The morning call., 1892-11-13
LORD MAYORS DAY.
Ancient Customs in Process
sions and Banqueting.
DINNER AT THE GUILDHALL.
Ptculiarities Of Election in the City-Extrava.
gancs Of a Rich Corporation-Guilds
and Their Feasts.
Written for THE MORNING CALL.

LORD Mayors day in London Is one OF the
great events of the year. The new Lord
Mayor enters upon the performance of his
duties and the occasion is marked by cere-
monies Of spectacular if not an august
character. and by feast, at which the great
Oh the land are expected to attend The
customs observed in the election of Lord
Mayor and In celebrating his advent to Of
nee are very ancient; perhaps not materi-
ally different from those of Elizabeth's time
or OF still earlier s0vereigns. But the pomp
and spiendor Of municipal display exceed in
these days the possibilities Of the olden
time. Alone among the corporations of
England London defes change and insists
upon retaining its own quaint methods.
All other municipal corporations were CON-
pletely altered IN character during this CEN
fury, but the blghting hand of change did
not touch the City. There will come a time,
however. when the City will have to make
a better use of its enormous wealth for tile
benefit OF the whole metropolis The reader
VIII understand that what is called the City
Oh London Is IN reality very small part Of
The capital. London as a whole covers l22
square miles. but the heart of London, gov
erned by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen
and Common Councilmen only extends over
an area OF about one square mile. Yet the
municipality of London exercises a GOOD
deal OF power outside what should be its
jurisdiction.
The City was formerly walled in. but very
few traces OF the walls remain, and even
the last gate at Temple Bar has disap-
peared. But, as If not TO part with this
gate entirely, monument with heraldic
peast marks the site. The City is divided
into wards and precincts, and for each of
the wards there is an Alderman and some-
times deputy Alderman. To describe the
method Of electlng the Lord Mayor and
other representatives would prove tedious,
but 1t may be said that all portions of the
population are represented in the elective
system and that all citizens have in their
turn duties thrust upon them. The livery
OF London choose the Lord Mayor ON the
29th OF September, and he is usually the
senior Alderman who has been Sheriff A
hveryman belongs to some one of the COM
panies or trade corporations of the city. Of
which there are about ninety. From 200 10
800 OF the freemen in each of these companies
are made liverymen, and it is understood
that each is worth not less than $1,000 and
he must be an employer and not a servant
or joarneymau. This select body of men
votes Tor Lord Mayor, Sberiffs, Cham ber-
lain. Bridgemaster and Auditor Of the city
accounts, and when the livery of the whole
city meets for business the assem- blage is
called Common Hall. TIE liveryman pays
for his admission generally about $40, and
1t a IL goes to a fund for providing dinners.
The city is proveTbial for dinners and gen.
orally they are as sumptuous a s London can
provide. The aldermanic turtle is always
in the soup tureen on these occasions.
Two Aldermen are named in Common
Hail for the Office of Mayor, and the Court
of Aldermen exercises the right of choice.
The Lord Mayor-eleet is presented TO the
Lord Chancellor, who gives the assent of
the Government TO his election. The present
Lord Mayor, Alderman Knill. is a Roman
Catholic, and the present Lord Chancellor
Lord Herscheli, probably has Jewish blood
IN his veins. 1t IS curious fact that the
LORD Chancellor alone among members of
the Cabinet cannot be Catholic, while the
Lord Mayor may belong to any sect. The
time may como when q Mohammedan mer-
chant may rise to the position of chief
magistrate of London. The Lord Mayor is
sworn in before the Court Of Aldermen on
the Sth of November. He Is invested with
golden collar and jewel. He also signs a
bond for $4,000 TO restore the plate and
jewels of his Office. The value Of the jewels
and plate is, however, considerably over
10000. On the following day. the 9th OF
November, the great procession and ban
quct at the Guildhall takes place. This is
Lord Mayors day.
business ON Lord Mayors day, but the holi-
day is not generally observed. There are
always, however, hundreds of thousands of
spectators who gaze at the procession of
gilded coaches and groomed officials wear
ing in sigma, as il the event was one of the
wonders of the year. The London mob
dearly enjoys a spectacle, whether it Is the
Queen opening Parliament or the Judges
opening the courts or the funeral of dis
tinguished man. Of late the procession has
been much shorn OF its dignity by the re.
moval CT the law courts from Westminster
to the Strand. Formerly it was the practice
after going the rounds of the City to pro-
coed to Westminster by water. The barges,
gorgeonsly decorated, must have been a fine
sight. with banners flying and bands of
music playing. Doubtless the barges are
still in existence. but they are no longer
used. The procession takes place along
crowded streets. aud, in addition to the car
riages of the city magnates, there are alw avs
number OF features more appropriate to a
circus than TO municipal government. Floats
OF various kinds are not unknown in these
professions, ana very often circuses ard
menageries provide animals for popular adj
mirati0n.
On Lord Mayors day the Lord Mayor
takes breakfast at the Guildhall with the
Court of Aldermen ard at night greatban-
Quet takes place in the same building aud
to 1t are invited her Majesty's Ministers, all
the Judges and hundreds of other distin-
guished people. The Lord Mayor enters
the courts. where the Superior Judges of
the land are attending to business, and is
ushered into the front bench, reserved for
Queens Counsel. Here he invites the
Judges to come to the dinner at the Guild
ball. This is done through the Recorder,
himself Judge with extensive jurisdiction
In the City. The Judges look on smilingly
at the antiquated ceremony and intimate
that some of their number will be present
Ii was the custom OF the Stati0ners' Com
paDy TO cross the river to Lambeth Palace
and present the Archbishop of Canterbury
with copies OF the eompany's almanacs;
probably this custom has fallen into desue-
tude. On the return to the City different
route Is selected so that the citizens of
other districts may enjoy the fun and frolic
OF the Lord Mayors show. A good deal OF
bunting is displayed across the streets. but
the principal attraction lies in the process
sion itself. On a rainy day the procession
is apt TO be dismal.
But whatever the state OF the weather
the inauguratiye dinner at the GuiIdhall is
always joyous. crowd musters outside
the great door, and the various arrivals of
members OF the Cabinet, foreign embassa.
doris. peers, members of Parliament, Blsh-
ops, celebrities In literature or science men
OF rank In finance and business, are cheered
by the piebs, sometimes vociferously and
heartily. The expenses of this banquet are
betrayed by the Lord Mayor and sheriffs
and by the city. What such banquet costs
can only be guessed at by the unintiated.
The wines are of the finest bouquet or
brand, and the dishes doubtless give the
cook as much care as IL he had the prepara-
ton of very delicate French menu. But
it is an odd circumstance that, with the ex-
ceptlOn of soup and fish and vegetables the
dishes are cold at this feast. The great hall
has not been fitted up with cooking range.
and probably it is part OF the antiquity low
ing policy of the City to adhere TO what has
been done rather than what may be done.
The Guiidhall banquets are not. however.
initiated at the banquets OF the City COM
panies. The Teasing which goes on at
these conyivial gatherings is as satisfactory
to the epicure as he could well desire.
At the Guiidhall banquet the toast of her
Majesty's Ministers, called out in sonorous
voice by @ POSTMASTER standing behind the
chair is frequently responded TO by the
Prime Minister. Parliament rarely is in
session in November, and the head of the
Cabinet seizes the occasion to deliver a
statement of policy. He talks to mixed
assembly divergent In opinion, but does not
haSifafp n indnlna a ~ a..