Sir

Benjamin Stones Pictures

RECORDS OF NATIONAL LIFE AND HISTORY
Reproduced from the Collection
Photographs made by
of

SIR

BENJAMIN STONE,
Vol.
I.

M.P.

FESTIVALS, CEREMONIES,

AND CUSTOMS

CASSELL AND COMPANY.

London,
Paris,

Limited

New York &

Melbourne

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

INTRODUCTION.

IN Collection
ne\'er
passi(jn
;

this

Selection

of

Sir
for

Bi':xjamin
size,

Stone's

Pictures

will

be

revealed

tlic

treasures

of a

whicli,

variety,

completeness,

and general

interest

and value, has

:

been paralleled.
that passion

and

To Sir Benjamin Stone photograph}' is not a hol)by it has made him a national personalit}' and altogether dwarfed
directions.

is

the
his
to

enormous amount of work he has done in other

mistress,

But while photography

end

is

he has alwa}-s used

a

it

wisely and as a means to a well-defined

to lea\-e
l^enetit

posterity

permanent

pictorial

record of

contemporary

life,

to

portra}' for

the

of

future generations the manners and customs, the festivals and pageants, the historic buildings

and places
collection;

of our

own
is

time.

It

was

solely with this object that he

began

to

form

liis

huge
}'ears

and

it

solely -with this object that

at

he adds

to

it

almost daily.

For forty
''not

he has, to use his own words, aimed

buildings
life

showing those ^vho

will

succeed

lis,

onl}'

the

the
the

places

which have a history or are beautiful in themselves but the everyday

of the people."
Sir Ben.ia^min

Stone would be

the

first

to

admit,

however,

that

he

has

consistenth'

a\'oided

commonplace and the unimportant.

at
all

Indeed,

he

would never have

practised

photography

had

it

Ijeen

possible

t(j

purchase the kind of pictures he wanted.

Such
is

pictures did not

come within the scope

do they now;
for,
if

of

commercial photography, nor,

professional
for

wide as that

at

the

j^i'esent

time,

the

worker could devote the time to

them, he could not obtain the requisite

facilities

taking them.
not
fen-

There

is

the great, the

insurmountable

(jbstucle.

Because, then,
to

money would
his

buy the records

this

that Sir Benja:\[in

Stone needed, he determined

photography.

make

own, and

purpose became an expert in

This circumstance alone

interesting nature
first

is

a sufficient

attestation

of

the unexampled and

wonderfully

of the

collection of pictures

from which a comprehensive Selection

But
it

the
The
have

yet

made
has

will be reproduced in this work.

very
exceptional

must be remembered that

carrying
life

Sir Ben.jamin
task.

Stone

had

opportunities

for
his

out

his

great

conditions have been perfect

3"ears

ideal.

Busy though

has been, he has for twoscore

had

leisure to
to

devote to his monumental undertaking.

For long,

too,

invitations

been borne

him on the four winds from people interested

in that undertaking to photograph

VI

INTRODUCTION.
or an
historic building,
all

a quaint custom, a rare curio,

and when he has accepted them ho

assistance

has been an honoured guest everywhere, and

in accomplishing his purpose.

possible

has been rendered him

Important, however, as have been these factors in his success, his position has doiibtless

been even more

has
interested

so.

It

has greatly facilitated the carrying out of his self-imposed task.

his

He
is

the

whole House of Commons in

going so
far,

work,
as to

and consequently everybody

pleased to help him,

Avhich
is

in

many

cases,

obtain

him the

entree

to a place

sacrosanct,

and barred

to

the ordinary photographer.

He

has become, in fact, a

Parliamentary institution.

And
utilised

Sir

Benjamin Stone has not neglected

to the
full.

his

opportunities,

but,

on

the

contrary,
better

them

He

has rambled

all

over England

which

nobody knows

than he

in

quest of subjects,

and has secured very many which are the despair, mainly
all

because they are so jealously guarded, of

alike
;

other

camera men, amateur and

festivals

j^rofessional

he has

secured

photographic records of numerous picturesque

the evening, travelled
all

and curious

customs, often having left the House in

night, photograjihed
train,

some
in

annual ceremony on the following day, spent another night in the

his place at

and been back

to

the next sitting of the

Commons
in

and since he was returned

but
the

Parliament he
pageants,

has photographed,

not

only

the

House

detail,

Members,

customs,

and ceremonies,

as well as

numbers of great State functions.

Leaving out
of account his

Nothing has ever come amiss to him.

has taken pictures of
the
eclipse

work abroad

and

he

of the

sun in Brazil, a revolution in South America, the

life

great earthquake in Japan, and of

nearly every phase of

a
cold

in a dozen

countries

he

has

photographed

a custom

at

dawn on
to

grey November morning and a kaleidoscopic,

intensity.

glittering pageant

on which the sun has beat with tropical

From an

oil 2Dainting

worth "recording" he has turned

dole; from a palace to a dungeon.

a street scene; from a treasured tapestry to a beggar's

His "sitters" have been of

to

all

degrees, from the

of
his

Prime
His

Minister to a beggar,

from a great foreign potentate

the poorest

subjects.

exposures

have

ranged from a fraction of a second to twenty-four hours.

No
his

scene,

no

building, no object, no person, has baffled him.

concrete

proof

of

his

great
thirty
;

enthusiasm and amazing

industry
of
;

is

that

pictures
their

number between twenty and

thousand

Of

the

Houses

Parliament and

Members he has one thousand of Windsor Castle and of King Edward's Coronation six hundred
;

several

hundred
hundi-ed.

of the

Tower
of

of

London

three

Many
can

Sir

Benjamin

Stone's negatives, moreover, are not only the best, but the only ones of their several subjects,
since

they are

of

scenes

of

an evanescent nature

scenes

which

never recur

or

of

buildings or objects which only he has photographed.

That the Collection

recognition
it

is

highly important as well as large

is

demonstrated by the

oflicial

has received.

More than 1,200

j^rocesses,

of Sir

Benjamin Stone's beautiful

prints, all

made by

one of the

permanent

are stored in the British

Museum, and form the

INTRODUCTION.
most valuable part of the "survey"
of the

vH

whole country now in course of making by the National Photographic Record Association, of Avhich Sir Benjamin Stonk is the founder and Another batch 300 in number was accorded a place of honour at the St. Louis President.

Exhibition; and in recognition of the technical

these pictures, Sir Benjamin
later

merit,

historic

value,

and great

interest of

instance

of

Stone was given the premier award, a " grand prize." A still the high store set by competent authorities upon his work occurred

connection with the

visit

of

French naval

officers

to

Westminster, the Parliamentary pictures

the
sj^lendid

chosen by the Reception

Committee

for reproduction in

souvenir presented to

our guests being those taken by him.

Such

is

the

Collection vast,
the
obvious,
for
tliis

monumental, free
the

from the

trasli
all

tliat

is

Ijorn
it

of

vain

attempts to

exhaust

wonder
Wliile
all.

and admiration of
it

who know
to

to

be
of

drawn upon and creamed

the community,
of "record
so
it

work.

will

appeal

speciall}-

some

classes

has been planned for

will

Those photographers who glory in the name

men "
to

be deliglited with the work of one whose name and achievements are
folk-lorists

familiar

them;

and lovers

of

old

customs,

ceremonies,
interest)

and
will

festivals
it

(in

which of
most

late years there has

been a marked revival of popular

of

find in

the

perfect

pictures

obtainable

such

olxservances

people

who

live

in

the

towns

and

villages

where ancient customs and

stimulated,

festivals

survive will,

by

its

"records," have their local

patriotism

and

their resolution

strengthened

still

further to

draw out those

and

links

with the past;

and

politicians

will and

maylook

with confidence to the work for a more

personalities
places,

striking presentment of

ParHamentary customs and

institutions,

than

has ever before been published.

But, particularly
interesting

and valuable though

of society,
it

this

Selection of Sir Benjamin Stone's

pictures will be to these sections

treat of

will
us,

be attractive to everybody.

For

it

will

subjects that are

near us and concern

of

and

treat of

them
It

in
is

the best

and most
as

realistic

way by

means

absolutely

" unf aked "

photographs.

impressible,

Sir

Benjamin Stone has often said with perfect

to
tlie

truth, for the best-written

description to

convey

imagination so accurate an impression of a scene or an object as that given by a

photograpli.
is

The one

is

interpreted according to the mental capacity of the reader; the other

the same to every eye.

Tlie

work

will depict

not

necessarilv, or even generally, in one view, but in as man}^

as

may

be necessary

all

kinds of customs and festivals, even some of those which take place

only once

or twice in a lifetime,

and

v/ill

carry the

mind

in

rapid succession to

quaint old

Knutsford, historic Lichfield, Shakespeare's Land, the upper reaches of the Thames, Inverness,

Hungerford, the
spot.

Isle of

Man, the pretty Derbyshire village

of

Tissington, and

many

anotlier

Tims
life

it

will

bi'ing

before the vision with actuality and clearness some phases of our
to

national

of

which few of us can hope

of

be eye-witnesses.

Dealing

Avith

London,

it

will illustrate

some

the

remarkable ceremonies which take place in the Great City.

The

distribution of

Maundy Money,

the tossing of the pancake at Westminster School, the quaint

viu

INTRODUCTION.
at the

and ancient formalities

Tower such
Sir Benjaafin Sir

picturesque remnants of " Merrie

fidelity.

England"

will

he revealed as in a mirror, only with more

survivals, the pictures taken

Of some

of these deeply

interesting

by

Stone are unique.

Stone's

Next

will
lias

come a

series

of

Ben.tamin

superb Parliamentary pictures,

the

work which

His photographs portray Cabinet Ministers, Members, and officials as they are, and not as the "retoucher" makes them appear, and give a remarkable survey of Parliamentary ceremonies and customs, of the House at work, and of everything

crowned

his reputation.

known

Ijy

repute to the newspaper reader, but

the

unknown

to

him

personally.

Summing up
reason that
will
it

work

aw a whole,

it

may

be truly described as a panoramic record of

it

National Life and History, with the

will

trivial

and the ugly omitted; and

to

is

precisely for this

be

of

interest

and

permanent value

the public generally,

love.

because

it

add

to

everybody's knowledge of the country that

we

Finally, the
authorities,
will

work, with

its

brief

but adequate descriptive notes,

it

prepared by competent

be arranged on such a plan that

entertainment, and, as
its

can be
is

turned to in odd moments as

its

well as

for sustained

scope
old

new, so also will be

"is not
true,

contents
is

from cover
is

to cover.

"What

is

new," runs

the

saw,

and what
true.

true

not new."

"Sir. Benjamin Stone's Pictuees" will be found both

new and

INTRODUCTION,

PARLIAMENT
perennially
the
is

is

an institution of inexhaustible human

interest.

Centuries old, and yet

young

renewing

its

youth as

it

does every four or five years,

stale
its

to paraphrase

fine

and familiar saying, age cannot wither nor custom

infinite

variety,

but speaking the simple truth.

of

Think
in
sorts

of

the sharp contrasts of temperament, of contra,

aspirations,

dictions

opinion,

of

dissimilarities

aims,

and

ideals,

to

he found in an
the

assembly of

670

Members
all

of

all

and conditions,
j^rofessions

selected

from every part of

Kingdom, from

classes,
life

from most of the

and

callings,
!

and

thus reflecting
also of the

completely the diverse

and character, the very image, of the nation

is

Think

great part that Parliament has played for centuries, and

social

still

playing, in the political

and

movements

of

humanity.

Issues

of

the

greatest magnitude, of
in

the highest national

concern, are there decided.

Is there

any other place

?

the world where

more things are

to

done that are destined

to

be remembered in history

Hitherto the public has only been able to gratify

the national Legislature from the outside.

its

natural curiosity with regard

Conservatism, or opposition to change, has always

No one been a characteristic of the regulations and customs of the Houses of Parliaruent. The same feeling that in has been allowed till now to unveil their mysteries from the inside.
earlier times

made Parliament

a secret debating society, holding

that

the

terrors

of
its

the pillory

over the head of the newspaper editor

dared

to

publish

a report of
its

proceedings,

induced

it

in later years rigorously to exclude the

itself,

camera from

precincts.

But, happily,
all

Parliamentary red tape has untied

doors before Sir Benjamin

and Parliamentary officialdom has unlocked

its

Stone's zeal and enterjjrisc, his intense interest in the Legislature

and
and

its

ways

his affection

and admiration

for

it

not only as a Member, but as a citizen

his enthusiasm for

;

the historical

and the antiquarian.

The most
;

sacred places

of

the

Palace of Westminster
ages of the Plouse of
It will

the most intimate ceremonies of Parliament

his camera.

the most notable person-

Commons, stand revealed through

"

be noticed that most of the portraits, and most of the groups, in this selection of

" Sir

Benjamin Stone's Pictures

to the vast

have as a background a

fine

gateway.

This gives entrance

from the Terrace

this spot,

subterranean passages of the Houses of

stood
Sir

Parliament.

Here on

well lighted and

convenient, has
years.

Benjamin Stone's camera, ever ready,

to

Session after Session, for

many

Members got

be deeply interested in the work of

ii

1NT1;01)UCTI0N.
began
to recognise
its

their colleague, as tliey

value

from the

historical

and Parliamentary
Benjamin Stone,

point of view.

They

readily acceded to his request to allow themselves to be photographed.

A
House
lain

little

story

may
as

be told in illustration of this eagerness to

exist

assist

Sir

and, at the same time, of the friendly relations that often

of

between

Members

of

the

Commons

wide apart as the poles in their

political opinions.

As Mr. Chamber-

was being photographed Mr. Michael Davitt appeared on the Terrace. "No, I have not got him been taken?" asked Mr. Chamberlain.

"Has
yet,"

Mr. Davitt
replied
Sir

Benjamin Stone.

"Then,

I'll

go

and ask him

myself,"

said

Mr.

Chamberlain.

In a few

minutes the Colonial Secretary of the Unionist Government, and the most powerful opponent of Home Rule, led the famous NationaUst leader and agitator, with much joking and laughter,
before the camera.
It

was not a formal "

sitting " for a portrait

which Members were asked

to undergo.

It

was

a pleasant, easeful

"standing."

Just as Sir

Benjamin Stone never retouches his

ofE

plates,

by

smoothing out the wrinkles, altering the shape of a nose, rounding

also the preliminary operations of the professional photographer, the

the angles of a chin, so

posing in a chair, the fixing

of the

head
is

in

a clamp, are dispensed with.

It is the real

The
all

subject

stands before the camera,

and

in

a flash he

taken.
see.

man, with

his natural perfections

crowding thick upon

Clothing

him, that

we

With
boots or

a very

few exceptions, the

of
his

portraits are full length,

and not mere

just

busts.

often helps to

the realisation
of

character.
collar

In any
tie.

case,

it

is

as interesting to see the

portraits.

shoes

man

as

and

They
us

are

also

full-faced

The
In

subject looks

you

straight in the eye, not with the evasive glance of ordinary portraiture.
therefore,

these

likenesses,

we have

visuahsed for

the real personalities

of

Parliament,

without resort to the transfiguring tricks of the professional photographer.

bers exactly as they appear

We

see the

Mem-

when going about on

Mr.

their ordinary business

is

or addressing the

House.
vivid

There

is

Mr. Chamberlain, as cool and confident as when he

of
fiscal

delivering one of his

lapels of his

expositions

policy.

Arthur Balfour

is

shown grasping the

see also

frock-coat.

