New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-02
ENGLISH PLATE
A Show at the Mansion House.
Paqeants.
London. June IN

ners with the choicest plate and VIM.
are served by the city guilds in their
quaint. picturesque halls. Those fortu.
rate enough to receive invitations 10,
these rather exclusive feasts hsvs
pIimpses OF the treasure troye OF On.
medieval trade companies, but they sci.
dom have leisure for examining closely
the early English plate and approaching
the fine craftsmanship OF the oldtims
artificers and metal workers The exhi.
bition at the Mansion House opened BY
Mrs. Reid and Lord Strathcona on suc.
cessive days this week has been compre.
hensive rather than exhaustive. for the
Lady Mayoress. who arranged the collec-
tion for the benefit OF worthy charity.
was too busy and important personage
TO sacrifice too much time In making
special study of old plate; and yet with
ALI the gaps and omissions IL is mou
Interesting show. The Goldsmths and
the Fishmongers have not contributss
TO il. and the Merchant Taylors hay.
sent only one example Of the silver.
smiths art, and that modern one
With more systematic preparation there
might have been an exhibition OF unique
interest, but it is an excellent one and
serves a noble purpose.
The Mansion House treasures are sell
dom adequately seen, generous as is tn.
hospitality OF successive lord mayors
There Is the rock crystal staff, which
will be carried 70 the coronation in tie
historic coach with the tawdry and
grandiose trappings. When 1t is closely
scrutinzed it proves to be OF exquisite
Gothic workmanship. with gold and
pearls ingenOusly mounted; and as over
FIVE centuries have passd since II was
made out OF a whole piece Of crystal, IL
represents what are virtually lost arts.
Among the Mansion House plate are
Georgian salvers Of fine design and
few medieval pieces. The companies IN
their exhibits represent the plate Of
Stuart. Tudor and Plantagenet regns.
The MERGERS have lent loving cup
which has been drained at feasts since
the accession OF William and Mary.
There are fagons with which the Sta.
toners tossed off bumpers in honor OF
Charles III. and there is a'cup from TIE
BARRIERS guild, for which as many as
FIVE thieves were brought 10 death a.
Tyburn in the time Of Charles J. Iht's
are several tall Jacobean cups; there &
Elizabethan plate Of the Armada yes.
and there is a grace cup dating fromhe
reign Of Henry VIII.
The Plantagenet plate comes from t1$
CITY churches, from which 1t was res
cued during the great fire. There are
aims basins, patens and cups which nave
ibeen used for centuries in Wrea
churches. standing where once were
Gothic shrines in crowded communities
The history of Old London is told N q
pageant serial at the Crystal Fal@ce
The opening instalment recites the tH'
umph of the Roman legions. the muster
of King AIfreds warriors. the stormins
of London Bridge when the Danes were
holding il. the coming OF william no
Conqueror with his victorious knlshH'
the grant Of municipal liberty hy hins
Iohn. the transfer OF the S'otush cor
onation stone to Windsor; the reception
of the first Prince Of Wales by the welsh
peasants and artisans and a fete ~
Cheapside during the reign Of Ed"ara
TIT The Roman. Saxon. Danish ard
Norman periods were illustrated pE
thousands or ma5querading peIiorhe"
during a single evening in the open ar
, amphitheatre, with its screens OF trees
and two more instruments dealing eN'
c,ueiveIv with London were held in re-
serve. with fourth appealing 70 IN
perial pride and TO the loyalty 81 tn
overseas dominions. There viii oe
lack Of pageantry during this festive sf
son. and orc needs to go many times
,denham by the new electric Inc 1s'
fore he can feel that he has eXhaustea' Hs
resources of spectacle in the denoteh'e"
of ancient history.
: If this pageant does not excite as mu'a
enthusiasm as has been expected
not because there is any lack 81 s!S
tematic mana cement or any dlspos''"H
to diminish the outlay for costumes
rronerties and scenic embelllsnnen@
These pictures of ancient LONDON aN
presented with splendid realism oF on
army Of we'll drilled performers ln'
triumph of the Roman conQte'o'' "''@
his leeions and chariots. is enecufe'! "
bearsed. the battle between Danes anu
English for the possession or Lohaoh -
vividlv portrayed: the Cheapside touf"
ment. with thirty-siX knights i'.usu'""'
the age OF chivalry in tilt and )ous" y
; enacted with vivacity and theatrical ART
The work has been undertaken with eH'
tbusiasm by large bodies Of pasesn'
makers and amateur actors, ana al '"'
arrangements have been made on a '%s'
, scale and with painstakins care D! 'l'
Frank Lascelles. II Is undouoteHIl IVA
however. that open air pageants y. "a, :,
l,ind have ceased TO be as attrac''Ne 20,
they were at the outset ne, "A.
, been many Of them. and one Is ~ ~ As
other When they are lh'ioS" "a 4
serials with four ipstalmenis thTt "a.
serious risk OF a shrinkage I'D W. ~, ool
terest. This is a world In Wh' 80 tor
things have d run and then are y.