The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-20
LoCKIxG THE TowKR or LONDON.
! CereMsny That II New - De
ChanaeA After eco Years.

CereM1ny That u N1w - -
Chsn9eA After eco Years.
r ALTERATIONS to the Tower Of Lon
"A don! II sounds Hike sacrtIege Al the
very least. Yet IL has been done.
Easons and carpenters have been lately
at work within the grim old walls. The
alterations are TO the guardhouse. hard by
the Bloody Tower. The cid main gard
served its purpose for = long tisne. but u
was small and tnconvenienf. and In the end
the authorities determined 70 pail IL down
and build larger one In itG place.
But the alteration implies something
aaOre than q Encouragement Of bricks
and mortar. II has led 70 q change In the
ancient ceremony Of the Keys Time out
OF mind tho main guard has turned out
every night beside the Bloody Tower to
salute her majesty's keys Now that the
9uardhouse has gone. the main guard has
removed TO the spur guard. and the cere-
u1ony OF the keys has gone with 1.-THE
Arst variation Il has known for hundreds
Of years.
Nobody knows when the ceremony be.
gan. II II certainly coo years old, and
probably great deal older. The f.rst ref
arence to Il In the archives h dated is4t
s.In King Edward Ills time" runs he
entry. "there was one John OF London.
IN handycraft's man and armourer. taat
had the custody OF the keys, portcuiiises
and drawhridges OF the Tower. with the
wages Of iiiN per diem. and I'D for = valet
20 carry tho keys for him. He had the
same clothes. and a rugg gown. and hall
bert allowed him a. the rest OF the yeo-
men had"
From the time Of that forgotten John Of
London there has always been q yeoman
shat had the custody OF the gates" lie
has always had his clothes and his "rugx
Gown." and his nightly ceremony of lock-
ing the gates has not varied or been ont.
ted for a single night. The present change
Of background Is probably the worst vio-
lsnce It has ever suffered.
At few minutes before II the chief war
der takes his keys and. accompanied by
his assistant. marches 10 the guardhouse.
There he applies to the sergeant for the
s'escort for the keys" The sergeant at
Qualnts the officer. and the officer. piac-
ing thu guard under arms furnishes ser
geant and four men, Two Of the men are
unnrmed. Their duty II 10 assist In clos
ing the gates and to carry the ancient Ian
thorn. which has tallow candle.
A procession II formed The yeomsn
porter, earring the keys In his hand,
places himself IN the midst OF the escort
and goes the round Of the gates. The SEN
tries present arms. Everybody must sa-
lutte the queens keys, even tho constable
himself.
On q dark n.ght. with the lanthorn cast
sng a dim light on the scarlet coats. tho
saiuting warders, and the yeoman porter
locking the gates. the sight In quaint ard
impressive. One forgets that he 10 IN the
midst OF modern city, with tram care.
and nervous complaints. and electric
lights. The mind goes hack to the days
OF barons and night alarms. when fortress
e. meant something and the keeping OF
gates was matter Of some Importance.
when all the gates are locked the war
der returns with his keys to the main
guard--or. at present. to the spur guard.
The sentry challenges.
stHalt' who goes there."
''The keys" replies the wardef. Z.
Whose keys!''
'sQueen victoria's keys"
advance. Queen vietoria's keys says
the sentry, and the yeoman porter and his
Escort face the guard. who are drawn up
In line.
Al the command OF the officer the guard
presents arms. The officer statutes Inc
keys. Then says the yeoman porter. lin
an audible voice." God preserve Queen
Victorian and the guard, from the officer
20 tho drummer, reply Amen" The keys
are returned TO the Queens house. where
thay remain until O'Clock in the morning.
when the gates are unlocked. There Is
again an escort. but no ceremony.
tho wsckeis remain open unsil midnight.
After this hour not,oay can enter the pre-
cncfs OF the Tower unless he has tho
couuters.gn. This. after the manner OF
fcrtresses IL selected daily. and may be
0hanxed at any moment. II is generally
the name OF q river. a county or tcwr,.-.