To
when

those

who have heard

the

the Conservative leader in the House, this picture will

table.

recall his favourite attitude as

he stands at the

We

Mr. T. M. Healy exactly

as

he

is

addressing

Chamber,

^J^ssing

without an

effort

from

the

tenderest

pathos to the keenest sarcasm, from rollicking humour to solemn appeal.

of these
artistic

The

great merit
all

portraits

is

that they are all genuine

and not retouched

and they are

the more

because of their actuality.

signatures.

We
A

have got not only the men, but

handwriting afford
as

with

a few exceptions a

their

The

different

types of

curious

study as

the

different

types of personality.
all

few of the Members included in the collection are dead.

but they are given specially because they

They were
helj)

distinguished in different ways,

to

a realisation of the representative character of the House of

collection covers a

Commons

in humanity.

The
see

wide range of Parliamentary incidents as well as of Parliamentary

visitors

personalities.

In illustration of the
of

who come from

all

the

ends of the earth to

the

House

Commons

just

like

the pilgrims of

old to a far-famed shrine

there

are

portraits of the Sultan of Perak, the Katikiro of Uganda, and of the famous pigmies from

INTRODUCTIUX.
the forests of

^^

Central Africa.
session.

It

has been found impossible to photograph

to see to

the

House
of

of

Commons
is

in

But we are enabled

historic

what the House in Committee

be witnessed in Parliament
is

Supply

like.

Perhaps the most

ceremony
the

Black Rod
to

going to

summon

the

Commons

to

House

of

Lords.

We

are jmvileged

see

liim,

through Sir Benjamin Stone's camera, not only on his way through the lobbies, but actually knocking for admission at the door of the House of Commons, which, in accordance with

immemorial custom, has been shut

this picture

in

his face.

It is

impossible to exaggerate the value of

from the
the

historical jDoint of view.

social
life

Nor
private

is

many-sided
of

of

Parliament forgotten.

We

are

introduced to the

quarters

Members

their

smoking and dining rooms

where

no "stranger"

is

allowed to intrude.

We

see,

too,

the famous
in
its

Terrace in various aspects, as a lounge for

Members
spirit

its

original purpose

and

later

development as an exclusive Society

are

resort.

In this collection of pictures, for which

of
Sir

we

indebted to the enterprise and public

Benjamin Stone, we have, therefore, depicted some of the rarest and most

interesting features, incidents,

to

and personages of Parliament.

it,

It

does not, of course, pretend

of

be exhaustive.
it

How
both
the

could

in

view

of

the immensity and variety

the

subject

But
chief

is

notably representative
of

of

the varying
architectural

types

of

the
of

Nation's legislators, of
the

the

officers

Houses,

of

the

beauties

Palace of

Westminster,
of

old and new,

of

quaint and old-world ceremonies and customs of

Parliament,
is

the
it

strange

and notable

visitors

from

far-ofi lands.

Its

most marked characteristic

it

that

is

an all-round
gain that

collection,

of

compelling and permanent interest, from which

is

possible to

intimate

acquaintance

with

the

life

and

usages

of

Parliament

which

cannot

adequately be obtained from the newspaper reports.

The deeper

significance of Sir Benjajiin Stone's photographs

is

that they tend to excite

not only a freshened sense

of interest in the
it,

human

side of Parliament, but

an accession of
as the

admiration and affection for

as the representative

assembly of the
it

peoj^le,
all,

supreme

authority in the land, as the instrument

by which, taking
It
its
is,

all

in

so

much has been

done for humanity,

historic

justice,

and freedom.
liberties,

indeed, a place of

absorbing interest, this

temple of British

with
in

sacred memories and heart- stirring associations

the scene of glorious achievements

affecting

oratory and statesmanship, the place where questions

are

the well-being of

the

community
is

determined,

and the

field

upon which the

it

great and exciting duel between Parties

fought at close quarters.

Thus

is

that going

through this collection of Parliamentary scenes and portraits should prove not a delight only,
but a lesson.

Michael iLvcDoNAGH.

CORBY POLE
I.

FAIR.
of

A TOLL

GATE.
Corby, in
in

Once every twenty years the people

of a charter granted to

Northamptonshire, hold a unique fair in commemoration

them by Queen Elizabeth

II. in

1585 and confirmed by Charles

1682.

Preparations for the event begin months in advance,

culminating in general activity during the

last

week.

Two

sets of stocks are set up, the streets

decorated with

strings

of bunting, arches of evergreens erected, the

houses of the leading inhabitants gaily ornamented,

and, finally,
barricaded.
all

the roads leading into the village are

These
ofiice

barriers,

notwithstanding that they extend

such greetings as "

of

Welcome

to our Fair," fulfil the usual

such

obstructions

prevent

the

ingress

of

visitors

who do
all

not pay a

toll.

Once the

fair

has been

proclaimed,

who

pass through the gates are expected

to take a " toll ticket," for

optional)

must be paid

which some coin (the value is and should any ticketless person

subsequently be found within the limits of Corby, he is promptly " poled " and then placed in the stocks, there to remain till he pays toll.

For
little,

this special occasion the

;

*'

free

list

is

entirely

suspended "

everybody must give something, however

towards the funds.

CORBY POLE
II.

FAIR.

THE CHAIRMAN, WITH THE CHARTER.

After the fair has been proclaimed the last occasion was at the early hoiir of 4.15 on Whit- Monday morning,
1902

several
A

ceremonies are carried out with

procession
is

much

precision.

formed, with a band at the

head, and with the organisers' leaders seated in chairs

attached to poles, which are borne on the shoulders of

some of the men.

state, halts

The being made

village is then
at the stocks

perambulated in

and the principal

entrances for the purpose of reading the charter

a duty

which
the

is

performed by the chairman.

This grant proves that Elizabeth highly favoured

men of Corby. By it they were freed from town and bridge tolls throughout the kingdom ^no inconsiderable boon in those days as well as from serving in the militia and on juries. Of course the villagers do not

now

claim such rights.

their obligations in

by holding

a f^te

They are quite content to fulfil the same way as other citizens. But every twentieth Whit-Monday they
which exempted the irksome taxes and

celebrate the granting of the charter

their forefathers

from some of

duties of mediaeval England.

CORBY POLE
III.

FAIR.
is

IN

THE STOCKS.
the procession
at the stocks,
relics

The

last halt

made by

which

differ

from most of such

still

in that

they
six.

contain five holes, as against the ordinary four or

Where

five-holed stocks

exist there is

much

specula-

tion, particularly

on the part of the rising generation, as to the reason for the odd opening, and the most popular theory is that it was provided for the one-legged tippler and disturber of the public peace The explanation,
!

however,
both legs.

is

simple.

It

lies

in the fact that persons

placed in the stocks were not of necessity confined

by

When

the procession reaches the stocks, the

officials

who have been borne

are clapped in them,
toll.

shoulder high through the village

This

is

and so detained till they have paid a sudden turning of the tables but the
;

victims are solaced with a glass of ale, which

for

is

drawn

them by a functionary specially told

off for this duty.

CORBY POLE
IV.

FAIR.

"CHAIRING" AND "POLEING" VISITORS.

The

leaders of the fair having been duly imprisoned,

people are seized indiscriminately and carried off in

triumph to the stocks, some mounted in chairs, and

others,

much more uncomfortably,

is

astride

a pole or

" stang."

This observance

a survival of " riding the stang,"

one of those ancient punishments designed to awaken

shame in a delinquent by exposing him to public ridicule. It is not yet extinct, though in most counties only an
incidental part of

come down Of old, the offender was made to to our own times. ride a pole, and was, in addition, serenaded by a number of indignant villagers, who created an earsplitting din by beating on frying pans and other kitchen
it

"rough music"

^has

utensils, using

pan

lids as

cymbals, rattling together

fire

shovels

and tongs, and, generally, pressing into anything capable of making a discordant sound.

service

But the custom in its entirety has practically died out, "rough music" alone, as we have said, remaining as a means by which a community shows its indignation
at

wife-beating,

marital

unfaithfulness,

shrewishness,

and other scandalous conduct.

An authentic case of " riding the stang " was recorded so late as 1862.

"Chairing" and "poleing" visitors form the last distinctive custom of Corby Pole Fair. Except for the amusement which may be created by placing a ticketless
visitor in the stocks, the rest of the festival is

a rural

fete

on a large

scale.

Feasting and merry-making

speed the laughing hours, and there are a thousand reminders that " it only comes once in twenty years."

PICKING UP SIXPENCES AT
SMITHFIELD.
One
St.

of

the

most

curious

of

the

many

ceremonies

connected with tombs takes place in the chm*chyard of

Bartholomew, Smithfield, on Good Friday morning.

this brick-and-mortar-environed burial

In
is

ground there

flat

tombstone thickly encrusted with London's

;

and round it gather twenty-one widows, with the church officials and a few
spectators.

grime and broken in three places

Stepping out of the group, a churchwarden places on

the stone some new sixpences, whereupon one of the women comes forward, kneels, and picks up one of the coins. On rising she receives a hot-cross bun from another gentleman, who then assists her to walk over the stone.

As she

retires the

second

widow

takes her place, and so

the ceremony proceeds the stone.

till all

the old ladies have crossed

is

Subsequently each
is

presented with half-aaddition to the dole,

crown, though this

modem

the gift of generous churchwardens.

Of the
definitely

origin of the custom practically nothing

is

known.

Traditionally,

it

began in conselie

quence of a bequest by one whose remains

the stone on which the

underneath

new

sixpences are placed

an

explanation which
there

is

not improbable, since at one time

for bestowing charity subject

was a passing craze

events, the

to the observance of certain conditions

At

all

by the graveside. Good Friday ceremony at Smithfield

has been perfonned regularly for centuries.

KNUTSFORD MAY DAY

FESTIVAL.
I.

THE MORRIS DANCERS.

is

NowHEEE, perhaps,
than at Knutsford.

May Day

celebrated

more

prettily

Revived in the quaint old Cheshire

town (Mrs. Gaskell's "Cranford") in the early sixties, the festival of Maia and of Flora has ever since been
the principal event of the year in the local calendar.

Long before the earliest visitors arrive the townsfolk begin " sanding " their two main streets an observance

reserved for special occasions, such as the

a wedding,
peculiar
to

May

festival,
is

or a royal

visit.

" Sanding," which

in

Knutsford,

consists

forming

hearts,

crowns, true lovers' knots, and other designs, some of

them much more elaborate, with sand as it runs through a funnel. For weddings homely mottoes are added to
the devices, as
"

Long may they

live,

and tappy may they

be,

Blest with content and from misfortune free."

Two
It

colours of sand are used,

is

brown and white; and

the effect produced

very curious.

was

in connection with weddings, according to

tradition,

introduced of

custom originated. A plan was making such known by sweeping the street in front of the house of the bride's father, and sprinkling it with sand. Then the " sanding " gradually
that the

extended,

till

now

it

covers two streets.

Later in the morning, as the time for the procession

draws nigh, one-half the town

dressing the other half.

is

busily engaged in

headed by the master

make a brave show

The Morris Dancers, who

on horseback

of ceremonies

in their snow-white shirts

chaplets, require a good

deal of attention,

and floral and even

more, of course, has to be given to the large number of children who take part in the procession.

KNUTSFORD MAY DAY

FESTIVAL.
II.

THE CHILDREN.
;

Many characters do the children represent indeed, their number and variety astonish most visitors. Besides

many
set

it is customary to have a novel Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Boy Blue, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and other fairy and heroines; tale heroes milkmaids, gleaners,

of a stock type,

every year.

shepherdesses, historical personages, a group of Spanish

ladies, representatives of the seasons

these and the like

figures as well.

are repeated every year.

But every
one

May

brings forth

new

At

festival the novelty consisted of a

group of characters
;

from " Cranford"

a very happy idea

and some years

ago there was introduced a

set of chess figures in red

and white.

KNUTSFORD MAY DAY

FESTIVAL.
III.

THE QUEEN AND ATTENDANTS.

Town
Hall,

The

procession starts from the

and

is at

times nearly a mile long.

At the end of the long train

comes the uncrowned Queen in a carriage, preceded by

the Sword Bearer, the Sceptre Bearer, the
ladies-in-waiting, etc.,
bearers,

Crown

Bearer,
train

and followed by the pages,

maids of honour, and a body of Beefeaters.

is

She who
to be "

the principal figure in the procession

is

Queen of the May," by Formerly the Queen was always a scholar at the parish school, the Crown being given as a reward for regular attendance, as it still is in most places where the May festival is held but now she is chosen by the votes of the ladies and gentlemen Avho manage the
virtue of a ballot of the

Committee.

celebration.

The Crown,
year,

it

should be noted,

is literally
is

given to

the girl of their choice.

A new

one

purchased every
of the

and

this
it

becomes the property

is

maid on

whose head

placed.

KNUTSFORD MAY DAY

FESTIVAL.
IV.

CROWNING THE QUEEN.

circuit of the town,

After making a

with bands playing

fine

and banners flying, the procession proceeds to the

expanse known as the Heath, where, in the presence of

an

enormous

crowd of spectators

from Manchester,

Liverpool, and other towns, the Coronation takes place

with elaborate ceremonial.

The Queen having ascended

She then
saying
*'

the Throne, the

Crown
step.

Bearer advances with obeisance at every third

rises,

whereupon he takes the diadem from the purple cushion he bears, and places it on her head,
I crown thee Queen of the

May

"
!

After he has retired backwards, the Sceptre Bearer

steps forward, and, proceeding to the
series of

bows, invests

Throne with a the Queen with the symbol of

crowning
festival.

royal power.
song.

Upon

this the children sing the

This concludes the ceremony, but not the

Old English revels follow, including a dance round the Maypole and the Morris Dance, which is seldom omitted
from a Cheshire

and it is late in the afternoon when the Queen descends from the Throne.
festival
;

STRATFORD-ON-AVON MOP.
I.

STANDING FOR HIRE.

Mop, said to be the largest statute
lost its original character,

Though
fair in
it

Stratford

England, has almost

retains some of its old features, and is by the agricultural class in the district

stiU regarded
as the chief

holiday of the year.

It is one of the few remaining fairs at which a custom nearly as old as the hills is still carried out the custom mentioned in the Cumberland ballad " At Carel (Carlisle) I stnid \vi' a strae my mootli
:

i'

The weyves com'

'

roun'

me

in custers.
'

What weage

dus te ax, canny lad 1

ses yen."

So men commonly stood for hii-e in the days of ancient Eome, and down through the centuries till Even in London, in the latter part of quite recently. the eighteenth century, there were recognised markets

Cheapside and Charing Cross

ing trade,
or

for

men

in the build-

who

carried their respective tools as a badge

mark of their particular occupation. The custom was general at hiring fairs. Except, however, at Stratford, Banbury where grooms carry a

bit of

straw in their buttonhole, shepherds a twist of

wool, carters a length of whipcord

places,
it is

and

a few other

now

extinct.

At

Stratford the
is

demand

for

whipcord, the trade mark of the carter,

such that

men hawk

it in the street. But even in Shakespeare's town the maids, who formerly stood for hire hke the men, now resort to the registry office. Several derivations are given of the word "mop." The mop seems to have been at one time a second hiring fair, at which the refuse from the first was mopped or swept up.

STRATFORD-ON-AVON MOP.
II.

AN OX ROAST.

The

barbecue, that great feature of English merry-

making in the olden time, also survives at the StratBoth oxen and pigs are roasted whole in ford Mop. Sometimes there are as many as a dozen the open air.
improvised cooking ranges, with tables in front laid

with plates, knives,

forks, etc.,

and a crowd awaiting

their turn for a helping from the sizzling carcass.

Very large is the quantity of meat thus sold, five or six oxen and about a dozen fat porkers being cut up for the hungry holiday-makers.

STRATFORD-ON-AVON MOP.
III.

