New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-26
When "oId Nick Was Lord Mayor.

All sorts Of trades are represented in the
long list Of Lord Mayors of London, whose
term of Office is for twelve months. Thus,
Sir Nicholas Wotton. who was Lord Mayor
during the reign Of Henry V, was a pawn
broker, and had the honor OF serving as
uncle TO the King. who. being on one oc-
casion hard pressed for money. pledged his
Jewels with ''Old Nick" Thomas Coke,
Lord Mayor in 1853. was a bootmaker, and,
70 promote his business, issued proclama-
ton ordering the citizens Of London to wear
boots with turned up toes OF a prodig1ous
length. and fining heavily all those who
disobeyed his mandate John NOrthamp-
ton. successor Of that Lord Mayor Wal
worth who killed the rebel Wat Tyler. was
barber when elected. but, becoming a
member Of the clergy during his term of
Office claimed the right 10 occupy the pull
pit of any church IN the City he pleased
Sir Samuel F1eyer, Lord Mayor in 1761,
was bricklayer. Ard the famous Dick
Wilmington. thrice Lord Mayor Of London,
and OF cat celebrity, was a house decor
a+or- Butchers. brewers. bakers. printers
and f7shmongers figure on the list: diapers
and Eoldsmiths, however, being more extern
sivelv represented than any other trade
For the first time in sixty-nine years the
Isndon as purely municipal festival. For
the Gate IS not only that Of the Inaugural
ton OF the Lord Mayors annual term Of
Office, hut also that Of the birthday OF the
late King. and Throughout his life. during
his near sixty wears Of heirship apparent
and his nine years Of reign. il was always
celebrated as q national holiday. The re
suit of this was that generations of Lon
doners grew up 10 believe that there was
come connection between Lord Mayors
Dsv and the -oval birthday other than that
Of mere for1uitous coincidence.
Formerly Lord Mayors Of London were
Installed in Office on October % the day
after the feast of St. Simon and ST. Jude.
but this date was changed more than 80
years ago TO November hv statute
bearing the signature Of George II. The
election Of the Lord Mayor Of London used
to be held OF the Feast Of the Translation
OF St Edward. October 13. but It was al
tered 70 AIichaelmas Day. that is to say.
TO September %. by an act Of the Common
Council dating from the reign Of King
Henry VIII The Lord Mayor is elected
on that day from among the twenty
aldermen Of the city of London by a body
known as the common hall. consisting Of
the aldermen and liverymen, that is to
and companies, the Lord Mayor acting as
president and the sheriffs performing the
duty Of returning officers. The powers of
the common hall are confined TO the cleo
ton of the Lord Mayor and of the sheriffs
who each hold their Office for q year. like
the Mayor and the Chamberlain The al
dermen are elected for life by the various
city guilds, and if they refuse TO serve are
Obliged to pay a fine of g 5oo which can
likewise be imposed upon any Of their num-
her who refuses 10 put in term as Lord
Mayor. ! may add that the Board Of Alder
men Is the bench Of magistrates of the city
Of London. superintends the administration
Of Justice and police and licenses brokers
Al the cost 10 the latter Of S25 yearly. none
being allowed TO do business as brokers
save those who have been duly licensed
and sworn as such by the Lord Mayor and
aldermen.
The Lord Mayor Of London is eT officio
an admiral Of the port OF London, a general
Of the territorial army. one Of the chief
buffers and cupbearers 10 the sovereign.
with the right Of officiating such at
coronation banquets; a master Of the city
hum (Which. by the way. no longer ex-
ists). a Judge in civil and criminal cases
and Z. controller Of weights and measures
Further he mas III dulttDI 10 Ills HdAdAg u
$4,000 and his official residence al the Man
sion House. his gentlemen IN waiting. his
chaplains. his purse bearers. his sword
bearer. his marshal and, last but not least
his own hangman, and the sovereign him
self. as well as his troops, are deoaTred-
theoretically. Of course-from entering the
civ OF London without receiving before
hand the permission of the Lord Mayor.
These prerogatives. thoroughly exploited
abroad are accountable for the awe in
which the Lord Mayor OF London is regard
ed on the Continent of Europe where by
the uninitiated he IS popularity regarded as
a far more important and powerful dlgni-
tary Of the realm than the Archbishop OF
Canterbury, the Lord High Chancellor or
the Prime Minister, or even than all these
three combined
The Inner Ring Around the Car.
F,mperor Nicholas and his consort are