The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-13
SEARCHING FoR GUY FAwKEs.
A Curious Ceremony Performed a

A Curious Ceremony Performed at
the Opening of Parliament.
london Ls'terto Neio Orleans Times Democrat.
This WIS on Tuesday, the day on which
parliament was to assemble But it was
much earlier in the day than the hour set
for that event. There was another funo-
tion. however, of even more curious utter
est, which I much desired to see. Perhaps
l should say thar desired to SEQ il there
was such thing, for 1 was incredulous
that for 800 years the search for GUY
Fawkes had been Kept up. But my incred-
ulty was rehuked.
Properly, the lord high chamberlain
should have conducted the searching party.
But other business kept him away, and so
his secretary, Col. Darlington, came in his
stead. With him came a party of the
Yeomen OF the Guard, In their quaint old
uniforms, and party, also, Of the Mar
shalmen, an equally old and picturesque
but less known body of troops. Two
abreast they marched down into the vaults
beneath the palace, each man armed with
sword and pistol, though their halberts
we're left behind. Left behind. too, we're
the lanterns they used to bear. The gas
lets IN every vault and passage make them
no longer necessary. But with the excep-
ton of the lanterns the search proceeded
exactly as it has done before the opening of
in weird procession through every corridor
and chamber in all the dim underworld of
the palace, peerlng into every corner,
opening every door, and making sure that
no-here is Their ca Guy Fawkes, with his
powder barrels, waiting to blow queen aud
commons skyhigh. The search completed,
they marched gravely back to the upper
air, and Col. Darlington autographed
We gods OF fitness to her majesty that ali
was well, and that she might in safety
visit the palace. He used the quaint old
words and phrases OF the seventeenth CEN
fury. But instead of writing them on
parchment and sealing them and sending
them by page or other messenger he tele-
graphed theml 1t seemei like Shakespeare
using typewriter.
Nevertheless, the ancient function wns
duly accomplished and soon after the houses
OF parliament met. After all that bother
the queen did not come, but, as she has
done these many years, sent a commission
OF gentlemen, high dignitaries, to represent
her. Usually, they say, it is a brilliant
spectacle. Rut yesterday it was somber,
dismal, oppressive. The five commission
ers, who appeared in the House of Lords
were Respondent in robes OF scarlet and
white aud there was six or seven bishops
of the Church of England, with their enor-
nous sleeves of white lawn Bft every
one else was III black, funeral black. THIS
death of the Duke of Clarence But the less
formal proceedings in the House Of Conn
mons were really Of most interest. As
early as IL o'clock members began to
struggle in and at 2 O'Clock, when the
speaker entered, the great chamber was
crowded. There is no denying that it was
an impressive scene; much more impressive,
simply as a pageant, than the assem- bling
of the American congress. The great,
stately. gloomy gothic hall gives Que a
feeling akin to awe. 1t is very different
from the brigh., modern-looking halls at
Washington. Then there are no desks and
chairs, but simply great oaken Jews, like
those in a church, but running lengthwse
of the chamber. | will not say, however,
that for the occupants are any more dis
tinguished looking than the Washington
House Of Representatives. The custom of
sitting with hats on or off, as suits their
fancy, gives them an unsettled and half
rowdyish appearances.
The real session did not begin until
o'clock, the meeting at o'clock being de-
voted to shaking hands and going over to
the House of Lords to hear the queens
speech read. This all lasted but twenty
minutes and then a recess was taken until T.