DANCING THE "HAY."

an institution
It is

No

less interesting

at the

Mop

is

the

hay, a dance which probably took place at every rural

fair in

Shakespeare's time.

mentioned in Love's

Labour's Lost.
for the

When
of the

arrangements are being made

Pageant

Nine Worthies, Constable Dull

;

or I will play I'll make one in a dance, or so on the tabor to the Worthies, and let them dance the

says, "

hay."

To

this Holofernes rejoins, "

Most

dull,

honest

DuU!"

Again, in Buckingham's burlesque. The Be-

hearsal, the Earth, the

Sun, and the

Moon

are

made
is

to dance the hey (hay) to the tune of " Trenchmore."

The most probable

from the French

derivation of the

word hay

haie, a hedge, the dancers standing in

two rows,
hedges.
in line.

as at the Stratford

Mop, being hkened

to

But the hay was danced

at first,

in a circle as well as

Accerding to an old direction, "the performers

stood

m a circle

and then wound round, hand-

ing in passing until they

Stratford

came
fair,

to their places."

Mop,

therefore, is one of the best examples

we have
some

of the old hiring

and helps to keep

alive

of the customs of Shakespeare's England.

SWAN UPPING ON THE

THAMES.
I.

THE MEET.

Feom

the earliest times the privilege of keeping swans

on the Thames has been jealously guarded, and the

birds have been protected with the utmost strictness.

Even now

that privilege

is

enjoyed exclusively by two

Companies of the City of London the Dyers and the Vintners no other body or person, except the Crown, owning any swans on the river. The Vintners have enjoyed this right from time immemorial. There is a record of it dated 1609, when certain expenses are set down for the upping of swans.
of the Livery

Equally ancient, probably,

is

the Dyers' privilege

but

when it was granted cannot be traced. Their record to the " game of swans," indeed, seems to have been lost.
While, of course, the privilege
practical value, as it
is no longer of any was when swans were sent to table

and were used in river pageants, it is nevertheless highly esteemed and once a year the Dyers' herdsmen, accompanied by those of the Vintners and his Majesty, make an expedition to the upper reaches of the Thames for upping or marking purposes. The party occupy a flotilla of row boats, the sterns of which are adorned with flags. A large white ensign,
;

bearing a gilt crown and the letters " E.E.," with the device of a swan, is displayed by the Crown boat while
;

the Dyers' and Vintners' craft have blue and red flags
respectively, also

emblazoned with swans.

As a further
watermen of

indication of the object of the voyage, the

the City companies sport swan quills in their hatbands.

13

13

SWAN UPPING ON THE

THAMES.
II.

"NICKING" OR MARKING.
days subsequently
carefully
all

For

several

the

reaches

tributaries

are

searched for the birds.

and As

they are found the boats form a semicircle round them,

and force them to the side, where they are caught, usually by the legs. Both legs are
gradually close
in,

then turned up on top of their wings, tied there, and

they become helpless.

After that they can be laid on

the bank or handled anyhow.

The

actual

nicking,

which

is

practised on

the

cygnets only, consists in making scratches on the upper

mandible with an ordinary pocket knife.

cuts are not very deep, they never
14

Though
off.

the

fill

up or wear

SWAN UPPING ON THE

THAMES.
HI.

EXAMINING THE OLD

BIRDS.

The

old birds

which
that
as

have become so used to the

it

annual

ordeal

they take they

quite

calmly

are
in

merely

examined,

hare

been

marked

previous years.

Until comparatively recent times the swan marks

were rather elaborate.

the year

They were continued

for the

in use

till

1878,

when

the swanherds were prosecuted

by the Royal Society

Prevention of Cruelty

to Animals, on the ground that they caused unnecesThen, notwithstanding that the prosecution sary pain.
failed, the

marks were

simplified.

emblem is commemorated in the The This is a inn sign, the " Swan with Two Necks." " Swan with Two Nicks." corruption of the It was commonly, and very appropriately, used by such of the Vintners as were tavern keepers, and then adopted by
Vintners' old

other caterers for public refreshment.

It is necessary to

" nick " the swans, because

all

the

marked are considered to belong to the Crown. Nobody can have a swan mark except by order of the Sovereign, and the possession of such has always been
birds not

regarded

as

indicative

of

high

rank

and

dignity.

Nevertheless, the Constable of the

the right to

"lift," or

Tower formerly had annex, all swans which came

below bridge.
IS

"

THE HORN DANCE, ABBOTS BROMLEY.

I.

ALL THE CHARACTERS.

III.

When Henry
there

granted the "Charta de Foresta

in

was great rejoicing

some parts

of England^

Previous monarchs had afforested such vast areas that

the greater part of the country had become forest, and
this circumstance,

coupled with the very severe penalties

imposed for offences connected with the chase, had bred

much

discontent
to

among

the
tracts

people.
of

The
as

charter

restored

them large

land,

well

as

mitigated the barbarous punishments, mutilation and

and consequently it was hailed with joy, and celebrated with a dramatic form of dance, which was performed in the characters of stags and
death being forbidden
;

huntsmen.
This dance formerly took place at several towns in
Staffordshire,

and remains the

distinctive

feature of

the wakes at Abbots Bromley, on the borders of the

once great forest of Needwood, where there

continuous record of
it

is

an almost

for centuries.

The

characters in the dance are very curious.

Most

wear spotted breeches of uniform pattern, and carry a large pair of reindeer's horns mounted on a short pole. These horns, of the early history of which practically nothing is known, are the same as those described by Dr. Plot two hundred and twenty years ago. At one
time, according to the historian, they were painted with

the

arms of the

principal

landowners

statement
still

confirmed to some extent by the traces of paint

on them.
I6

THE HORN DANCE, ABBOTS BROMLEY.

11.

FOUR OF THE PERFORMERS.

a musician,

Theee
dance.

is also

who
is

supplies the music for the

is

His instrument

an accordion, which

the
All

only

modem

accessory used in the primitive play.

the rest

horns, bow and

arrow, etc.

are

the property
in the

of the vicar for the time being,

and are preserved

church tower.

With them

is

a curious old pot, which

was formerly kept in turn by the town reeves.

At

this

time the dance took place on certain Sundays at the

main entrance
using
it

to the church,

and the reeves

of the

town

provided cakes and ale to put in the pot, subsequently

for collecting pence,

which were partly applied

to repairing the church

and maintaining the poor.

17

THE HORN DANCE, ABBOTS BROMLEY.

HI.

THE "FOOL" AND ROBIN HOOD.

characters include a " fool,"

The remaining

and a sportsman.

Robin Hood

is

Kobin Hood, mounted on a hobby

arrow.

horse and carries in one hand a whip, while the sports-

man

(a

boy) has a "property"

bow and

The

arrow,

when he

shoots,

passes through a hole in the

bow, and then stops on a shoulder, making a snapping

noise.

Nowadays
street,

the dance takes place

up and down the

and

is

of a character that plainly indicates its

original object.

The " deer"

step to a lively tune, the

sjjortsman
his

making

believe to shoot them, and letting ofE

bow and arrow with a " clack " in time with the nmsic and now and again Robin Hood slashes them
;

with his whip to keep them moving.

the primary intent was
to the chase.

Clearly, therefore,

to assert certain rights in regard

This

is

shown by the pantomime, the

the " deer" dance.
its
it

" deer," and the inclusion of the people's forest hero,

bold Robin Hood,

who makes
since
interest is

Long
Bromley.

as

it

is

the custom lost

still

mediaeval
at

significance,

much

taken in

Abbots

Servants,

male

and

female, then

"mothering"

visit to the

home

of their childhood,

pay a and

the villagers in general enter thoroughly into the spirit

of the holiday.

CLIPPING
I.

THE CHURCH.
with
the

PAINSWICK CHURCHYARD.
appearance of the churchyard at
it

To

the

tourist the

Painswick, Grloucestershire, well stocked as

is

neatly-trimmed
' '

yews,

generally

suggests
is

that

clipping " of which he has heard

clipping those

trees.

The yew,
villages

as

an emblem of immortality, occu-

pies

a prominent place in

in

some

many

a God's acre, and

as

Harlington, in Middlesex

it

used to be trimmed on a certain date, which was

made a

general holiday.
revels

There were some

even at East

Bedfont,

where, at the entrance to the churchyard, stand the famous " peacocks," which have been a wonder to
generations of travellers along the Bath Road.
trees are said to
oi'

The

have been originally cut in the shape

the vain bird

by a man whose

love two haughty

sisters rejected

with scorn, that they might be " spited"

as they entered church every Sunday. So both eye and memory prompt the idea that the Painswick

"clipping"

is

of the yews.
is

But the word

embracing, as
clipped, not
it is

really used in

the old sense of

commonly used
of the trees.
19

in the fo]k-speech of
it is

Lancashire and other counties, and

is

the church that

any

CLIPPING
!I.

THE CHURCH.
the
first

THE PROCESSION.
Sunday
after

The custom

is

observed on

September 19th, the dedication festival. noon the Sunday School children march

In the afterto the church,

where a short service is held. Afterwards the scholars, headed by the choir, with cross and banner, leave the
chui'ch in procession.

CLIPPING THE CHURCH.

III.

THE

CLIPPING.

Outside, the choir come to a halt and remain stationary, while the children

romid the

make a complete ring, holding hands, church and facing it. Then the clergy and
hymn, march round the
edifice outside

choir, singing a

the circle of children, finally going back into the church.

Upon
ably,

this the children

disengage hands and disperse.

Clipping

the original significance of which, prob-

was that thereby the children showed their love for their mother, the Church, though some antiquaries think that the word is a corruption of yclepping (calling It is or naming) is not peculiar to Painswick. Worcestershire, on Shrove observed at Cradley, Tuesday, and at other places on the various dedication

festivals.

Formerly,

too, it

took place in

many
it

parts of the

country, notably in Birmingham, where

in an unusual manner.

When

that city

was performed had only two

clip

churches,

the children of the charity schools used to

meet

at a certain

hour on Easter Monday,

one of

the edifices, and then walk to the other in procession " Crowds of people," and repeat the ceremony.

according to a contemporary writer, were present, and

" shouts of joy" went up as the children joined hands.

THE KERN BABY.

Till recent years a rather

common form

of the revelry
at the
it

and thanksgiving which have ever taken place

ingathering of the harvest was the Kern, though

has

now

died out everywhere except in a few Northumbrian

villages.

One

of the customs of the festival of Ceres,

It

it

had

many

local variations.

was observed

in the northern

part of Northumberland at the close of the reaping, not

the ingathering.

Immediately the

sickle

was

laid

down

and the
produced

last

sheaf set on end the

men

shouted that

they had " got the kern."

Then a curious image was image dressed in a white frock with coloured ribbons and crowned with corn ears stuck on a pole, and held aloft by the strongest man of the

an

party while the rest circled round

it.

Subsequently

it

was taken makers fell

to the barn, to

set

on high, and the meny-

on the harvest supper.

Though
called, is

land,

it is

Kern baby, as the figure was generallyseldom seen nowadays even in Northumberstill made at Whalton. The villagers' effigy,
the
ft.

which

is

about 2

in height,

is

taken to church, and

is

afterwards the presiding genius at the harvest festivities.

COLLECTING "WROTH MONEY."

I.

THE CEREMONY AT KNIGHTLOW CROSS.

when
the

TRIBUTE which dates back for a thousand years, and

connects the present with that remote past

central counties of

England were
is

for the

most part a

wild and uncultivated chase,

Hill,

rendered on Knightlow

near Dunchurch, Warwickshire, on the early morn

"wroth money," it is paid to the Duke of Buccleuch as an acknowledgment of certain concessions made by his ancestors, on pain of a forfeit for every penny of 20s. or a " white bull with red nose and red ears." Before dawn * on St. Martin's Day representatives of the townships which owe tribute, as well as crowds of spectators, wend their way to Knightlow Hill from all points of the compass. There, on the summit, and close to the Holyhead road, they gather round the base of an
of St. Martin's

Day.

Known

as

old cross.

The Duke
to

of Buccleuch's agent then reads

out the names of the parishes and hamlets which are

called

upon

make payments, whereupon

the persons

responsible for such dues

drop their coins into the

hollow of the large stone.

In

all

there are 25 places which have to

to the

pay " wroth

money "
from
Id.

Duke

of Buccleuch, the

to 2s.

3|d.

amounts ranging The whole amount due (only

9s. 4d.) is

usually collected, though within recent years

there have been defaulters on several occasions.

Once

during the
for

last century,

however, the prescribed penalty

non-payment was enforced.

*

The misty appearance

of our reproduction

is

due to the early hour

of the

day actually

before sunrise

when
2J

the photograph had to be taken.

COLLECTING "WROTH
MONEY."
II.

"HEALTH TO THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH!"

the collection
is

When

completed, and the Duke's agent

list,

has checked the names on the

to the village inn, which,

the

company adjourn
the "

by

its sign,

Dun Cow,"
of the

helps to perpetuate the legend of the

gigantic

slaying

"dun cow" by
is
;

Gruy, Earl of

Warwick.

Here

breakfast

who have and subsequently the whole company, long churchwarden pipes in hand, drink his grace's health in tumblers of rum and milk.
served, at the Duke's cost, to those

made payment

,The custom

is

Saxon, and, as already stated, origi-

nated as an acknowledgment of certain concessions.

amptonshire

In

an ancient charter preserved in Broughton House, North-

a charter which has only once been lenged, and, having then 1686) been confirmed, has "wroth money" merely since remained undisputed
chal(in
is

declared to be a legal tribute for ancient privileges, the

nature of those privileges not being defined.

But

money

almost certain, not only because " wroth " may be translated " cattle tribute money," but
it

is

for several other reasons, that they

rights of

were pasturage and

way

for cattle.

THE WELSH EISTEDDFOD.

I.

REGALIA AND OFFICERS.

Wales we have a

In the Eoyal National Eisteddfod of

quaint and picturesque continuation of a kind of gather-

ing which has taken place, with a probable intermission

from the earliest times. Eisteddfods were, at a period of which written history records little, held at Caerwys, in Flintshire, and
of a couple of centuries after 1568,

and they are known to have met in the reigns of Edward III., Henry YI., Henry VIII., and
other towns
;

Elizabeth.

The
which
ancient

object of an Eisteddfod
is

the
first

present

name

of

title,'

a colloquial contractioli of the traditional " The Session of the Bards of the Isle

" of Britain

is

twofold.

It

is,

and mainly, the

preservation and

cultivation

music

and, second, to

of national poetry and hand down national customs

and

traditions.

Prizes are offered for competitions in

art
;

literature

and

there

is

much

music, including the

;

ancient

Welsh stanza singing to the harp

;

new members
art

are introduced

and in these and other ways

and

patriotism are powerfully stimulated.

and regaUa alike are Druidical, though modern additions have been made to the bardic robes. The Arch Druid now wears an oak-leaf coronet and a
Officers

copper breastplate which were designed, made, and presented to

him by Professor von Herkomer, E.A.

THE WELSH EISTEDDFOD.

II.

OPENING OF THE GORSEDD.

is

Druidical, too,

the circle in which the Gorsedd

meaning
meeting
place.

chief seat or throne, but used to denote the

at

which the Eisteddfod

is

is

proclaimed

takes
turf.

This

cii'cle

customarily

made
at

in

some open and

conspicuous

spot

which

is

covered

by green
but
it

When
some

the

Eisteddfod

met

Liverpool there was

site,

difficulty in finding

such a

was overof St.

come by
Michael.
care
is

selecting a space
it

known

as

Ashley Grardens,

and re-naming

for

the occasion the

Mount

suitable

place having been found, great

taken in placing the stones in position.

