as the representative
| of MI. Irving, and who will accompany
him on the trip to America; American
| inventive genius by Professor Graham
Bell; surgical science by Sir James
Paget; and some of those wonderful self.
made men of England who, through
sheer pure enterprise and genius, out
rank most of the lords in power and
prestige, like Mr.. John Fender, NJ. p,
who controls nearly all the cables of the
world, and goes to America next Satur-
day by the Scythia. and Sir Edward
| Watkin, NJ. P, the famous channel tun-
mel man, and others, added zest and
variety to the distinguished assemblage
| of first-rate swells.
l sat opposite Prof. Fawcett, the blind
Postmaster General, who was placed at
one of the side tables, though a member
of the Cabinet, while some small fry
lords were, according to time-honored
English precedent, given a place ON the
raised dais of honor. 1t was touching
to see him with his girlish wife, and to
note her tender devotion, helping every
movement of his hands, particularly
when he tremblingly held the huge low
ing cup which was handed round. Every
gentleman as he takes it bows to the
lady next HIM. She takes off
the lid and holds it while he
drinks. After having quaffed he
wipes the edge where his lips rested,
bows, and gives the cup to the lady,
holding the lid for her while she drinks,
and so the cup passes round. Mr.. Glad
stone drank most gracefully to the Lady
Mayoress, while the Lord Mayor ac-
quilted himself with gallant and polished
ease toward Mrs Gladstone. But it is
an awkward custom and should be
dropped. Many people forget to wipe
the rim of the cup; others mutter rather
loudly when they see this "What a
beast !" and some highly decollette la
dies look exceedingly bare when they
stoop low over the cup. The dinner
was superb. The speeches were fair,
though Mr.. Gladstone was very non-com.
initial. The Lord Mayor was generally
voted most delightful host.