The Washington herald., 1911-07-04
London's New Lord Mayor.

The mayoralty Of Sir T. vezey Strong.
lord mayor Of London. will be marked
by two historic events. the entertaining
Of King George and Queen Mary by the
corporation Of the city Of London at
Guildhall last Thursday, June %, a
week after the coronation procession, and
the celebration of the five hundredth
anniversary Of the building of Guildhall
the home of Londons civic fathers,
That historic edifice originally was erect
ed in 1411, but was almost destroyed by
the great fire Of 1866, being rebuilt in
its present form in 1859.
Few buildings In the world have been
the scene of more historic gatherings
or banquets. Here the great banquet
on lord mayors day has been held an
nually since 1901. Here the kings and
queens have been entertained. Queen
Victoria was present at the lord
mayors banquet on November 9, 1881,
and again fourteen years later in the
exhibition year. On the first occasion
the silver plate in use was valued at
f4O0,OO0, and the wine offered the Queen
was 100 years old. That feast cost the
city eSOOO. The Iron Duke" also was
present, and he confessed that never in
his life had he beheld such scene Of
splendor.
One OF the most magnificent banquets
held at Guildhall was that Of December
5, 1901, when the present King and queen
(as Prince and Princess OF Wales) were
entertained on their return from their
tours to the colonies. Nearly 10000 was
expended on that feast Of welcome.
The banquet last Thursday has cost
every BIT as much. 1t took place in the
great hall which is used for the election
of the lord mayors, sheriffs, and city
members of Parliament. Here are seen,
up in the gallery, the famous wooden
figures known as Cog and Magog, al
most fifteen feet each in height. They
were carved by Capt. Richard Saunders
in 170S. Formerly wickerwork images OIL
these unprepossessing giants were car
ried in all lord mayors professions.
Another feature of that hall is a me-
mortal window erected tc the memory OF
the late Prince Consort, eight feet wide
and running the entire width OF the hall.
A special tablecloth, twelve feet wide,
the figuring all In white silk, covered
the banquet table last THURSDAY, at
which only members Of the royal family
were seated on dais. About 100 guests
had been invited, who sat grouped
around tables on the general floor of
the hall Over the royal table hung
canopy OF silk. bearing the royal arms,
while at the rear of the tables was dis
played some of the choicest specimens of
the plate owned by the corporation and
the ancient livery companies OF the city.
Special buliocks have been carefully FED
for providing the great barons of beef
that never are absent from any guild
hall luncheon OF banquet. always being
served to the strains Of Roast Beef or
Old England played by the orehestra-
Then there was Trafalgar sherry dating
back to 1906, and of record flavor
Thirty-five years ago the corporation
Welcomed another Prince Of Wales. the
late King Edward. on his return from
India, no less than ez,0oo being spent
on the reception few years before
the city had spent nearly as much in
celebration of the late King Edwards 5
wedding, 410.o00 being the price of a
necklace which they presented to Queen
Alexandra. Thanksgiving Day for the
recovery of the late King Edward from
a severe atsck OF typhoid fever. In 1s7l,
cost the city 21300o, and the 1857 jubilee
celebrations accounted for an expendi-
ture OF nearly el2.00o Altogether, the
nine royal visits OF Queen Victoria, King
Edward. and King George and Queen
Mary to the city have cost something
ike e131 0oo. an average of about
E15,0o0 for each royal visit.
But although the city corporation are
no nigEards when It comes to entertainr
ing royalty at historic Guildhall. the OUT
lay on modern entertainments there -
totally ocllpsea ~ the money which
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