They

usually, according to the official account of the Eistedd-

fod ceremonies, consist of twelve, "which represent the

compass points, outside of which three other stones are

erected, over which,

from the centre of the

circle,

the

rising sun could be seen on the solstices and the equi-

noxes." Sometimes the stones are left in the ground

as a memorial, as at

Merthyr Tydvil in 1901,

after the

first Eisteddfod of the twentieth century

and of King

Edward's reign.

Much
turesque.

importance, indeed,

is

attached to the Gorsedd,

and the ceremonies

It is

at its opening are dramatic and picproclaimed by the Keeper of the " Corn

Gwlad," or Trumpeter,
other Chief

after

which the Arch Druid or

Bard

recites the prescribed prayer.

Next

the Arch Druid calls the

RoU

of the Bards, on

which are

names from the

earliest to the present times.

THE WELSH EISTEDDFOD.

III.

"IS

IT

PEACE?"
Sword
sword

Then comes

the

Ceremony

of the

a remarkably
is

impressive observance.
partly unsheathed.

A huge

upraised and
just
it,

The attendant Bards having

placed hands on

it,

the Arch Druid partly supports

and

cries

"

oes

Heddwch ? "

{''

Is

From the people comes dwch "(" It is Peace ").

Again he demands,

") the loud response,

it

Peace

"Hedis

"A

oes

Heddwch?" and
" Heddwch."

answered back with a deafening

roar,

His

voice rises once more, whereupon the multitude thimder, " "

Heddwch! The sword

is

then thrust back into

its

scabbard.

This ceremony symbolises a truce, and has come

down from
armed men.

ancient times,

when

it

was necessary

to

guard against the breaking of the Bardic Circle by

Addresses,
music.
follow,

etc.,

and the meeting

closes

with

Such

is

the prelude to the Eisteddfod, which lasts

four or five days.*

* In the foreground of the picture is the successful and honoured Bard In the group are " Hwfe Mon," the Archdruid, the Marquess of Anglesey, " Cadfan," and other distinguished Bards.
of the year (kneeling).

THE BIDDENDEN MAIDS'

CHARITY.
I.

THE FAMOUS CAKES.

BiDDENDEN, a

and secluded Kentish village, is thorouglily aroused from its normal torpor on Easter
qiiaiiit

Sunday, for people from

well as

all

parts of the countryside, as

London, flock thither on the chance of obtaining one of the famous Biddenden cakes, which have been distributed on the great feast ever since the
fi'om

many

beginning of the twelfth century.

These

doles, the best

known and most remarkable

by the terms of a bequest made by two sisters who were precursors of the Siamese Twins. Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst, as they were named, were joined together in the back by
of their kind in England, are provided

two ligaments.
died, and,

After a joint existence of 34 years, one

as the other refused to have the cords of

unity dissevered, saying,

also shall
six

"As we came

together, so

we go together," she survived her sister only The bequest consisted of certain lands, the hours.
from which,
the twins
provided,

rents

were to be

devoted by the churchwardens to supplying the poor with doles of bread and cheese on Easter Sunday. At present the income amounts to about 40, a part
of

which sum

is

spent in providing one thousand of the

so-called cakes,*

which

are, in fact,

small rolls stamped

sisters.

with a representation of the two united

are

They

more
keep

suitable for preservation as curios than for

eating, since they are so hard

will
for

and durable that they

twenty years.

* The postage stamps shown in the picture were, of course, photographed with the cakes as a standard of comparison aj regards size.

28

THE BIDDENDEN MAIDS'

CHARITY.
II.

DISTRIBUTING BREAD

AND

CHEESE.

The rest of the income from the land left by the Biddenden maids is applied to the purchase of loaves and cheese, for which the poor of the village only are
eligible.

This better fare

is

distributed at the v7ork-

house by one of the churchwardens, who hands to each one of the recipients a loaf and a large piece of cheese

gift

which causes them to hold

in grateful

remem-

brance the Biddenden twins.

29

BEATING THE BOUNDS AT THE TOWER.

Notwithstanding that living witnesses are no longer necessary to prove the lines of demarcation between
parishes,

and that landmarks and maps

is still

clearly define

such domains, beating the bounds

carried out in
cere-

many
mony,

parts of the country.

it is

Once an important
its

now

a custom

and

continuance illustrates

how an
that
is,

act of utility survives long after its real purpose

has disappeared.

In some places even

"bumping"
the spot in

banging a boy against a stone with such force

as to give after life

him
is

pain, that he

may remember
is

not foregone, but

practised with ruthless

precision.

Included in the areas where the bounds are beaten as

of old
is

the liberty of the Tower.

Once every three

years

all

the cliildren born or residing within the liberty

are called together

and provided with long willow wands, and then, accompanied by the Lieutenant of the Tower, some Yeomen of the Guard, and various officials, they
walk round the boundary. On Tower Hill they have
to pass

through a certain
with merchan-

warehouse, where they are supplied with buns and milk,

and where the boundary

dise.

line is covered

After the youngsters have had their refreshments,

however, they go straight through the place, beating the

barrels, etc., the while.

In returning, they go along the Embankment, and

so reach

Tower Green, where

30

their perambulation ends.

THE NORTHUMBRIAN BAAL

FIRE.
I.

BRINGING IN THE FAGGOTS.

are

Although there

now very

few,

if

any, superstitious

beliefs connected

with Midsummer

fires

on

St.

John's
rite in

Eve, they appear to be survivals of the pagan

honour of the god Baal.

Some

of the practices

which

used to be carried out in England were certainly very

similar to those of the worshippers of Baal

and Moloch.

As, for instance, those idolaters passed their children

through the
flames.

fire

which burnt

at the feet of their god,

jump over and through the But such observances are now extinct; and if the Midsummer fires are of pagan origin, they are at present lit with no other design than that of continuing
so our villagers used to

an old custom.

was Ht on St. John's Eve in several Northumbrian villages, and is still at Whalton, which, remote from rail and tramway, retains most of its old customs. There the fire has never
Till comparatively recent times a bonfire

been omitted within the memory of the oldest inhabitant. It has been postponed owing to heavy rain, but never
left

out of the year's round of observances.

As Midsxmimer approaches much wood

for the bonfire,

is

marked out

sometimes with the consent of local

this has

farmers.

When

been

cut, it is

brought into the

village with a certain

amount
a cart

of formality.
is

On

the

evening of the 4th of July

borrowed and' loaded

with branches and faggots, some of the

the shafts, more are hooked on

men

get into

by means

of long ropes,

and then, with a good deal of shouting and horn blowing, the lumbersome vehicle is run down into
the village.
31

THE NORTHUMBRIAN BAAL

FIRE.
II.

BUILDING UP THE FAGGOTS.

no horse

Two

loads of faggots, as a rule, are brought into the

village,

always by hand

is

ever used.

Then

begins the building of the bonfire,

unexplained reason,
spot.

is

some always constructed on the same

which,
for

The

site

does not vary a yard from year to year

and yet nobody knows

chosen.

why

this

particular

place

is

32

THE NORTHUMBRIAN BAAL

FIRE.
III.

READY FOR LIGHTING.

is

While

the building

in progress a remarkable scene

Of a sudden every house empties, all the Old men and villagers turning out with one accord. women, middle-aged couples, youths and maidens, school
takes place.
lads

and

lasses,

toddlers in

short

frocks

the

whole

populace appears;

and presently groups are gathered

bonfire.

everywhere to watch the stacking of the

ring round the

Later on the children, joining hands, form a moving

pile,

and dance

till

they are

tired.

They

are keenly interested in the

ceremony, because they

always have a scramble for sweets, which are scattered

for their special enjoyment.

33

THE NORTHUMBRIAN BAAL

FIRE.
IV.

VILLAGERS DANCING.
also

Youths and maidens

the music.

dance in the neiglibourliood

of the pile, a fiddler or other instrumentalist providing

34

THE NORTHUMBRIAN BAAL

FIRE.
V.

THE

FIRE ALIGHT.

As darkness
of night

creeps over the countryside, and the shades

blot out familiar details,

!

there

is

a cry of

" Light her

personified,

"

The

bonfire, like a ship, is invariably

and

of the feminine gender.

A moment
by
is

later

a flame leaps skywards, to be joined

another, and
illuminated.

then another,

till

at last the

whole village

The Baal fire Beyond dancing,

ceremony.
over the
But,

burns
there
is

no subsequent

festivity or

if local

tradition

may

be trusted, there
People jumped
too,

used to be some
fire

superstitious practices.
it.

and through
of

In bygone times,

stealthy appropriation

ashes

was

not

uncommon.

to the

Both these circumstances point in the same direction remarkably long continuance of ancient rites

and uses of
Besant,

fire.

in

" Dorothy
fire at

Foster,"

gives

graphic
into

account of the Baal

Bamborough, and puts

the mouth of one of his

characters the antiquary's

view of it: " Mr. Hilyard

will

have

it

that the Midrite,

summer
videlicit,

fire is

nothing in the world but a pagan

built

fire

and

lit
;

in

honour of the god Baal,

is

and Tyre membrance

.

of Phoenician origin
. .

that

to say,

it

came from
re-

for

which reason, and in lasting

[of

Solomon], the Church hath done well to

continue the practice, and to place under the protection

of St.

John the Baptist that

rite

which formerly was

part of the worship of a false god, and would, therefore,

without such protection, lay open those

to the wiles

who

practise

it

and temptations
35

of the

enemy."

THE STATE EXECUTIONER.

I.

WITH THE AXE TURNED OUTWARDS.

Since Lovat and Balmeriuo went to the block in 1746

no public offender has been beheaded in England, and since the days of the Cato Street Conspiracy the Tower of London has not been used as a prison, Thistlewood, Bru.nt, and company Avinding up the long list of " traitors " and others incarcerated within its walls. Yet the office of State Executioner is not extinct, nor
has the once dreaded axe fallen into oblivion.
the headsman and his weapon are
still

Both

at the

Tower.

The appointment, which

carries

is

under the Crown, and

with

it

certain

distinctions

and

privileges, is

conferred upon one of the most esteemed warders, and

the duty appertaining to the

it

consists solely in displaying to be borne at State

emblem

of office,

which has

functions.

When
practical

the

Tower was England's

Bastille,

the axe

played a symbolical

as

well, of course, as a decidedly

part

in connection
rival,

with the

trial of

State

Buckingham, on returning from Westminster, landed, we are told by a contemporary writer, at Temple Stahs, and marched along Fleet Street and through St. Paul's Churchyard to the
prisoners.

Wolsey's

Tower, the axe carried before him

so it
:

all

the way.

And

was always the State axe invariably preceded the whether he travelled to or from Westminster Hall by water or land. It was customary, also, for the executioner to turn the axe from or towards the
prisoner,

prisoner according to circumstances.

When

the procession

left

the Tower for Westminster

Hall the axe was turned outwards, to convey to the

pubHc that the

culprit

had not been condemned.

l^ik^q^s^viSSffqa'S^s.

THE STATE EXECUTIONER.

II.

WITH THE AXE TURNED INWARDS.

still

In returning from Westminster, the prisoner

had

the edge turned away from

finished or

him if his trial was not he had been acquitted. But if, on the other hand, he was under sentence of death, the

weapon was reversed with the edge towards him. The headsman's block is now one of the curiosities
of

the

Tower, while
office in

the

axe

is

preserved in the

Lieutenant's

the King's House.

37

THE WAYFARERS' DOLE,

WINCHESTER.
de Blois founded the Hospital of Holy Cross, Winchester, it was customary for religious houses to give hospitality to strangers according to their rank

When Henry

and

necessity.

Wayfarers of

all

degrees,

from

the
as

baron to the beggar, put up at monasteries, as

many

500 travellers on horseback being entertained at a time

at

Glastonbury alone.

The Bishop
to

provided, therefore, that assistance

was
"
;

be

"imparted

compassionately,

according to the

means and this

of the house, to the needy of every description

direction has always been carried out in part

to

by giving

every applicant at the porter's lodge a

horn of beer and a bit of white bread, which together

have long been known as the wayfarers'

All comers are eligible for
it,

dole.
it is

and consequently

often applied for out of curiosity.

Many

by no means

needy " wayfarers," from the King downwards, have

presented themselves at the porter's lodge, and accepted
the bite and sup.

Though
glorified the

the best known, the Winchester dole

is

not

the only remaining instance of that hospitalitj^ which

monasticism of the Middle Ages.

at

At every

monastery, and
well,

most conventual establishments as

is still

bread at least
without that,

to be

had for the mere asking

in

or

if

the wayfarer will stand at the

to

wicket

and

attached

the priory
is

Charnwood
a basin

Forest, near Loughborough,

a guest house, with everwill

open door, wherein

of soup.

all

who

may have

^8

LICHFIELD GREENHILL BOWER.

I.

GATHERING FOR THE PROCESSION.

city of Lichfield belongs the distinction

To the ancient
of having

handed down
defending

to our

own times
country

the campiis
to

martins, the annual meeting of citizens

measures for
of

the
It is

against

concert " all

foreigners and enemies."

mentioned in the laws

Edward the
;

Confessor, which laws were afterwards

and subsequently various Acts were passed specifying the arms which towns were to provide and empowering Justices of the Peace periodically to " take
confirmed

view of armour."
instance,

In the reign of Queen Mary,

for

ParUament

Mary,

o. 2)

ordained (4 and 5 Phil, and that Justices of the Peace should " meet to

take view of armour," and also assign what harness and

of

armour should be provided and kept by the inhabitants any city, borough, or town corporate.

As Lichfield was constituted a Court of Arraye and View of Ai-ms, the inspection was added to the
ceremonies connected with the Bower, a feast so called
because the campus marthis and other courts were held

on a mound of that name.

At present the

Bower, which

is

maintained by
;

and shortly before noon on the appointed day the Mayor, Sherifi", and other civic authorities gather at the Guildhall.
public subscription, takes place in
39

June

LICHFIELD GREENHILL BOWER.

II.

DISPLAY OF ARMOUR.

The Court

opened precisely at noon with all the ancient forms, and then some lads don the city's armour, which, it is curious to note, is now much too
of Arraye is

small for the average

man a

proof that

we

are not

degenerating physically.

The Court having been

manner, a procession sisting of the Mayor,
in broughams,
is

closed in the

customary
hall, con-

formed outside the

Sheriff, city fathers,

and others
principal

with tableaux, trade exhibits, Morris

dancers, historical characters, etc.

streets are paraded, after
at the

Then the

which luncheon takes place

Greenhill.

Bower House on

Later in the afternoon the chUdren get their share

of good things in the form of Bower cakes, numbers of which are distributed among them. This seems to be a survival of the old custom of regaling the inhabitants

of the various wards with cold meat, cake,

40

and wine.

LICHFIELD GREENHILL BOWER.

III.

HOLLOWAY'S SHOW.
Bower
festival is a

But the
fair of

great popular feature of the

the pleasure type, with swings, roundabouts, booths, and the rest of the " jolly fun."

One of the standing attractions is Holloway's Show, owned by successors of the " Eichardson's " so long
associated with " Bartlemy Fair," the great Smithfield
carnival,

which was

last

held in the year 1855.

At

"Bartlemy"
it

Eichardson's

was the

chief

dramatic

booth, sometimes, indeed, the only one, though usually

had a rival in Scowton's. Its importance is shown by the charge for admission 6d., as against the 2d. asked at other booths and by the description which a contemporary gives of the platform in 1825. It was hned vrith green baize, festooned with crimson curtains, and lighted with 1,500 variegated lamps. The moneytakers sat in Gothic seats, whUe the band consisted of

twelve Beefeaters.

