New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-24
THE LORD MAYORS SHOW.
A RELIC OF MEDIAEvAL LONDON AND A
PARABLE OF THE ANOMALIES OF
METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT.
London. November 8

London. November 9.
The banners and streamers of the Lord Mayors
Show bear many antique devices and symbols
but II one of them had revealed Emerson's strik-
ing sentence THE English-their god Is Prece-
dent" It would have explained the real sgnifi-
canoe OF a unique spectacle. The annual process
sion of the new Lord Mayor from the Guildhal
to the Royal Courts of Justice lacks dignity and
stateliness and resembles burlesque revel OF
carnival week. Apart from its historical asso-
Citations it is with all its tnsel splendors and
knights in mail shabby pageant grotesque
performance. IT is the dim light of tradition
streaming from a stored past that transhgures
the motley cavalcade. otherwise 1t would be as
unreal and ncongruous scene from alice in
Wonderland" or an artistic study based upon the
frontispiece of Punch" AS picturesque relic
of medieval London; 1t is one of the quantest
and most interesting spectacles TO be seen any
where In the modern world.
The motive of this annual pilgrimage was dis
closed in a single sentence from the Lord Chief
Justice when the Lord Mayor entered the Royal
Courts with the Sheriffs and officials OF the cor
poration. "In appearing in this court, he re-
marked. Your Lordship is but observing Gus
tom followed by your predecessors OF some eight
hundred years ago-a custom which has, per-
haps lost some. not ALL of its significance, for II
is stili right and fitting that you. the chief magis-
trate of this great community, the city of London.
should pay respect to the Queen in the person of
her judges sitting in her high court"
The time was wher the Lord Mayor went all
the way to Westminster with pomp and cere-
mony to be presented to the King the Lord High
Chancellor and the Barons Of the Exchequer.
The route has been shortened in the course OF
centuries. and the procession has been trans
iptn raQ a
spectators; but the custom has survived the vi
cissitudes of change and progress The Sover-
eign no longer awaits the coming of the LORD
Mayor in his chariot OF state, with the gorgeous
ly liveried coachmen and footmen but the
Queens assent to his election has to be given
by the Lord Chancellor as in the good old days,
and the Chief Magistrates first official act in
wolves recognition Of the supreme authority of
the Crown in the visit to the High Court, where
the Judges are respectfully invited to the BAN
Duet In the Guldhall. Potent indeed, is the
sway Of e-honored precedent in conservative
England.
THE ANCIENT TRADE GUILDS.
To-days procession marked in nearly every de-
tail the survival Of medieval customs and insti-
tutons 1t was headed, after the mounted police
and the Royal Artillery band by representatives
Of eight Of the worshipful companies or guilds.
First came the Makers Of Playing Cards, with
banners borne by horsemen representing the -FOUR
knaves In costumes shown upon the earliest
pack of cards which has been preserved. Then
followed the Coach Makers and Coach Harness
Makers. with their beadle and clerk on foot and
their master and wardens in a four-horse coach
Behind them, in characteristic antique uniforms,
were the Pattern Makers and the Farrers, with
their banners flying and their officials in four
horse coaches. Next came the Fruiterers, with a
car OF mysterious symbolism. in which the for
hidden tree and the serpent were conspicuous
objects The Barber Surgeons interposed few
feeble files of costumed men between the Fruit
erers and the Leather Sellers, who appeared in
stronger force. with canopied car illustrating
branches of the trade. conspicuous hgures being
a leather-shaver at his beam, finisher granting,
a shoemaker pegging at his last and harness
maker stitching at his saddle Behind this hid
eous car, with its crocodile heads and festoons
Of hides, marched the Broiderers with their an
Gent banners. arms and standards
These eight guilds were the companies with
which the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs were off,
cialy connected. and their presence in the pro-
cession, with their banners and antique TUNES
and trappings. personal tribute to the
three heroes Of the civic pageant. Historically
the representatives Of the famous old companies
belonged in this medieval exhibition, and their
power political and municipal agencies has
survived generations Of progressive government.
These guilds in English towns marked the irst
transition from feudal conditions TO local govern
ment administered by trade organizations. Else
where they have disappeared with their eXclu-
sve privileges and vested interest; but in Lon
don they remain as select societies Of gentlemen
with limited membership. but with substantial
resources of political power. Eight Of these
medieval companies were represented in the
procession: but eighty Of them in existence,
many Of them with great vested estates and his
toric halls. their aggregate annual income ex-
ceeding S. 900 900. AS they controlled the govern
ment Of the City of London in the Middle Ages,
SO also they direct it now, although their total
membership does not exceed 5000 They still APP
pear on state occasions in the costumes which
they wore centuries ago. and they are differed
as they were then; and these close corporations.
which have perpetuated themselves from genera
ton to generation. virtually elect the Lord Mayor
and manage the government of the inner city.
II Is this body Of liveried members of the trade
guilds meeting in the Court Of Common Hall that
designates two Aldermen who have been Sherffs
as candidates for Chief Magistrate, and one Of
these is elected by the Aldermanic Board. The
old-time system Of apprenticeship has gone. The
members no longer live in the City nor have any
practical connection with the trades represented
by the guilds The rich endowment funds are
mainly used for charitable purposes, for techni-
cal education or for the maintenance Of parks
The whole character OF the organizations has
been transformed. but their political power with
in the range OF what is technically known as the
City has survived the passage of reform acts
and the evolution Of complete system Of munich
pal government in England.
"REMINISCENCES OF OLD LONDON
Besides the representatives, of the worshipfu
companies there were many other details Of the
Lord Mayors Show, which were Of historical sig
niicance. The fire brgades, perhaps, not
suggestive of old-time municipal life, especially
as they appeared with steam engines and modern