The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-17

gates been locked with the same ques-
ton and answer from sentry and pa
troll for so many consecutive nights.
No place in the world is more care
fully guarded than the Tower of Lon
don, and since the date of the dynamite
explosion these precautions have been
doubly strict. So none of the visitors
J ever see the quaint old ceremony
known as THE Queens Keys
! During the day the large gates at the
two entrance towers are kept open.
These are the gates of the first en-
trance, known as the Middle Tower,
and those of the second entrance, cali
ed the Byward Tower. Just within the
gates of this building is the Warders'
hall, and here the warder on duty for
the night remains to open the wicket
for those who are allowed to remain out
| and enter the tower after ~ O'Clock
at night. But those who do enter the
gates at this time must have the coun-
tersign, which is generally the name of
well-known town in the United King
dom.
The old gates, which still exist be-
meath the Bloody tower, are never
closed now, but remain open all night.
But a sentry walks just in front Of
them, under the walls Of ST. Thomas
tower, and just beyond, at the main
guard, another sentry is posted. Both
these sentries charge any one who
enters the tower after IL o'clock, and
demand the countersign.
The interesting ceremony in con-
nection with these gates takes place
at IL o'clock at night The following ia
an accurate description: About five
minutes before the hour Of locking the
gates this is, just before II o'clock,
the yeoman porter applies to the SER
geant of the guard for the escort for
the Queens Keys" The sergeant
acquaints the officer that the escort is
called for, who furnishes a sergeant
and six men for this duty, at the same
time placing his guard under arms.
The yeoman porter accompanied by
lantern with candle in it, locks the
outer gate, and then shuts the gate of
the Middle tower. He then proceeds
with the escort to the Byward tower
and locks the gates there. The yeoman
porter then marches to the Bloody
tower with the escort, and halts under
the arch of the tower. The sentry at
the guard-room challenges, Halt!
Who comes there?" The yeoman por-
ter answers, THE Keys" The sentry
calls, Whose keys? And the answer
being given, Queen Victoria's keys"
the yeoman porter places himself, with
the escort, in front of and facing the
guard, and then the officer of the
guard gives the word, Present arms
in which the escort joins. The yeoman
porter then says in an audible voice.
God preserve Queen Victorian and
the whole guard answer Amen" The
keys are then carried by the yeoman
porter to the queens house.
This quaint old ceremony is a sur
vival of by-gone days; but 1t must be
seen to be properly understood The
yeoman porter, Mr.. Penrose, comes to
the gates, in his long red overcoat. and
he has embroidered on his right arm
the keys as the emblem of his post.
He Is the chief warder, and is the only
warder who has the keys on his uni
form. BY the queens regulations he is
answerable for the discipline of the
Ntarders, and reports any irregularity
in their conduct to the major He has
charge of the gates, wickets, draw
bridges, and entrance. He has the
care of the warders' uniforms, &C.
the warders' quarters quarterly, and
examines the cisterns, drains, roof, and
general condition of their houses. and
is responsible that none but warders in
habit them.
On these occasions he requires from
each Warder a return of every person
living In his house. which return he
lays before the major. He makes out
all acquisitions for repairs or articles
required from her majestys office of
works for the queens house and war
ders' quarters. All applications from
the warders must come through his
hands. He inspects the boundary
marks of the Tower liberties once a