Eichardson catered
goers, as is

for the

most uncultured play-

by shown by Professor Henry Morley, the historian of " Bartlemy." One year a " Beautiful Spotted Negro Boy " was sandwiched between The MonJc and Murderer, or the SJceleton Spectre, and Love and Liberty, or Harlequin
several bills of his quoted

in his Glory. " Acting shows " are becoming fewer year by year,

now

that permanent theatres are springing up every;

where

and

it is

of the historic

noteworthy, therefore, that an offshoot " Eichardson's " is still welcomed at

Lichfield and elsewhere.

41

THE ROYAL PROGRESS,

1902.

Apaet from the Jubilee processions, there had not been for many years so successful a pageant as the royal progress through London some little time after King
Edward's Coronation, namely, on October 25, 1902, the day before the solemn thanksgiving service at
St. Paul's.

The

route covered vpas about eight nules

of

in length, and

many thousands

people joined in

welcoming the King and Queen. Precedent was largely ignored on

;

memorable occasion but the royal carriage made the customary stop at Temple Bar for the old-time ceremony of tendering the sword of the City. When it had come to a standstill, the Lord Mayor, bareheaded, advanced
this

on

foot, and,

holding the sheathed sword in both hands,

one at the

hilt

and the other

at the point, offered it to

his Majesty, saying

"I

surrender to yom* Majesty the

sword of your

ancient and loyal City of London."

To this formula he added a prayer that His Majesty might enjoy a long, happy, and prosperous reign.
Lightly touching
words, " I
the sword,

the King, with the

it

thank you," returned

off

to the

who rethed with

horse,
v?ith

a profound obeisance,

Lord Mayor, mounted his

and rods

down Pleet

Street,

bareheaded and

sword uplifted, keeping in advance of the royal

carriage to the Guildhall,

of

which was reached by way

Street, Princes Street,

Ludgate HUl, Queen Victoria and Gresham Street.

^2

HALLATON HARE
FESTIVAL.
I.

PIE

THE PROCESSION.
public

Though both the hare and the

come

game

of football
if

are connected with Easter, they very seldom,

ever,

so close together in the observance of the festival

as at Hallaton,

in Leicestershire.
left to

Many

years

ago

somebody now unknown

the then vicar a piece

"Every Easter Monof land under novel conditions. day," he stipulated, " the vicar and his successors shall
provide two hare pies, a quantity of
ale,

and two dozen

penny loaves to be scrambled for on the rising ground The scramble has consecalled Hare Pie Bank."
quently taken place ever since, and, in addition, football

take part in

has long been played between those entitled to the inhabitants of Hallaton and of the it

neighbouring village of Medbourne.

On

Easter

Monday

the village clubs, headed by a

regalia,

brass band,

and arrayed in their

march

to

church, subsequently dining at one of the inns.

43

HALLATON HARE
FESTIVAL.
II.

PIE

THE VICAR AND DEPUTATION.

Lateb

in the afternoon a deputation calls at the vicar-

age for the pies and beer, which are promptly forth-

coming.

fare that is

Large and substantial pies are in readiness fit to put on any table. At one time they
Disliking to see food wasted, a certain

were pretentious shams, as uneatable as the dishes in a

stage banquet.

occupant of the vicarage gave the deputation " property " pies,

and devoted the money saved thereby

to the deserving poor.

But now the

historic pies are

irreproachable

much

too good, in fact, to be kicked

about a

A
same
well
it

field, to which they are carried in sacks. " quantity " of ale is supplied in two wooden

bottles or kegs, while a third miniature barrel of the

size

and appearance, empty,

for it

use as the football.

handed over This bears the marks of wear,

is

for

as

may,

has done duty about half a century.

4+

HALLATON HARE
FESTIVAL.
III.

PIE

FILLING

THE

SACKS.

Cutting up the
sacks,

pies,

the vicar drops the pieces into the

and the deputation then departs.

is

Subsequently the procession

fore,

re-formed, and, after

parading the village, with the pies and beer well to the
proceeds to Hare Pie Bank, where the pies are
for.

scrambled

And then
;

things become lively.

a piece

Imit

mediately a

native

secures

he

hurls

at

someone
another
to
foot.

else
till

the

whole crowd, in
spoilt

fact,

pelt

one

they are covered with grease from head

are
in
is

Clothes

abundance, but not

in

tempers, since this horse-play

accordance with

immemorial usage. Nothiag else is done with the pie, though subsequently some of the cottagers gather up
fragments as souvenirs.
After the scramble the empty barrel
is

thrown on
Hallaton

the ground,
begins.
It
is,

and the

game Medbourne

v.

however, less a game than a battle, less

football than fighting, the struggles

between the goals

in

two
work

streams about a mile apart

resulting

much

Broken ribs and cracked heads are common, while minor casualties may be counted by scores. In the end the Hallatonians invariably vrin, and quaff the ale with great gusto. To the victors the spoils, and to them falls the day's prize.
for the local surgeons.
45

TYNWALD DAY.
I.

TYNWALD MOUNT.
is

A EEMAEKABLE
Mount,
July Sth.

custom

observed annually on Tynwald

in tlie Isle of

Man, on old Midsummer Day,

Alike for antiquity, quaintness, and as the

only survival of the oral method of handing down laws,

it

is

very interesting, and though, of course, almost

it

superfluous,

should be continued,

if

only as a link

with the days of the Sagas.

The
the laws

principal part of the

takes

place on

ceremony proclaiming Tynwald Hill, the name of

which indicates its ancient use. "Tyn" is derived " ThingveUir," which means from the Icelandic word the place where a "Thing" that is, a public assembly is held. "Thing," denoting an assembly, was in common use in Anglo-Saxon times, and is

stiU

preserved in the Storthing, in the kingdom of

Norway.
in

In Early English history,

as

too,

it

appears

such forms

"Althing,"

"

stead," etc.

" Tynwald," therefore,

Ty thing,'" "Thingmay be taken to

mean

the place of meeting of a public governing body.

At one time proclaiming the laws was common among Norse nations, and long survived in Iceland the Tyn-

wald Hill or ThingveUir of which country,

noted,
is

it

may be
in the

also called the " Loberg,"

it

meaning

Law Eock

though
Isle of

has been discontinued.

is

But only

Man

the custom

now
46

carried out.

TYNWALD DAY.
II.

CHURCH AND STATE.

Tynwald

The proceedings on
hill.

Day

begin

with

gathering at the Chapel of St. John, near the famous

Attended by a military escort, the Governor (representing the King) goes to the chapel, and is

there received by the Bishop, Clergy, Keys, Deemsters,

Coroners, and a large

visitors

number

of people,

many

of

them

from the mainland.

course,

and the Governor symboHses the union of Chm-oh and State. These ofl&cials are together throughout the whole ceremony, both on the hill and in the chapel a circumstance noteworthy in so great a stronghold of Nonconthe presence of the Bishop

Of

formity as the Isle of Man.

47

TYNWALD
III.

DAY.

SALUTING THE GOVERNOR.

Afteb Divine service in the chapel, a procession is formed and proceeds to the hill. It goes through a company of Volunteers and a number of Naval Eeserve men from Peel, drawn up on each side of the pathv^ay and the Governor, before whom the Sword of State is carried, is saluted as he passes.
48

TYNWALD
IV.

DAY.
hill,

PROCLAIMING THE LAWS.

the
officials

When

the procession reaches the

and

Keys pass nnder a tent

a modern innovation, the cerefor centuries

mony having
in

taken place

with no canopy

overhead save that of heaven

and

the people gather

crowds on the grass beyond.

calls

Then the Southern

upon the Coroner of Glenfaha to "fence " the Court," which he does by " charging all present not to " quarrel, brawl, or make any disturbance on pain of death."
Deemster
.

The proclamation
ology, as are
all

is

curious for

its

ancient phrase-

the forms used on the occasion, parIt runs

:

ticularly the oath of the Deemster.

"

By

this

Book, and by the holy contents thereof,

and by the wonderful works that God hath mhaculously wrought in heaven above and in the earth beneath in six days and seven nights, I do swear that I will, without respect or favour or friendship, love or gain, con-

envy or malice, execute the laws of this isle justly between our Sovereign Lord the King and his subjects within this isle, and betwixt party and
sanguinity or
affinity,

party, as indifferently as the herring's backbone doth

lie

in the midst of the fish."

As soon

as the

Court has been duly " fenced," the

in, after

Coroners are sworn

of the laws are read, first in

which the marginal notes Enghsh and then in Manx.

This constitutes the proclamation of the laws.

is

An Act
is it

not binding

till

so proclaimed, nor

till

then

an

" Act of Tynwald."

sary thus to

For many centuries it was necesmake the laws known, because no docuof

mentary record

them

existed

biat

now they

are

transmitted to paper in the usual way.

TYNWALD DAY.
V.
ST.

JOHN'S CHAPEL.
hill

With
ends.

the reading of the laws the ceremony on the

The procession

is

then re-formed, and the Court

returns to the chapel, which, as

" half church of God,

Durham

Cathedral was
the
Scot,"

haK

castle

'gainst

may

be described as half church of God, half ParliaIt passes

ment house.

up the rush-strewn aisle to two head of each of which is a chaii', with The Bishop takes one chair and seats down one side. the Governor the other, while the Keys distribute themtables, at the

selves over the seats.

If there be
after

then quickly passed,

business transacted

money votes they are which the House rises. The

is

always purely formal, any matter

of the Court, as

on which a debate may take place being adjourned.

Whether the members

tread under foot
is,

they leave

the building, think of the rushes which they again

perhaps, doubtful

unless, indeed,

they commiserate the farmer

who

is

obliged to supply

them But these growths

to the

for the occasion as a condition of his tenancy.

give the finishing touch of antiquity

whole proceedings, and prove to demonstration

that they began in the far-off days

still

when

carpets had

to be invented.
so

WINNERS OF DOGGETTS COAT

AND BADGE.
Undoubtedly the oldest and hardest
world
is

that for the " blue riband of the

river race in the Thames "

Doggett's Coat and Badge.

is

It is the oldest, because it

nearly two centuries since the comedian put up his famous orange-coloured coat and silver badge with a view to encourage rowing among Thames watermen

the hardest, because of the distance and the crowded

state of London's great river.

The conditions have considerably changed since the old actor instituted the race. Gone is the habit of going gone are the ferries which had to the theatre by boat
;

to be crossed to reach the opposite side

cally are the very boats
will.

gone

practi-

which Doggett
is

specified in his

But

there

is

as

much

interest taken in the race

as ever,

and proud indeed

he who wins

it.

" Doggett's course "

London

is fi-om the " Old Swan " inn, Bridge, to where the " Old Swan " at Chelsea

used to stand. The competitors have to

water, not the

di'ag

through the

modern racing

skiff,

but a boat weighing

about 35
pieces,

lbs.

a boat which has a side containing three

also a keel,

and

and wooden wings and fixed

wooden rowlocks.
boat," because
ditions laid

This craft is
built in

known

as the "

Doggett

it is

accordance with the con-

down by the
they can
;

giver of the Coat

The men*
traffic

have also to thread their

and Badge. way through the

shore.
is

as best

they are forbidden to make

therefore,
it is

their course

by having signs given from the

difiicult,
;

Besides being
free

the race

not

from danger

and to win

in consequence

something of an achievement.
*

The names
:

of

the winners in the picture are, reading from left

to right

J. J.

TiTEFEEEY.
(1900.)

W. H. Campbell.
C1850.)

A. H. Beewee.
(1901.)

51

DISTRIBUTING
I.

MAUNDY

MONEY.
THE LORD HIGH ALMONER AND CLERGY.
centuries the chief religious rite on

Foe

Maundy

Thurs-

day was the washing of the feet of poor persons by a

prelate, noble, or sovereign, in imitation of our Lord's

lowly act at the Last Supper.

in the

Greek Church, and is Church even in our own country, for

copal
robes,

The custom still survives observed by the Roman

at

Westminster
liis

Cathedral the Cardinal Archbishop, clothed in

epis-

washes

the

feet

of

thirteen

acolytes

But the fidl ceremony has been extinct in the Anglican Church since 1754, the last monarch who carried out the feet - washing being
habited in white.

James
the rite

II.

While, however, the distinctive religious feature of

is

obsolete,

Maundy Money

is still

distributed in

day preA procession is formed in the ceding Good Friday. nave consisting of the Lord High Almoner (representing his Majesty), clergy, officials, and Yeomen White flowers are carried, and some of the Guard. of the party wear white scarves in memory of the Christ girded Himself before towel with which
washing His
disciples' feet at

Westminster Abbey on Holy Thursday

the

the Last Supper.

5-^

DISTRIBUTING
II.

MAUNDY

MONEY.
YEOMAN CARRYING ALMS.
too,

Yeoman of the Guard,

carries

on

his

head a

basket containing the alms, which are in red and white

purses.

From
Here

the nave the procession passes to the chapel.

service is held,

and during
to a

its

course two distribuof old

tions of alms are

made
is,

company

men and
Royal

women who have been

charity.

selected to receive the

Everyone

or should be, according to the

regulations, not under 60,

and the niunber of each sex

corresponds to the age of the Sovereign,

i

In the

first

distribution each
;

woman

receives 35s.,

and each man

the white as

45s.

the second

is

of the red

and white

purses, the red containing

1 and 1 10s. in gold, and many pence made up of silver pennies,

twopences, threepences, and fourpences,

the Mint

all

fresh

from

as the ruler is years of age.

While the Maundy pence represent the

in

original alms

money, the gold

scandal

is

given in lieu of clothing and food.

gifts

Much

was occasioned by the

in kind,

particularly the clothing.

The female
''

recipients,

with

the weakness of their sex for

trying-on," donned their

garments in the chapel at York House, Whitehall

where the
their

distribution

then took place

and

loudly

expressed their pleasure or dissatisfaction, according to

view of the

fit.

Money

was, therefore, substituted

for clothing
for

and food 35s. (with 10s. more to a man) the one, and 1 and 1 10s. in gold for the other,
S3

DISTRIBUTING
III.

MAUNDY

MONEY.
CHILDREN OF THE ROYAL ALMONRY.
of the
it foui-

CURIOUS featui-e

ceremony
children,

is

that there are

like the clergy,

always present at

who,

wear white scarves and carry white

flowers.

These

represent the Children of the Eoyal Almonry, four old

men who,
towels,

prior to 1808,
of

and

had the right of providing the afterwards selling them, and who were

paid 21 for participating in the ceremony.

When

the

charity was reorganised their office was aboHshed, and

real children

were substituted.

The
and are

children

now

receive five guineas annually, from

the age of seven to fourteen years, for their education,

also

given a fee of

6s.

each for their attendance

at the distribution of

Blaundy Money.

'

-^/l7^''Z"Z/^i^'2'^"-^i^

THE SHAKESPEARIAN FESTIVAL AT STRATFORD.

If the Shakespearian Festival at Stratford
is is

modern,

it

none the

less pretty,

as the years roll on.

and bids fair Held on the

to

grow

in interest
it

poet's birthday,

consists of a pilgrimage to his tomb.

All the visitors in the

where

they

are

received

town meet at the Town Hall, by the Mayor and the

Subsequently the whole of
officials,

Shakespearian Committee.

them, with the Mayor and other local

Shakespeare's grave within the
the
occasion
are

go in

procession to Trinity Chm'ch, and there lay wreaths on

communion
of

rails.

For

large

quantities

rare
all

and beautiful
parts of the

flowers

annually received from

world

the tributes of Shakespearians in many lands.

festival was marked by an interesting At previous celebrations speaking had not been allowed; but Professor Friedler, of Birmingham

The 1905

innovation.

