The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-10

the present title OF "the Right Honora-
bly, the Lord Mayer having been al
ready conferred by Edward III. in 1854
While this style remains 20 tie present
day, the special distinction OF the high
est civic iignisary OF the metropolis.
the honorary prefix OF Lord was con-
ceiei to the Mayors o. York in 1850. and
OF Dublin in loss. Belfast, Edinourg
("Lord Provos.'D. Glasgow. and Aoer-
deem followed later, and quite recently
QSsD Manchester and Liverpool Bui
only the Lord Mayor o: London. being
ex officio a member OF the Privy Coun-
ell. is addressed as Right Honorable
He is chosen by an5 from among MS
seIIlx-aliermen (-Irostly in Ocation).
mu.,. have served as sheriff. ana is re-
eligible 10 a second, tsougA not consecu-
tive term OF Office. TIE famous and
almost legendary Sir Richard Whiting
ton was Lord Mayor FOR the third Nne
In 1919
During his year o. Office the lord may
or resides in the Mansion House, and re-
ceiyes a stipend OF 10000: but he must
be prepared to spend another Ike sum
out OF his own pocket. The annuai
"snow" alone costs some 1000 POUNDS,
and the great installation banquet a. the
Guildhall about 5000 pounds. han o,
which sum is betrayed by the lord mayor
and a quarter each oy the two sherifis-
Notwithstanding these heavy charges.
the dignity is eagerly sought. For. WITH
bu. rare exceptions. the lord mayor Il
knighted. and when fortunate enough 10
,;. . A.,c
a full baronetage; though the recipients
OF these honors are rarely men or ais
tinction even as city merchants. The
lord mayor is usually successful trades
man or warehousenan; 50 that wnen
some ten years ago the candidate Tor the
dignity happened TO have received uni
versity education the circumstance was
particularly insisted upon. All the same
the office in the abstract Is highly nom
ored. and is made an instrument OF
much good IN undertakings Of national
or charitable character.
On the 9Th Of November. when he en-
ters upon his duties, the new lord mayor
proceeds in state to be sworn at West
minister, having previously been present.
ed 10 the lord chancellor. a custom
which originated in the first presen'a-
ton to the Baron OF the Exchequer IN
1851 The ceremony was al nrst unac-
companied by any show II was Gus
tonary for the lord mayor 10 journey be-
tween the two cities OF London and West
minsrer-separate as they then were. in
fac, as well as in nane-on foot along
the Strand. or in a boat by way OF the
river, without much reunue or display
In 1853. however, Sir John Norman made
his progress In a gorgeous state barge
and was accompanied by a great follow
ing thus instituting the annual pageant
known as the ''lord mayors show.
Though usually ridlculed and often de-
cried, the show still remains as one or
ne characteristic sights OF London. be-
ing kept up as a "time-honored custom
by a corporation jealous OF It's privileges
and traditions. and noted as much for its
hospitality as for its love OF finery, eclat
and ossentation.
Successive Lord Mayors vie with each
other IN the elaborate and almost theat-
real arrangements of their shows. and II
Illustrated descriptions of the yearly process
sion precede and follow IL in all kinds OF
count is the one preserved IN the Guild
han Library, small and almost unique
pamphlet of only four leaves. in which one
George Peele relates the Inauguration OF
Sir Woolstane Dixie on October g 1858.
The record for magnifcence. however. is
held by the pageant of Sir Thomas Middle
ton, in 1914 which is described as one ot
ur paraIlsIled splendor and artistic elabora-
t!on. Ten years later Sir John Leman. be-
ing a member OF the ,Fishmongers' Com
pany. introduced IN his show a lavish DIS
play OF sea trophies and marine accesso-
ries: while the procession OF 1895 Is memor-
able for the "chario; OF Justice" contrib
uted by the worshipful company OF gold
smlths. Apparently It was the frst OF It's
kind. was drawn by horses made 20 LOOK
like unicorns led by real negroes. and the
canopy under which the goddess sat was
eurmoupted by two angels-goddess and
angels being very much alive and very
Httle draped-;hough IN 1885 II had been de-
cided that the moro costly and extrava-
CANT psgean;s should b. discontinued The
conmeadable resolve does not appear 70
have been long observed. for soon efter
-nore famous shows are recorded, Including
that OF 1854 which was composed OF pro-
csssSon by water as well as cavalcade by
land. Hogarth. IN his series or The H.
dustrious and The Idle Apprsntics." gives
a view OF another procession passing bJ
the wes. end os Cheaps;de.
That crowded thoroughfare = regularly
blocked on such occasions, and the shop
keepers along whose frontage the process
s.on takes - route have anything bot
blessings for an institution which deprtvss
them OF days earnings. Priests also are
heard year after year against the absurd
ny and zTotesqueness OF the whole pro-
ceedings. AS matter Of fact, almost N.
entire pageant Is tswry and lJdicrous IN
the extreme. combining, as Il does. tho par
aphernalia OF travelling circus 20 the
properties OF a played-out Drury Lane pan
tomirne. Not only military bands. regular
cavalry. and regiments OF volunteers sc-
company the Lord Mayor through the
streets OF London. but men ri srrnor"
more or less out Of gear. negroes from b.
yond the sea" shivering in the November
fogs. real csmeis ard elephants. and even
Gagged lions and tigers, prece3e and follow
hi-n-no one can explain why. In IsZ7 the
wicker-wu-k models. fourteen feet hlxh.
OF the famous giants Cog and Msgog.
dressed in the fanctfui costumes &C :hs
originals IN the Guild Han. we're psrade6.
couple OF unfortunate supeTs beng
placed inside 20 work them along the roufs.
The following description of this rnsHqrs-
rads appeared n the Times On re FOL
loving cay: They were extremely vel
con;rive5. and appeared % al form more
sirnira;ion and applause than feE 20 TIE
share Of any OF TIE procession Whatever
soa1= fastl5ious critics nay say a. % taste
sul refinement N n. pTesest day. Ne fhink
TIE APPEARANCE of these axurrS zrgses vel