Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

ors and perQuisites. Each of the com
panles has a special dress. hence tbs term
'hvery>" Some OF these are green and
blue Others - dsrsN red and one
company boasts livery CT murray ana
plunket," whatever THAI Is.
"The Trial Of the Pyx."
Certain OF the companies exercise an i'm
portant influence on the trades which they
represent: others are Of national impor-
lance. For instance. the Goldsmiths' Com
pany has charge Of the royal mint and all
the British coinage has to undergo what
Is called the trial OF the pyx." The "pyx"
Is great chest OF very ancient design
Into which Is deposited each day gold and
silver coins OF the realm-a sample OF the
days minting. called Journey" When
the box gets full 1t is opened with great
ceremony in the presence of the lord
chancellor and other officials. The coins
are rolled into a large ingot and are
tested. II the ingot does not come up to
a certain standard of analysis II reflects
on the mint officials and they may be
proceeded against. The coinage has al
ways been of proper standard, however
The Goidsmiths' Company has always
had the marking or standardizing OF all
gold and silver ware, and hence has
arisen the term hall marked" owing to
the fact that this ceremony takes place
at the Goldsmiths' Hall. which, by the
way. is the finest private hall in London.
Another company exercising a national
function is the Stationers. who control
Stationers Hall. which looks after Eng
lish copyrighting. The magic words:
Entered at Stationers Hall" show that
a publication has been duly deposited In
the archives of the Stationers' Company.
which also does certain amount Of pub
fishing on its own account and for the
benefit of its lverymen.
Nearly all the big companies have their
own halls Many of these places are OF
very costly design. and most OF them con-
tain fine collections of gold plate. paint
ings. many old Observation-Disclosures Hol-
beins and other treasures. Certain of the
halls were designed by Christopher
Wren, lingo Jones and other famous
architects. In many of the museums
there are priceless heirlooms and treas
ures. One company has a cup presented
by Henry VIII. This is a huge tankard
with bells attached to it's sides. Each
person who drank out of IL was sup
posed to. empty its contents in such q
way that the bells were made to ring
The Hands-Up Loving Cup.
At the Guildhall Banquet given each
year by the lord mayor at a cost OF
$4,000 a loving cup is passed round.
This great tankard requires two guests
TO handle 1t. While one drinks. the other
lifts the heavy lid. This must be done
with both hands. The reason for this
observance was that in olden times guests
had playful little way of stabbing their
hosts while drinking. and in order to
prevent this hands had to be ''above
board when the loving cup was used.
Each year an immense amount Of amuse-
ment is caused at the great state banquet
over this ancient cup. When Lord Sails
bury was premier he. absent-m indedly.
let the lid of the cup fall while Lady
Salisbury was drinking.
The great feasts at the Guildhall-so
named as being the meeting place for all
the London companies or guilds-are
among England's most important political
functions. Here sovereigns are often
entertained, and the prime minister each
wear at the banquet makes his most i'm
portant announcements OF forthcoming
policy.
To the Credit Of the Motor.
From the Queen
The motor. with its noise and oil and
smell, has destroyed many a rfghtful
pleasure; but that II had exploded the
stuffy atmosphere of the celebrity crowd.
ed drawing room should be set Town to