University,

in presenting a wreath on behalf of his countrymen the Grermans pronounced a most graceful eulogy on the poet as he laid that token on the grave.

ss

HELSTON FLORA DAY.

I.

PLAYING THE "FURRY DANCE."

To
tlie

see

the most ciTrious and interesting remains of

comus, or wandering dance, which celebrated the

it

return of spring,

is

necessary to go to Helston, in

Cornwall, on

May

8th, locally

known
is is

as

"Furry Day."

The prime

feature of the festival

a dance of this kind

the " Furry Dance," which

to a quaint old horn-

pipe tune, repeated so often during the day that the

visitor

remembers

it

as long as

memory
is

lasts.

Wliile,

however, the
ballad

dance

emphatically the

thing, an
sists

important part of the merry-making cona

in

singing

which admhably conveys

the spirit of the holiday.

"

The opening
Little

verse runs

Robin Hood and

John
fair,

Tliey both are gone to the

And we

merry greenwood, To see what they do there, O.

to the

And
To

for to chase, O,

chase the buck and doe,

Witli Hal-and-tow,
Jolly rumble, O."

"Furry Day" begins early. Soon after dawn the Volunteer band perambulates the town, playing the haunting tune that is to become so familiar to every
living soul before night,

and rousing the inhabitants

generally.
S6

HELSTON FLORA DAY.

II.

EARLY DANCERS.
is

LITTLE later there

a good deal of dancing in the

folk,

streets

by the young

To the first half of the hand in hand to the second, the

;

who all know the figure. "Furry" tune couples dance

first

gentleman turns the second lady, the second gentleman the first lady, and so on all down the set.
57

HELSTON FLORA DAY.

III.

THE

"

FURRY DANCE."
till

But

the dance does not take place

the afternoon.

procession of ladies and gentlemen having heen formed,

a start
is

The band
go,

made from the Market House at one o'clock. strikes up, and away the couples trip, heading
at the rear,

straight for the nearest house, through

and come out

which they all there to turn and pass

the peculiarity of the

into the next dwelling.

This

is

ceremony

the uniformed musicians, with a train of

dancers, go right through the houses, from front to

back, or vice versa.

In bygone years there were several other customs of " Furry Day." A number of the inhabitants proceeded
'

to the

the

Grammar School and demanded boys. At noon the men went into
if

a holiday for

the country,

returning with oak branches in their hats and caps.

Lastly,
set

anybody was found at work, he was seized, astride a pole, carried to the river, and made to

leap across a spot

or,

rather,

attempt to leap across, for

was chosen where he was certain to get a ducking or pay a fine. These and other old observances have fallen into desuetude, and the energy which was spent on them is now devoted to holding horse, dog, and poultry shows.

But the Dance "

distinctive part of the festival

if

the

"

Funy

not kept up with as miich enthusiasm as

takes place, and will probably be handed
ages.

formerly,

still

down through the

THE GUY FAWKES SEARCH.

I.

READY TO EXPLORE THE VAULTS.

old customs whioh linger in and about

Of the many

the Houses of Parliament,

picturesque, perhaps,
vaults.
is

the

quaintest and most

the periodical search of the

this has taken place

Ever since the time of the Gunpowder Plot on the day on which Parliament assembles and, though of no practical value, is not
Early in the morning of that day a body of the

likely to be discontinued.

Yeomen

Guard gather in the Priuoe's Chamber of the House of Lords, and thence proceed, halberds and lamps in hand, through the lower passages, flashing their lanterns round notwithstanding that no artificial light is needed as if they reaUy expected to find a modem Guy Fawkes or some of his diaof the

bolical handiwork.

59

THE GUY FAWKES SEARCH.

II.

A PART OF THE
in fact, searcli the

VAULTS.
whole of the
untoward,
vaults,

The Yeomen,
and,

having

discovered

nothing

return

through the Lower House and the Upper House to their meeting place.
Suhsequently they are entertained at a neighbouring
dwelling

with bread, cheese,

and beer by the

representatives of the family

which gave its name to "Bellamy's," the famous coffee and chop house adjoinof
pies Pitt is

ing the old House

whose veal
death bed.

"Bellamy's" said to have longed for on his

last

Commons

the

According to Stanhope, the great statesman's

words

were, " 0,

my poor

country

" but there is a well-

known
to take

story (apocryphal) that they actually were

much

niore fleshly than patriotic.

Pressed by his attendants

that never spoke

some

food, Pitt said, " I think I could eat one

of Bellamy's veal pies," and after

again.

When some

veal pies,

brought from West-

all speed, arrived, he was no more. "Bellamy's" dispensed hospitahty to the Yeomen \^hen it was an eating-house and a club to which Members repaired day after day, and the owner's descendants have generously continued to provide for them down to the present time.

minster with

6e

OF THE GERMAN EMPEROR TO WINDSOR.

VISIT
in a

Newman,

famous passage, maintains that the reception we give to distinguished foreign visitors is prompted " It solely by our love of show and our snobbishness.
is

the

way with Englishmen," he

;

says.

"A

saint in

rags would be despised

in broadcloth, or in silk, he

would be thought something more than ordinaiy, St. Francis of Assisi, bareheaded and barefooted, would St. Francis Xavier, dressed up like a be hooted
;

mandarin, with an umbrella over his head, would inspire

wonder and delight."

Whether we

are snobs or not,

we

certainly
is

welcome

foreign rulers in no half-hearted fashion, as

instanced

by the reception which Windsor gave to the German Emperor and Empress on the occasion of their visit to

Queen Victoria

in 1899.

Used

as the inhabitants of

the borough were, and are, to royal ceremonials, they

decorated their principal thoroughfares, turned out as

one man, lined the way from the railway station to the Park, and cheered enthusiastically as the Emperor and
his consort swept along.

The welcome they extended

indeed, magnificent, though

to

om- guests was,

its warmth was due in no small measure to the usual contingent from Eton, where they know how to cheer.

6i

THE SHERBORNE PAGEANT.

I.

AN ENGLISH

CHIEFTAIN, TRIBESMEN,
FAMILIES.

AND

In commemoration of the twelve hundredth anniversary

of the founding of Sherborne, a folk play, written by

Mr. Louis N. Parker, was performed at the Aldhelm

celebration on June 12, 13, 14, and 15, 1905.

Dealing
it

with the main events in the history of the tovra,

presented in an eminently fitting theatre
in front of the Castle, which, built

was

on the sward

by Boger of Caen, stood two sieges during the CivU War, and was finally blown up by order of Parliament in 1645, that it might
not give the Eoundheads further trouble.
I

Mr. Parker's play opens with an episode showing

the coming of
(a.d.

E aldhelm,
first,

the founder of

Sherborne

an English chieftain with tribesmen and families. He kills a deer, which two of his attendants place on a large stone, near which are
705).

Enter,

rushes and other aquatic plants indicating the presence

of a spring.
The Chieftain.
This stone was an altar of the old gods before the
wild

men

of

Wales brought us word

of the white

Christ.
\st

Attendant.

Perchance 'twas the old gods that gave luck to

thine arrow.
It

%nd Attendant.
Tlie Chieftain.

were well to

oflFer

a burnt-offering in token of

thanks.

'2nd Attendant.

Thou knowest, Gurth, the old gods are dead. I know we have ceased to worship them. But 1 fear them still. For dead they are not. Now they
haunt the woods as
evil spirits.

\sl

Attendant.

The Chieftain.

{The others assent.) Wherefore, O Chieftain, turn away their anger. Why, kindle a fire, then, and bring me a knife.
62

THE SHERBORNE PAGEANT.

II.

THE COMING OF EALDHELM.

are
is

As the men

making a fire the sound of singing heard, and through the underwood come a group
monks, among
helm).
Ealdhehn.

of

whom

is

a white-hahited figure (Baldohieftain.

3

Ealdhehn addresses the English

The Chieftain.
Ealdlielm.

My son, what is this thing thou art about to do Who are you, sir, that come weaponless amongst
and speak with such gentle speech
!

us,

The Chieftain.
EaldJielm.

My name is Ealdhelm, a poor priest of the Lord. But answer me, my son. Sir, I am making ready a thank-offering for the luck
the god has brought
bumt-offerings.

me

in the chase.
offer

Well knowest thou that Christians may not

The Chieftain.

Christians we are, but so long is it since we hav had any teaching that we have half forgotten the new faith and lean half on the old gods.

Ealdhelm.

{turning to his disciples)

Behold,

children,
t/ie

we

come in God's time. My son, by what name

.

(Pointing to

spring)

is

this

water known 1

The Chieftain.
Ealdhelm.

Sir,

in our ancient tongue

we
It

call this

water the
foi-

Scir

Burn

the clear stream.

Give
loith

is

a holy place.

(interrupting him)

A holy place

indeed

here

I plant the standard of Christ.

cross-bearer)
the Cross,
the side

me

(He turns to his the Cross, my son, (Be takes

Jioces it

and

one thrust

in the earth, by

of the spring)
this

The Chieftain.
Ealdhelm.

Sir,

what does

mean ?
by
this clear stream, will build

Upon
From
his

this holy place,

this pleasant hill, I

and on a city and a church.

this holy place the

knowledge of the true God

shall spread

throughout the Western Lands. (lie dips

hand in

the spring

water)

And

the place of

and sprinkles the ground ivith the be known throughout all ages as the Clear Stream, and unto the end of
it shall
it

time

its

children shall call

Sherborne.

Queen enter, and Ealdhelm Western Lands, hence unto both seas and the borders of the Welsh."
Later,

King Ine and

his

is

made Bishop

of " these

63

THE SHERBORNE PAGEANT.

III.

ATTACK OF THE DANES.

is

The second
(a.d.

episode

based on the attack of the Danes

845).

In the fight the enemy are defeated, the

:

scene closing with the chorus

And

Thus were the Danesmen from our borders driven Sherborne's sona in war did mightily.
handful smote a hundred On that day Methinks a banner was unfurled in heaven.
!

Saw

Yea, and pursued them, till brave Ealhstan Parrot's channel choked with Danish dead.
64

THE SHERBORNE PAGEANT.

IV.

TOWN

V.

MONASTERY.

Succeeding episodes closely foUow other events in the

history of Sherborne, the seventh depicting the quarrel

between the town and the monastery in 1437. To Bishop Neville, the spokesman of the town party complains of alterations made in the Abbey Church and the shifting of the font. The Abbot replies, stating that the men have set up in the Church of AllhaUowes their own font, and " do ring the bells of Allhaliowes at daybreak and before, just as my monks are wont to take
their brief hours of slumber."

An

altercation follows

the Bishop's decree.

Walter Gallor, a butcher, rushes off, with the Abbot and monks, to destroy the new font which has been set up, while the parish priest goes out
with the avowed intention of setting
thatch.
fire to

the Abbot's

A Townsman.
Another.

What's he up to 1

No

good.
let's

Another. Another.

Don't

bide here.

Let's

do summat.

We've

a-got

no

leader.
1

Hobin Hood. A Townsman. Robin Hood.

What ?

No

leader

Sherborne town. Dorne against the Abbot.

fight in

What's toward 1 The men

o'

Sher-

Ho, ho
eh,

Little

my merry men Abbots are our meat, John ? Eh, Friar Tuck ] I'll be your
1

leader.

Another Townsman. Robin Hood.

An' who be you, pray t The Earl of Huntingdon here Robin Hood.

if

I had

my

rights,

but

Abbot.

(The Abbot re-enters with his Monks, Walter Gallor, and his followers) Walter Gallor hath destroyed the {joyfully)
font!

Robin Hood.

Then have

at thee, Walter Gallor

(Short quarter-staff bout

between

Walter and

Robin Hood.)

In the end, however, the monastic partj- gives way, conceding " a parish church with font complete."
6s

THE SHERBORNE PAGEANT.

V.

MORRIS DANCERS

IN

THE GREENWOOD.
is

The announcement
parish
jubilation.
All.

that the townsfolk shall have a

received with

church to themselves

much

{throwing their caps in the air)

A
in

parish church with font

complete
Abbot.

So harmony and kindness dwell

is

Sherborne once more

Then there

great cheering,

after

which Eobin

Hood and Maid Marian

the Morris Dancers.

step forward

and dance with and

Next comes the Foundation

School
receiving
its

of the Almshouse,

then successively the Expulsion of the Monks, the

Charter,
Sir

Walter
:

Ealeigh

arriving at Sherborne, and the final picture

stately figure symbolical of Sherborne has

been raised on a

pedestal in the centre of the Quadrangle.

In one hand she bears a

model of Sherborne Abbey

arms of the School.

the other reposes on a shield bearing the

On

her right stands her daughter, the American

caravel,

Sherbom, bearing in one hand the model of a

marches through the crowd, singing the
Sherborne School song).
66

and resting the

the School
(the

other on the arms of the State of Massachusetts.

"

Now

Carmen

Sseculare "

ELECTION DAY AT GIRDLERS'

HALL.
I.

THE PROCESSION OF THE CROWN.

out

In the early years of the London Livery Companies,

the election of Master was a ceremony carried

with

much pomp and

still

feasting, and,

though compara-

tively little of either has survived to our

own
the

times,

some companies
formalities of the

retain

certain

of

ancient
is

event.

prominent instance

the

Girdlers', several of the old customs being observed

on

election day,

which

is

usually on or about St. Lawrence's

Day, in the early part of August. The whole of the Court and Livery assemble in the

Hall, and, the Master, wardens, and

chosen,

officials

having been

march

in a

body

to the church of St.

Lawrence

Jewry, for the purpose of hearing a special sermon, for delivering which the preacher is entitled to a fee
of 3s. 5d., an ancient bequest of a kind not

uncom-

mon

in connection with the City churches.

Formerly
musicians,

the Girdlers were accompanied to church

by

while candles or lights were carried in the procession.

The

parson,

too,

was

with

them in
of

their

progress
is

through the

streets.

But the age

is

pageantry

gone, and the procession

picturesque.

now formal without being

hall,

After service the company return to the

where

the Master and wardens are crowned in accordance

with ancient usage.

beadle,

procession *

is

formed of the
the

robed, and bearing his mace,

musicians
the

(generally a small contingent from the band of

Grenadier Guards), the porter carrying the crown on a

cushion, the clerk,

and the butler with the loving cup.

* The scenes here depicted were photographed in the forecourt of the Girdlers' Hall, and represent the ceremony as it takes place in the Hall
itself.

67

ELECTION DAY AT GIRDLERS'

HALL.
II.

CROWNING THE MASTER.

upon whose head the clerk the same time calling him by his
of the Grirdlers'

The

procession thus constituted marches up the middle

of the hall to the Master,

places the crown, at

name, and crowning him Master

pany

for the ensuing year.

Then

the butler

Comhands him

he pledges the company. Afterwards the wardens are crowned in like manner, A feature of the upon which the procession retires. is that the Master is literally "elevated" ceremony
the loving cup, with which
or "raised" to the chair, as the
to the Throne.

King

is

"elevated"
the

Whenever the custom originated

and

first

mention of a formal election is dated 1328 the crowns Made of velvet seem to have been used for centuries.

and

silk,

the outside embroidered with gold wire and

St.

bearing the figure of

Lawrence,

many

gTidirons,
thistle,

and the national emblems of the rose and the

that they were in
relating to one of

they are believed to be of the sixteenth century, and

use in 1550
in a cash
still

is

proved by a note
date.

them

book bearing that

Despite their age, they are

velvet, originally gold
silk is

in

good condition.

The

and

blue, is

now brown

but the

yet a bright yellow.

For long the election was succeeded by a grand ball, and musicians were provided " tor the ladies' accommoThis, however, was abolished in dation to dance." 1760, and has never since been revived.
68

LADY MARGARET'S CHARITY.

