Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-11-06

been known as the loYd mayors show. 1t
Is on this occasion that the lord mayor
drives, in all the glory of his gorgeous
robes, to present himself to the lord chief
justice that the representative of the throne
may notify him of his sovereign approval
This custom dates clear back to the time
of King John.
OF course royalty has never exercised the
privilege of questioning the fitness OF n
lord major elect, and there is not the
slightest doubt that when on the COM
ing lord mayors day Alderman Faudel
Phillips who has been chosen this year to
be the great civic dignitary, presents him
self to Lord Chief Justice Russell the lat
ter will compliment him highly in the
name of the queen.
AS the senior alderman of the 26 who
govern the city of London, Alderman Phil
lips was elected without opposition, and
in a few days will formally take the chair
This ceremony occurs at the Guildhall
that great temple of commerce and trade
which the 81 companies of London have
enriched for years. When the aldermen
are seated in their comfortable chairs, the
old lord mayor rises and resigns his seat
to his successor. Then comes the cham
berlain of the city, or town clerk, as he is
official robes, and in his hands he bears
jewelcd scepter, the common seal of the
city and the city purse, all ancient and
hcnored relics Bowling three times to the
new lord mayor, he presents HIM with the
three symbols of authority.
Next comes the crier, who, after making
three profound obeisances, presents the
mace, an imposing looking bauble and
rather an awkward one to handle. At this
point the aldermen and shcritfs come for
ward and congratulate their new chief,
after which he signs certain documents,
among them Il receipt for the city plate,
worth about $50, 600 at least. Last of all
he is presented with the KEYS of the stand
ards of weights and measures, which are
in his custody until his successor is elected
Then the meeting breaks up, and the old
lord mayor goes back TO his official resi-
dence for the last time.
Next day comes the procession from the
Guildhall to the courts of Westminster
This is where the new lord mayor has a
chance to gain popularity, for the ordinary
Londoner rarely thinks of this functionary
Oh any other day and judges him by the
kind of show he makes on his parade. In
former years this was gorgeous pageant
indeed and rivaled any circus procession
with which the late lamented Mr.. Bar
mum ever startled IA metropolis but within
the last century or 50 it has dwindlcd down
until it is rather tame sort of show.
The various trades or guilds appear with
banners and floats, some of which are
elaborate and artistic III construction. The
heads Of the guilds don their best robes and
ride in carriages, and the minor city Of
hcials also attend. But the chief figure
of the whole parade is the ancient lord
mayors coach itself n most antique Curl
ously carved and laviShly gilded vehicle
which was built in 1851. In this venerable
chariot, which weighs nearly four tons and
is drawn by six horses, sits the new lord
mayor and his predecessor, the former
wearing his fun regalia, including is
heavy gold chain, golden collar and civ C
jewels.
AS the brilliant procession winds in and
out the narrow streets the London crowd
looks on with mingled feelings of respect