The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-05
Conarnemoration Is Now Re-
stricted to Display of Fire
works and Professions.
ny "a MAnarIsE die roNrENoy.

by IA MARQUISE DE FoNTE>oY.
WIS day. November 5. is always
celebrated throughout the United
Kingdom AS the anniversary Of
me historic Gunpowder Plot, by means
OF which Guy Fawkes and his fellow
conspirators attempted 10 blow into
eternity the Lords and Commons. lead
mig statesmen and diGnitarcs or tho
realm, and the entire royal family. on
the occasion or the opening OF Par
lament by James l.. in 1905
Up 10 thirty years ago tho anniver-
sary was always inado the occasion OF
solemn thanksgiving service. II. all
the churches OF the establishment. in
gratitude Tor the preservation OF King
ana Parliament from destruction. But
ms service. with its dcaunciations OF
the Roman Catholic Church-an GUY
tawkes's contedcrates were adherents
tnereol-has been abolished. and the
commcmoration Of the event is re-
strictoa to displays of fireworks. ard.
~ tn rural districts. 10 professions
mainly of children. carrying an eficy
OF Guy Fawkes, who is subjected to ali
Kinds OF contunely, being consumed at
the close OF the day, in a bonfire
Another survival Of the affair IS the
elaborate search 10 which tho vaults
beneath the Houses OF Lords and Com
mons are subjected on the eV,. of
every opening OF Parliament. II may
be recalled that IL was in the vaults
that Guy Fawkes was discovered. with
all his many barrels of powder. on the
eve OF the opcning OF Parliament IN
November. 1908. Nowadays these
vaults arc brilliantly lighted by means
OF electricity. Yet in spite of this.
they dre solemnly searched BY the
highest officials of Parliament. carry
Ing lanterns, and escorted by Il big
detachment Of lcomen OF the Guard,
IN their Tudor costumes. and by very
up-to-date metropolitan police.
There IS one corps OF the British
army which always recalls the Gun
powder Plot with sorrow and shame.
namely. the sovercign's bodyguard OF
Gentlemen at Arms. which pridcs itself
on being the monarch's nearest
guard that Is to say the only ono
admitted 10 watch over his safety IN
the very throne room, and every pri-
Vate OF which has served Up to the
rank OF major or oil captain in some
crack cavalry or line regiment
James |. made tn. mistake Of an
pointing the Earl of rthumbcrland,
IL peer renowned for his cccentriclty
ana for his crratic behavior. To the
captaincy Of this corps Through his
influence his kinsman. Thomas Percy.
managed to obtain Il place in its ranks
with the object OF taking the Kings
lie. and eventually Joined GUY IFatvEcs
and the latter's fellow conspirators IN
the Gunpowder Plot. True, il was
Catcsby who conceived the idea Of
making holocaust OF the whole royaI
family, by blowing mp tho Houses Of
Parliament, Instead Of the mere as
sassination of the sovereign by Thomas
Percy liut the latter was the actual
tenant Of the house from which the
famous tunnel was dug into the vaults
beneath tho House of Lords. and
through which the powder needed FOR
tho projected outrage was conveyed.
Tho premature discovery OF the plot.
OF course. put it out Of Thomas Pcrcy's
power to carry out even his lesser
plan OF numbering the King, ana ho
died beside Catesby. with his back
against tho wall OF Holbcach House.
the only case OF n traitor in the ranks
of tho bodyguard of Gentlemen ut
Arms in all its long history of over
400 years.
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