As a form
of

posthumous benevolence, the

long
since
It has

dole,

no

less

than the almshouse, has

fashionable.

ceased to be

been superseded by other good

it

works.

All instances of

now

extant, therefore, are

of long standing.

One
of

of the oldest is that

known

as

Lady Margaret's
Beaufort, mother

Charity, instituted by

Lady Margaret

Henry VII.

Besides the foundations at Oxford and

left

Cambridge, she

many

bequests to Westminster, one

of them for the weekly which bears her name.

distribution of food

and money
it

The

dole consists of a loaf of

;

bread, a piece of meat, and fourpence

and

has been
far as

presented to the poor continuously

is

known, a single break

without, as

for

about four hundred years.

every

The

distribution is

made

Saturday at the

entrance to Chamber, Westminster Abbey, the Dean or his agent handing the dole to the
the

Jerusalem

poor

folk
it.

who have been

selected

as

eligible

to

receive

GARLAND DAY AT
ABBOTSBURY.
i.

CHILDREN WITH GARLANDS.

of oflfering floral tributes to

The custom
has
it

Neptune

still

many

local survivals,

and even

in our

own country

Hngers here and there, particularly on the Dorset

coast,

though
is

it

seems likely to die

oiit

in a few years.
it

One

of the fishing villages in

which

has been long

observed

Abbotsbury.

On

the 13th of May, locally

known
village

as "

Garland Day," the children go round the

gifts of

with large garlands of flowers, soliciting

householders.

money from
all

After they have called on

the inhabitants they proceed to the beach.

GARLAND DAY AT
ABBOTSBURY.
II.

THE NEPTUNE FESTIVAL.

are placed in boats, taken out to sea,

Then the garlands

and, instead of being committed to the waves, as they

nsed to be, and as such tributes are

the Greek islands, brought back again.
innovation.

still

in several of
is

This

a recent
novs^

So also

is

the ecclesiastical character

given to the

festival.

Formerly the ceremony

vras

nothing more than the

superstition
;

embodiment

of

an ancient

now

it is

a religious festival, the children

taking the garlands to church

is

held

is,

where

a special service

before they are carried out to sea in the boats.

therefore, has lost its chief significance.

The custom,
It

Of old a dozen or more off from the shore at Abbotsbury, as against one from Swyre and another from Puncknowle, and every floral offering was placed on
indeed, dying out.
boats, each with a garland, put

the waves in the firm belief that the mackerel fishing.

boats have gone out to sea.

would bring luck to But latterly only two or three

it is

While, however, the ceremony

the past, Garland

almost a thing of
then* best

Day

is

still

observed as a general
dress in

holiday by the inhabitants,

who

and provide bounteously

villages.

for visitors

from neighbouring

71

fj^.rNf.iT!as3'-cv. jasili

;.'.''io

flife

PROCLAIMING THE KING.

Le
mort ! Vive le roi ! With the spirit of the old paradox at heart, people hurried to St. James's Palace on January 25th, 1901. In the quadrangle on
roi est

the east side of the sombre pile

Friary Court there

were already a detachment of Grenadier Guards with band and mounted officers, and the balcony above the spot where Queen Victoria appeared before her
people
for

the

first

time

nearly

sixty-foiu-

years

previously, with such

emotion that she subsequently

expressed the strong view that the Sovereign ought not

to be present

on such an occasion
struck.

was
eye

draped with

crimson cloth.

Nine o'clock
a

Every
the

was
as

instantly

turned on the window opening on to the balcony^ and

murmur ran through

figures

crowd

group of

gorgeously-arrayed

Marshal led

The Earl the way, followed by the Deputy King of

stepped
out.

Arms and the Heralds and

bringing up the rear.

Pursuivants, four

State

trumpeters and four of the King's Serjeants-at-Ai'ms

Every head uncovered

splash
of

as the

figures

brilHant

colour against
into
position.

the

weather-stained

stone

moved

Without

any

delay,

the

trumpeters blew a long, triumphant blast,

and then

Norroy King of Arms proclaimed the accession of King in the customary formula. Eaising his voice at the end, he cried, "God save the King," to

Edward VII.

which rose from

save the King."

all

present the fervent response, "

God

Again the trumpets blared a

psean.

Below, the
over.

troops saluted the King's colour and the band struck

up the National Anthem. Then all was Edward VII. had been proclaimed.*

King

* On the morning of the ceremony London was wreathed in fog circumstance which explains the apparent defe-*s in the picture.
7a

TISSINGTON WELL DRESSING.

I.

DRESSING THE WELLS.

pagan
rite, is

The custom

of well dressing, originally a

firmly established in Derbyshire.

It flourishes

vigorously

in several villages, particularly in Tissington,

is

where

it

observed with

much

old-world charm

and

rustic

beauty.

In the decoration of the wells

five,

of

which there are

Well, and the
display

namely, the Cup and Saucer or Hall Well, the

Coffin Well, the

Hands Well, the

Town

Yew

Tree or Groodwin's Well

taste.

the

villagers
festival

admirable

For days before the

young

and old scour the countryside for flowers, which, with coral berries of the holly, mountain ash, and yew, gathered the previous winter and stored for May, are
used for forming the designs.
Simultaneously a wooden

frame

is

erected over each well in the form of a temple,

grotto, or

wayside chapel.

Then everything

is

ready

for the actual dressing.

This process

is

very interesting.

The framework
in

is

covered with a layer of

soft, plastic clay,

which are

stuck the flowers and berries according to a pre-arranged

plan,
until at
last

the well

is

backed with a most

it is

beautiful mosaic, as perfect in form as

in colour.
efiPect is

harmonious
sense
;

Nothing

jars

on the

aesthetic

the

wholly pleasing.
set

There are no
over
it is

or stock designs.

Each well

is

dressed differently every year, though the pretty picture

invariably surmoimted with an appropriate

motto or

such as " Let the earth bless the Lord," " King of Grlory now," or " Come ye to the water."
text,
73

TISSINGTON WELL DRESSING.

II.

READING PSALMS AT THE COFFIN WELL.

Holy Thursday, when
is

By

the morning of

the festival
;

takes place, the dressing of the wells

villagers are not

finished

but the
keenest

aware of
of

this

by ocular demonstration.
takes

While each section

Tissington

the

interest in the decoration of its

cases that has been carried out

own well and in some by the same family for

it

generations

it is

against

all traditions for

to inspect

the wells before the festival.

That were

sacrilege.

Nor
Both
time

do

visitors

make

the round before the formal tour.

see
all

residents

and strangers
is

the wells for the

first

as the procession goes

This
service

essentially

from one to the next. a religious ceremony.

Divine

having

been held in the parish church, the

of

parishioners,

accompanied by the clergy, make a tour of

which a portion of the psalms appointed for the day is read and a hymn sung.
the wells, at each

The second
called

halt

is

made

at

the

Coffin

Well, so

from

its

peculiar shape, and always an excellent

art.

specimen of the peculiar local

74

TISSINGTON WELL DRESSING.

III.

SERVICE AT THE

YEW TREE WELL.

After visiting other wells, the procession comes to the Yew Tree or Goodwin's Well, where the concluding
service
is

held.
spirit
is

Throughout, the religious

most marked.

The villagers regard the festival as one of thanksgiving to God for a bountiful supply of pure water, are
indignant at the suggestion that
it

is

of

pagan

origin,

was first held in Tissington when neighbouring villages were suffering severely through drought. As a consequence they are reverent and devout, and the visitors, recognising their motives,
and declare that
it

conduct themselves accordingly, with the result that the

procession
is

really a religious ceremony.

When, however,
and
is

the perambulation of the village

is

over, a gayer spirit reigns.

jollity,

Worship gives way

to mirth

open house

is

kept everywhere, friends from

finally, there

neighbouring villages are welcomed, and,

a dance on the green.
75

BIDFORD MOP.
I.

THE

PIG ROAST.

Till comparatively recent years a pig roast was one

of the principal features of a rural
fair.

It

used to
small

take place on the green, sometimes with the aid of an

enormous
village

spit,

such as
but,

may

still

be seen in a

near BiUingshurst.
;

Several pigs were always

still

though roast pork is inseparable from the feast as plum pudding

barbecued here
Christmas,
the cooking
is

as

is fi'om

now

carried

out in the

villagers' houses,

not in the open an.

This
trade

is

the usual practice nowadays.

are
still

At Bidford

Mop, however, pigs

is

roasted whole, and a brisk

done in cuts from the carcasses.

76

BIDFORD MOP.
II.

"SIPPERS"
for

AND

"TOPERS."

BiDFOBD has
drinking.

It is

centuries had a reputation for deep the " Drunken Bidford " of the lines

attributed (no

doubt unjustly) to Shakespeare

lines

which

are supposed to hit off the characteristics of a

of neighbouring villages
" Piping
:

number

Pepworth, Dancing Marston, Haunted Hillborough, Hungry Grafton, Dodging Exhall, Papist Wixford, Beggarly Broom, and Drunken Bidford."

And

the local " sippers " and "topers"* became

famous through the well-known crab tree incident. One summer morning, according to the tradition, Shake-

Meeting a shepherd, he jocularly asked him if the Bidford topers were at home, to which the man rephed that the topers were away, but that he would find the sippers, who might, the
speare set out for Bidford.
native added, be able to hold their

own with him.

The

shepherd's anticipation was realised; for Shakespeare,

in

wending

his erratic

way homeward

after foregather-

ing with the mere sippers, was fain to throw himself under a crab tree and sleep off some of the effects of
his carouse

Whether

true or false, the story was credited at

Stratford as far back as 1762, as " Shakespeare's Canopy."

when the

tree

was known

It stood in a field fring-

ing the Bidford- Stratford road,

and has since been

represented by a crab tree nearer that highway.

* It need hardly be said that the terms do not apply in any personal sense whatever to the two villagers who consented to be shown in the photograph here reproduced.

77

A GRAVESIDE EASTER
SERVICE.
Market Harborougli stands tlie little Church of St. Mary-in-Arden sanctuary which, notwithstanding its age and romantic Mstory, is now closed from Easter to Easter except at
Close to the railway station
at

funerals.

In

consequence

of

the

ill

reputation

it

had

acquired for the celebration of clandestine marriages,

perpetual curacy was consolidated with that of Harborough so far back as 1614, and, though decree was then made that service should be held in it occasionally, that St. Mary's might not be wholly
its

neglected,

it is

Easter

Eve,

now open, when an

save for funerals, only on

interesting

ceremony

is

performed.

The members of the Harborough choir wend their way to the ancient church, and, as the twUight deepens,
gather round the grave of one William Hubbard, and
sing the Easter

hymn. For this service they receive one guinea, which is derived from a rent charge on a
will.

house in the town, in accordance with Hubbard's

The

testator,

who

died at the beginning of last century,

of perpetuating
his

chose this
thus far
it

method

memory, and

has been as effective as any he could have

found

at so small a cost.
78

LOCKING THE TOWER GATES.

I.

FASTENING UP FOR THE NIGHT.

Tower"
is

As the

" Eoyal Palace and Fortress of the

generally

known

as the
it

Tower

of

London
is

not an

ordinary fortress,

has

many

distinctive ceremonies, of

which the quaintest and most picturesque

of the gates at " midnight."

the locking

Shortly before 11 p.m. the chief warder

who,

in a

MS.

preserved in the Tower,

all

is
'

said to be

" always

called in

books of records
'

ancient times always

the yeoman,'

master porter,' and in " and, further, " to

to the Lieutenant's

have been recommended by the Lieutenant and chosen

of the

ancientest warders "

goes

house

for the keys of the gates.

These keys are

for-

mally delivered to the Constable after his installation in office by the Lord Chamberlain.

Having obtained them, the warder proceeds to the officer in command, and asks for an escort, which is at once furnished. Then all wait for the horn-. Eleven
o'clock strikes.
"

Quick march

"
!

Away

the party swing to the main gate, which the

warder locks.
79

LOCKING THE TOWER GATES.

II.

AT THE BYWARD TOWER.

The warder, with the escort, then starts on the journey back to the Lieutenant's house for the purpose of returning the keys. Soon he reaches the Byward Tower, where the guard turns out and salutes.

LOCKING THE TOWER GATES.

III.

"WHO COMES THERE?"

Passing on, the bearer of the keys comes to the Bloody

Tower, where ghosts of the noble dead prowl nightly.

As he emerges from under the gloomy archway a

lenge rings out " Halt Who comes there
!

chal-

"

" The keys," responds the warder. " Whose keys ? " " King Edward's keys."
" Advance, King Edward's keys."
8t

I.OCKING THE
IV.

TOWER GATES.
till

SALUTING THE KEYS.

he
arrives at the guard-

The warder then goes on

house, where
all

the soldiers salute as he passes.

82

LOCKING THE TOWER GATES.

V.

"GOD PRESERVE KING EDWARD!"

halt, the

Coming to a
hat,

warder wheels round, takes

:

off his

and says solemnly God preserve King Edward " And the whole guard responds
"
! :

"

Amen Amen
!

"
!

Without further
the officer in

delay, the warder carries the keys

to the Lieutenant's house, where he delivers

them

to

command.

ceremony has been performed nightly, as shown by entries ia the Tower books, ever
This
remarkable
since the time of
*

Edward

III.

This series of photographs was taken in the reign of Queen Victoria of course, her Majesty's name was used and at a time when, in consequence of the South African War, the Scots Guards were on duty at the Tower. The guard-house shown in the picture has since been altered a circumstance which demonstrates the value of history photographs, because here is a record of a condition of things already belonging

when,

to the past.

83

FIFTH OF
Op
memorate
Fawkes'
pretty

NOVEMBER "GUYS."
Gunpowder Plot
celebration. "

the comparatively few English customs which comreal events in the history of our country, the
is

most popular

the
is

Guy

Day "

much

observed everywhere, and always in the same fashion, " guys " (often supposed

to represent the

most unpopular man of the moment)

being burnt on enormous bonfires to the accompaniment

of a fusillade

from squibs and crackers and small cannon

prone to explode when they are capable of doing the

most injury.

The most important local variations, perhaps, are in the rhyme which is repeated, as the " guys " are paraded
through the
'

streets, in the early part of

the day

Please to remember the Fifth of November,

I see no reason

Gunpowder Treason and Plot why Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot."

There are several versions of

this appeal for coppers,

while in some counties additions are made to it. The " guys " in the picture were photographed at Windsor.
84

PANCAKE TOSSING AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.

I.

THE GREAT HALL.

old customs

Wheeeveb
which
as
is

else

may

die

out, they will

always survive in public schools, the atmosphere of

peculiarly adapted to their preservation
;

and

long as the

ancient

foundation

at

Westminster
its

exists, so

long will the pancake be tossed in

great

hall

on Shrove Tuesday.
its

The schoolroom, with

environment

handsome Gothic roof

is

of

wood, supported by iron bars,

a singularly fitting

Every part has Even to the very bar the foremost, and its tradition. the most prominent, shown ia the picture which extends from side to side of the room, and over which thepancake is thrown, a strange story is attached.
for so quaint a survival.

hung a curtain dividing the Upper from the Under School. One day a boy tore this curtain, but escaped punishment at the hands of the then master (Dr. Busby, who never spoiled a boy by sparing the rod) through the kindness of a schoolfellow, who took the blame upon himself. In after life
it

From

originally

the punishment- scorning boy, William

Wake

(father of

Archbishop Wake), became a colonel in the service of

the King during the Civil War, and joined in Penruddock's rebellion in 1665.

Taken prisoner

at

the

rout of the Eoyal party, he was tried at Exeter by the

old schoolfellow (probably Serjeant Glynn)

whom

he
all

had generously saved from

a flogging.

