The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
Special Dispatch to The Call.


LONDON, Nov. Efficiently Mrs.
John Pound-whose husband. the
wealthy trunk manufacturer. was re-
Gently Lord Mayor-became the first
lady Of London.
AS the Lady Mayoress" she will
share in all of her husbands tre-
mendous dignities. Just as within the
confines of the square mile known as
the city" he will take precedence of
all mankind save only his sovereign, so
she will take precedence Of all woman
kind save only the Queen. She is an
elderly woman-her husband is 65--but
it may be safely assumed that the van
tiles Of this world still possess suffi-
cient attractions for her TO make her
hugely enjoy the spectacle of titled
dames-who might have turned up
their aristocratic noses at her when she
was merely a rich tradesman's wife
making obeisances before her, and oc-
cupying back seats while she hobnobs
with royalty and notables at Mansion
House state functions. If there should
chance 10 be an American duchess or
two around at the time all the keener
will be her triumph.
The Lady Mayoress makes her debut
In her new role at the great banquet
held in the Lord Mayors official resi-
dencl, the Mansion House, at which he
celebrates his accession to the civic
throne She does it in great style, too.
The general company to the number of
several hundreds, having taken their
allotted places at the tables in the
great hall, the Lord Mayor. in his
gorgeous state robes and wonderful
gold collar with costly diamond
pendant. makes his entrance, pre-
ceded by the City Marshal. the four
state trumpeters playing fanfares and
the sword and mace bearers. He es-
corts the chief lady guest of the even
ing Following comes the Lady May
Dress, usually on the arm of the Prime
Minister, her train borne by a page,
and with six maids Of honor In her
wake Being attended by maids of
honor is one of the privileges she
shares with royalty. She selects them
herself and incidentally she has to pro-
vide them with dresses, one Of the
many expensive items attaching to the
Lord Mayors office which makes il in
cumbent on him to spend twice or
thrice as much as the salary of $50 900
he draws from the city exchequer.
A GORGEOUS GOWN.
A description Of the state gown worn
by the Lady Mayoress on this occa-
sion. the crowning triumph of her here
tofore uneventful life, may interest
feminine readers. 1t is made of anne
thvst chiffon velvet and soft liberty
satin Of q paler shade. The Ornamental
ton is carried out in silk embroidery
studded with pearl beads and caba-
chons. with occasional appliques of vel
vet Of a darker shde in the form Of
pomegranates. Lastly there are deep
frills and a narrow berthe of exquisite
pearly white real lace, which forms the
lower part of the sleeves and the
fiounce on the skirt peeping out be-
tween the embroidered battlements. 1t
is mounted on killed white chiffon
which accentuates the beauty of the
design.
The Lady Mayoress presides over
court of her own which is quite as
punctilious and ceremonial as that
which attaches to royalty itself. She
holds frequent receptions in the grand
salon Of the official residence. Here,
with her maids Of honor grouped
around her. she seats herself in one
of the gold and crimson chairs of state
facing the grand staircase. Stately
footmen with immaculate calves and
powdered hair announce the names of
the visitors as they ascend the stair
case to pay her homage, Liberal re-