Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-12-15


is to preside at a lot of ridiculous cere-
monies, and in general do things pre-
cisely as they have been done by his
predecessors since the office was first es-
tablished Above all things, he must
guard against the introduction of that
awful, desecrating, sacrilegious thing-a
modern innovation-in any of the Ger
amonial that attends him ON state occa-
sions. If a handshake should be substi-
tuted for any of the forms of obeisanca
enioined on his official satellites when
they do homage to him at these times,
London's civic dignity would be shaken
to its foundations.
Garb of the Lord Mayor.
His outfit is as gorgeous as anything
TO be seen at circus parade, and every
thing in it is the real thing. His par
ticular badge of Office is a wondrous col
lar of pure gold, over five feet in length.
Attached to this is magnificent pend
ant displaying the city arms in the cen
ter, cut in cameo cncirclcd by a wreath
of eight roses, with the thistle and sham
rock cntwined. cmblematic of the three
kingdoms, and all formed of diamonds of
the pUest water. 1t is estimated that
these latter alone are worth over $780,
600. Back in 1000 the pendant then in
use "disappeared,' and now the lori
mayor-"right honorable" though he is
is required to give heavy bonds for the
safe-keeping of the civic iewcIrv and
other costly insignia intrusted to his
care.
Out Of the city's eXchcquer each lord
mayor is provided with three sets of
/ sumptuous robes One is of scarlet cloth
/ lined with silk and edged with ermine:
another is OF black silk, over which flow
ers are worked in silver and the third is
of purple silk trimmed with black velvet
and costly fur. just when one or the
| other of these garments should be worn
! is known only to the initiated but
something awful would happen if the
lord mayor should appear in the wrong
one
-Four ancient swords are used to sym
! bolize the great powers once welded by
lord mayors in days when doughty war
riors sometimes filled the office. One, the
.''"""iu u ".ich IS STUDDED win pearls,
= N"'"I as tlle pearl sword IL was
| presented by Queen Elizabeth when she
opened the first Royal Exchange in 1871
ne S"o'o ol SCaCe oaIeS iiom lo5o.
In the presence of the King or any of the
/ judges it is carried with point down
ward; at other times it is borne before
t"e ioIu mayor WIN the point upward.
y '",io sword known as the black
S"oIu ana HrsJ used III 1884, Is brought
9u' On l'9C uaSs III Lent, or when a
- =, o'o'''7 -, '''e l"S"l l"nl'iy' Last
-, 'iu "',le' S"oi u
',i, = - 'oo'e .ig "Iu ii"l ~
80 p" J"'5' az '"' o'ii-
For totIng these old weapons around
and making 'reverences" before the lord
mayor the sWordbearer gets cool $500
a wear. II any man ever had a soft snap
he has 1t, but the corporation would rath-
er go broke than attempt to govern the
/ city OF London without him. Iie wears a
. gown OF black brocaded satin. and ON
state occasions this is worn over a black
court suit with silk stockings and shoes
with silver buckles. One Sir Martin
Bowes. lord mayor in 1916. presented the
city with very goodly royale hiatt" to
be worn by the swordhearcr. 1t was
worn out long ago. but the same privilege
attaches to the swordbearers' hcadgear,
known as the cap OF maintenance, OF
wearing it in the presence of the soyer-