Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-12-12
A STATELY CEREMONY.
How the Doors OF the Famous London
STOwer', Are Locked.


''TOwer' Are Locked.
Exce of ceremony was tie old ex'
pedient for making power venerable
In these mole practical days it oftenei
makes power ridiculous. A good deal Of
form and etiquette, however, are doubt
less necessary in official places; at all
events there is likely TO be good deal
espec tally under Imperial governments
and the poor fellows who hold the
places, and whose duties are chiefly
traditional, must do something to ear
their salary. 1t is no very great affair
for smart man or boy to lock the doors
of a building. but the Government OF
England makes a very solemn and de-
liberate job of it. Large bodies move
slowly.
Few persons are aware OF the strictness
with which the Tower of London is
guarded from foes without and treachery
within. The ceremony of shutting it up
every night continues to be as solemn
and as Iigidly precautionary as if the
French invasion were actually afoot.
Immediately after tattoo" all strangers
are expelled, and the gates once closed,
nothing short of such imperative nee
essity as fire or sudden illEess can pro-
cure their being reopeped till the
appointed hour The next morning. The
ceremony of locking up is very ancien.,
curious and stately. A few minutes
before the clock strikes the hour of
eleven-on tuesdays and Fridays twelve
the head warden (yeoman porter,
clothed in a long red cloak, bearing in
his hand a huge bunch of keys, and
attended by brother warden carrying
a gigantic lantern, appeers in the front
of the main quad house ard calls cut
in loud voice:
"Escoit keysp
At these words the Sergeant of the
Guard with FIVE or six men, turns out,
and follows him to tire ''Spur," al outer
cate, each sentry challenging, as they
pass the POST:
-"Who goes there?"
Keys"
The gates being carefully locked and
barred the arden wearing as solemn
on aspect and makirg as much neise as
possible the procession returns. the
sentries exacting the same explanation
and receiving the same answer as before.
Arrived once more in front Of the main
guard house, the sentry there gives a
loud stamp with bis foot, end the follow
ing conversation takes place between
him and the approaching party:
who goes there??"
KEYS
"Whose keys"
Queen Victoria's keys"
Advance, Queen Victoria's Keys, and
all's WE'LL"
The yeoman porter then exclaims:
God bless @ ieon Victorialp
The main guard devoutly respond:
"Amep u
The officer on duty gives the word:
Present srmsp
The fir locks faitls; Tie officer kisses
the hilt of his sword; the escort fall in
among their companions, and the yeo-
man porter marches majestically across
the parade slone. TO depSsit the keys in
tie L'eutenants lodgings. The ceIe-
nory ever. not only is all eeress totally
precluded, but even within the walls no
one can stir without being furnished
with the ceuntersiRp; and any one who.
unhappily GOrgetfdl, ventures from his
quarters unprovided with his ialisman,
is sure TO be made the prey # the first
sentinel whose post he crosses. All of
which is pleasantly absurd, and reminds
us or the stately manner in which the
crown was carried about vixen the White
Tower was on fire. Youths Companion.