New-York tribune., 1900-11-11
LONDON'S LORD MAYOR.
THE INSIGNIA OF HIS OFFICE GIVE HIM
DIGNITY. But COST CARE AND
POUNDS STERLING.

POUNDS STERLING.
Last Friday, November 9, Lord Mayors
Day in the City Of London and the suburbs
thereof The suburbs of London, including
Westminster Kensington, Bloomsbury all the
quarters known the places of residence Of
Society, with the capital S; the Borough Of
Southwark, and the quarters the east and
north known emphaticaily IS not being the
places OF residence of the "Hupper Classes"
make large settlement with population nos
Tar short Of five millions. The City itself is
precinct about as large across as from Brooklyn
Bridge to FOurteenth-st; its population by day
Is beyond calculation, being in an incessant
state Of fux, and at night consists of little more
than a company of the Guards at the Bank of
England, another at the Tower. a few hundred
night watchmen and some platoons Of police.
This is the realm OF the Lord Mayor: within 1t
he Is chief magistrate and, by right, takes preoe
oence Of the Queen herself. But this power and
dignity remain vested in the same Individual for
only one year, being assumed by the new Lord
MayOr-elect on each November g.
Like other potentates of the Old World the
Lord Mayor of London maintains his dignity
before the masses by a display Of great pomp
and ceremony, all of it regulated by imme-
mortal precedent. On all occasions OF state, the
greatest of which is when he proceeds from the
Mansion House, in the City, to the Palace OF
Westminster, TO take the oath of office before
the Judges Of the Royal Exchequer. the Lord
Mayor is preceded by the Mace of the City and
two swords. The Mace. an emblem of sovereign
ty which be traced back in history to the
ivory sceptre of Agamemnon, has developed
from wand to a massive pillar of silver
and gold five feet three inches in length and
amply thick in proportion. That now in use
was made by John White in 1875. OF the two
swords, the longer is known as the Sword Of
State, which, like the and faSces Of the
Roman curuIe magistrates. symbolizes the power
Of life and death. Whenever the Queen visits
the City of London she is met at the City
umits-generally Temple Bar-by the Lord
Mayor who there presents to her the Sword OF
State. point downward. we'll as the golden
keys of the city. Except in the presence Of the
sovereign of England. the Sword Of State is al
ways carried before the Lord Mayor with the
point up The other sword carried these oc-
easions is known as the Pearl Sword, from the
seed pearl embroidery on its scabbard; 1t ap-
pears to be a superfuous adjunct to the pomp
and circumstance of Lord Mayoralty, and is re-
tained probably for no other reason than that
Queen Elizabeth gave 1t to the City more than
three hundred years ago In addition 10 theSe
two swords. there is the Black Sword used in
public ceremonies on occasions OF mourning, ana
the Sword of Justice which is placed on a shelf
over the Lord Mayors head when he attends the
opening Of the Central Criminal Court sessions,
Besides being temporarily responsible for the
care of these intrinsically and historically Valu-
able articles, every Lord Mayor on assuming Oh
fee has to wear round his neck golden collar
10 which is attached diamond mounted Jewel
estimated as being worth fl2o,NCD ($GDoooO, and
for the safekeeping of which he is obliged to
give substantial bond before being sworn in.
The City plate which adorns the sdeb0ard of
the Mansion House at the great inaugural and
many other occasional banquets must also be
taken care of. and not only that, but each Lord
Mayor is expected to add to the collection to the
value of not less than $500 In this way, and by
gifts from visiting monarchs and others, this
remarkable display of the precious metals has
Increased in bulk and magnfcence until, from
. icing valued at about $4,000 in 1853, when the
present Mansion House opened 1t has now
reached a market value Of probably twenty
times that sum.
With all this splendor to live up to on a salary
OF 10000, the Lord Mayor generally surrenders
his Office at the end of his term with clear