The judge

recognised him, and, hastening to London, used

his influence with the Protector, with the result that

the hero of the curtain was pardoned.

8s

^/rMiS'^gA3^/,^iytfi2L9j&^

PANCAKE TOSSING AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.

II.

BRINGING IN THE PANCAKE.

it

The ceremony on Shrove Tuesday, though

stantially unaltered for centuries.

has been

modified sHghtly from time to time, has remained sub-

In the morning one

the pancake in a
all

of the vergers from the Abbey, bearing a silver mace,

conducts
frying-pan,

the

cook,

vpho

carries

into

the great hall, where

the boys

are assembled.

When

the room was divided by a curtain, this was

aside,

then drawn
scrambled for

and the cook threw the pancake

all

over the bar towards the door, whereupon

it.

the boys
repre-

Of

late years only a

few

one

senting each form, chosen by the scholars themselves

have taken part in the scramble.

86

PANCAKE TOSSING AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.

III.

"THE GREEZE."
aloft in the

Going forward, the cook hurls the pancake

direction of the bar.
If
it

goes clean over, the selected

it

boys make a wild rush for

it

in

whole, and, usually

floor.

failing,

an endeavour to catch then struggle for it on

it,

the

The one who

secures

or the

biggest
is

portion, is entitled to a guinea.

The scrimmage
over the bar.

known as "the greeze." Not always has the fritter gone

years ago the cook failed to send
fell
it

Some
it

high enough, and

on the wrong side. The boy who caught it bore it to the master's house in triumph, only, however, to be informed by the learned doctor that, as the cook had failed to throw it over the bar, the ceremony was null

and

void, and, therefore, the guinea

would not be

paid.

Whether the
fee

cook, who,

it

may be

added, was

pelted by the boys with school books, also lost his

^two

guineas then, but only one

is

now

on

this
total

occasion

uncertain;

but

presumably

the

amount saved was three guineas.

87

PANCAKE TOSSING AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL.

IV.

THE VICTOR RECEIVING

HIS GUINEA.

The boy who

of

gets the pancake, or the largest piece,

it

which has been over the bar takes

Westminster,

to

the

Dean
the

who

thereupon

hands

him

guinea.*

Of the origin
one time had
its

of this quaint

ceremony
doubtless

counterpart at Eton
is

nothing

which

at
is

known.

The pancake-tossing
sports
it

a survival

of the mediaeval

but when and

why
it

which delighted schoolboys came into being cannot be traced,

though probably

did not originate after the date of

Elizabeth's foundation (1560).

* For the benefit of future generations, it may be noted that the Archbishop of Canterbury, who, on the occasion when the photograph was taken, stood in the background, is not usually present at tne

payment

of the guinea.

83

HORSESHOE TRIBUTES

IN

OAKHAM
Pebhaps
exacted
the
is

CASTLE.
mediEeval

most

singular

the horseshoe required

now from every peer who

tribute

passes through

Oakham.

Originally the

shoe had to
;

come from the

a long time
it

actual horse ridden by a baron

but for
toll

has been usual to

commute the
size,

by

paying for a fancy shoe, and as a result the tributes in

Oakham
They

Hall vary greatly in shape and

are mostly dated, the

and are

even made of different metals.

most important exception being a large shoe given by Queen EHzabeth, who probably sent it about 1556, after her visit to Lord Burghley. Among them are several from the Eoyal Family Queen Victoria (when Princess Victoria) in

1835

1881 Wales) in 1895.

;

Queen Alexandra (when Princess of Wales) and his Majesty the King (when Prince
In
all

in of

there are nearly 200 shoes,

which are of all sizes, from 7 feet in length down to one only big enough for the small-hoofed racehorse. However the tribute may have originated, it seems
to

have

been

demanded
it

continuously

for

seven

was instituted by Walchelin II. gave the Barony of Oakham. From what is known of his truculent and overbearing character, it is conjectured that he ordered his seneschal to take a shoe off the horse of any other
centuries.

Probably

de Ferreris, to

whom Henry

baron

territory,

the temerity to ride through his and that thence evolved the custom of demanding a horseshoe from every peer who passed through Oakham.
89

who had

THE INVERNESS GATHERING.

I.

DANCING THE
life

,"

GILLIE CALLUM."
sports

In the social

of Scotland athletic

called
or

"meetings"

ia

the

Lowlands

and

"games"

" gatherings " in the Highlands

are
;

more important

events than corresponding fixtures on this side of the Border. Held in the " season " at the end of August

to

and during the whole of September they are musters which cling a series of festivities and Lanark, Ayr, Musselburgh, Inverness, Oban, AthoU, Braemar, and
places,

other

are

in

turn

the

scenes

of

brilliant

assemblies.

At the Northern Gathering, which takes place

Inverness, Mlts Scottish sports the only competitions in which
interest is

at

and tartans are the only wear, and

much

shown. " Gillie Galium "

is

The sword dance

is

such as the an iavariable feature, though he

is

who

adjudged the best performer

it

not always a

Scotsman, but,

may

be,

to that curious freak, the

somebody closely related "Houndsditch Highlander."

In
are

fact,

some

of the kilted pipers

who

hail

from London

surpass in skill

not a few of such of their comrades as

on their native heath.

90

THE INVERNESS GATHERING.

II.

TOSSING THE CABER

is

On

the programme, too, a place

always found

for

tossing the caber.

The beam

or tree so called,
is

when
about

used at the beginning of open competitions,

26 feet long, pieces being sawn
right length
is

off

the thick end tiU the

it

found;

but

customarily

is

about

21 feet long, with a

the thin end.

maximum

diameter of 3 inches at
perpendicu-

In throwing
larly,

it it

the competitor holds

it

balancing

against his chest, with the thin end

;

resting in his hands

and he casts

it

from him in such

over.'

way that it will faU on The winner is he who

fall.

the thick end and turn

scores the farthest toss

and

etraightest

91

THE INVERNESS GATHERING.

III.

THROWING THE HAMMER.

throwing the hammer, at

No

less regular a contest is

which the Highland athlete, ever strong rather than agile, and consequently ill-adapted for sprinting and steeple-chasing, is difficult to beat. Sometimes
the "fifty-sixer"
is

hurled about 90 feet,

is

and that

without a turn, which

forbidden by the rules.

special featm'e.
at

Every gathering is famed for some At Inverness it is the ball at night,

feudalism maintained by the

Atholl the

Duke

of Atholl,

and

at

Braemar the march of the clans a brilliant pageant. First come the Balmoral Highlanders, each bearing a Lochaber axe on his shoulder, and the whole forming a
blaze of Eoyal red
;

then the

Duflfs,

radiant in bright
stride

red tartans, march past;

green-clad

and then along

Highlanders,

the
in

Farquharson

claymore
silk.

hand, and preceded by two standards of white

When

the representatives of the various clans march

round the enclosure, to the skhi of the pipes, the efect a mass of waving colour broken up by the is superb flash of steel and the mind goes back to that historic

gathering which preceded the battle of Sheriffmuir,

commemorated by a brass plate in the window of one of the Braemar hotels. " On this spot," runs the inscription, "the Earl of Mar raised the
and which
is

standard of revolt, on
1715."

behalf of the

Pretender, in

92

DISTRIBUTION OF CARLOWS CHARITY.

No
charity, perhaps,
is

distributed under stranger con-

ditions than that of

Thomas Carlow, who

away
in bread

died in 1738,

leaving 20s. to be given

on Candlemas

Day.

For the

distribution is

or shed, the state of which is

made in a dark outhouse more likely to make all

present think of things decidedly earthly than of the

long-dead benefactor.

Thomas Carlow provided by

his will that

he should

be buried in the garden of his house, behind the Bull Hotel, Woodbridge, in Suffolk, and that 30s. should be

His directions were followed implicitly. As land became more valuable, stables were erected on the garden, and the tomb was enclosed in them. There, in the most curious environment imaginable, it remained for many years but eventually the tomb was shifted to an adjacent building, though Carlow's remains were left behind, and, indeed, they are still where they were
his

distributed annually in bread from

tomb.

deposited in 1738.

and not over the grave, that the distribution, the endowment of which is from the land and house left by Carlow, is now made. The bread is placed on a table covered with a linen cloth,
It is in front of the tomb,

and

is

given to poor people by the rector of

Wood-

bridge,

who

is

assisted

by his
is

two

churchwardens

and others.
punctually.

Despite, in fact, the peculiar position of

the tomb, the ceremony

performed regularly and

93

HOCKTIDE AT HUNGERFORD.
I.

DEMANDING HOLIDAY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

festival aj

Popular a
tinct as

Hocktide was,

it

is

now

as ex-

Twelfth Night, except in a few towns, perhaps

because
clashes,

comes only a fortnight after Easter, and therefore, with one of the great holidays of
it

town of humours of Hocktide survive, and even there they have come down to the present day owing to the circumstance that certain rights which the place enjoys are contingent on
the year.

Indeed,

only in

the

old-world

Hungerford, Berks, do

many

of the ancient

the observance of set formalities at this season.

This being
Hocktide.
children
;

so, all
is

Hungerford

still

makes merry

at

Holiday

formally demanded for the school

;

several public dinners, etc., take place

the

governors of the town are appointed with some cere-

mony

a number of old customs are strictly carried out

is

and general honour

paid to the

Gaunt, the great patron of the

leges depend.
94

memory of John o' town, who gave it the

its privi-

wonderful horn on the preservation of which

HOCKTIDE AT HUNGERFORD.
II.

CONSTABLE AND TUTTI MEN.

"

HocKTiDE begins with a " watercress supper

" John
o'

at the

Gaunt," a number of the townsmen sitting

black broth,

down
salad,

to

Welsh

rarebit,

macaroni, and

accompanied by bowls of punch. On the following morning the local crier, standing on the balcony of the Town Hall, sounds the ancient horn, after which the Hooktide Court assembles. The jury is then sworn,
and, the names of the freemen having been read over by the TovTn Clerk, and the commoners called upon to " save their commons," a number of of&cials are
elected

water-bailiff, hall-keeper,

ale-tasters,

etc.

Afterwards the tything or tutti

men

visit

the

resi-

dence of the constable (the chief ruler of the town),

and are there Invested with their emblem of

namely, a pole, on the top of which
posy.
is

office,

a tutti

or

They are then able to begin their pleasant which consists of calling on the commoners and demanding toU a penny from the men and a kiss from the women and presenting every person in
duty,

the house with an orange.

Much

excitement

is

occasioned by their progress

through the town, and there are

house.

many

little

screams

and much rustUng of dresses as they go

readily forthcoming,

fr-om

house to
always

For, while the pecuniary tribute

is

and while,

too, lip toll is usually

paid with a good grace, some ladies object to be kissed,

and, on the appearance of the fortunate tutti men,

and bar, and scurry to safe hiding Kissing places, there to remain till all danger is over. does not always go by favour.
hastily put

up

bolt

95

HOCKTIDE AT HUNGERFORD.
III.

CRIER COLLECTING PENNIES

pennies, though he does not

The

crier also collects

share the privilege of the tutti

men

to

demand

a kiss

from the lady commoners.

Subsequently there
is

a big
is

round

of festivities

and observances.
stable,

luncheon

given by the con-

and the Sandon Fee Com't is formed, among other purposes, for making regulations for the feeding of cattle on the marsh. After another dinner,
the court-leet
is

held.

Then comes the

sits

constable's

banquet, at which

his

Worship

beneath the famous

the toast,

John
poles,

o'

Gaunt's horn, suspended from the two tutti

is

and the principal feature of which

of

o' Gaunt." This is drunk solemn silence as the clock strikes the midnight hour and then the festivities proper are over, though

"

To the memory
;

John

in

the proceedings really close by the constable and other

officers

attending service in the parish church.

its

To the student of the past the whole festival, with many- remarkable survivals, is most interesting.
a
visit

Indeed,

to

Hungerford

at

Hocktide

is

an

education in old English customs.

96

THE CHAPLAIN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

ARCHDEACON WILBERFORCE.
Every
sitting of

the House of

Commons opens with

the

prayers for light and guidance.

The Speaker
table.

takes his place at the head of

By

his side is the

Chaplain of the House of

in silk

Commons, a gracious figure The members stand bands.

of the floor.

gown and muslin

in files along the benches,

each party facing the other across the dividing line

The

service

begins with Psalm

Ixvii.,

"

God be

merciful unto us, and bless

us; and cause His

is

face to shine upon us."

The

Lord's Prayer

recited,

and is followed by prayers for the King and Queen and the Royal Family. Then there is an invocation to Grod on behalf of the House of Commons, at which
the

" Send

Members turn to the wall with bowed heads. down the Heavenly wisdom from above,"
all

the Chaplain prays, " to direct and guide us in

consultations
;

our
fear

and grant that we, having

Thy
all

always before our eyes, and laying aside

interests,

private

prejudices,

and

partial

affections,

the result
blessed
justice,

of all our counsels

may

be to the glory of

Thy

name, the maintenance of true religion and

welfare, peace

the safety, honour and happiness of the King, the public

and tranquillity of the realm, and the

all

uniting and knitting together of the hearts of

per-

sons and estates within the same, in true Christian love

and charity one towards another, through Jesus Christ

our Lord and Saviour."
It is

most impressive to hear in the hushed Chamber

the prayers of the Chaplain, and the responses given

by

the Speaker.

'ojlI m//^U^^

( C^dYf/auj /

TEA ON THE TERRACE.

The
Terrace, so well

known

in

connection with the

is
is

social side of

Parliamentary

life,

unique.

No

other

legislative building
fine

in the world

favoured with so

a possession, at once a thing of beauty and a place

of recreation.

This splendid lounge and promenade extends the

whole length of the river-front of the Palace of Westminster.

The waters

of the
its

Thames wash

its walls. its

The noble Palace

down upon
Lambeth.
Surrey
the
it

with

many

Gothic windows,

delicate stone carvings, its pinnacles

and towers

^looks

majestically.
seen,

Across the broad and

fast-

flowing river

is

on the

right, the ancient Palace of

Far beyond are caught misty glimpses

of the

hills.

On
St.

the left are the spires of the city, with

Paul's looming massively

dome

of

and impos.

ingly in their midst.

Here Members
exercise

of the

from the enervation or

House boredom

of

Commons, escaping
air.

of the Chamber, take

and enjoy the

delicious freshness of the

On
are

fine

summer
for
tea,

afternoons, during the season, tables

in

laid

great Palace.

shadows of the In attendance are smart waitresses in

the deep,
cool

black gowns and white aprons.

Crowds

of ladies are

enjoying the tea and cake and strawberries, and Parlia-

mentary small talk

turesque scene.

of their hosts

and in turn lending

to the pic-

additional charms of colour

and animation

But there are

Terrace
liament.
off

legislators

who

think that " tea on the

" is a function

which lowers the dignity of Paris

For

their solace, a part of the Terrace

cut

by a post bearing the warning and there they ruminate in glum

by the laughter
of

"

For Members only,"

aloofness, undisturbed
rustle of her skirts.

Beauty and the

The Right Hon.

ARTHUR
Few men

J.

BALFOUR.
He was
returned to the

have been more fortunate and successful in

public life than Mr. Balfour.

House of Commons at the early age of twenty-five. For some years, as a private member, he made comparatively little mark. This tall, willowy, and fragile young Scotsman was regarded as rather indolent, with some
keenness of
intellect,

but with a bent for the abstractions

for Ireland

of metaphysics.

Then he was appointed Chief Secretary

in a time of trouble and difficulty.
It

was generally looked upon as a sort of forlorn hope. But the supposed lounger and trifler very soon showed that he was possessed of remarkable gifts, and displayed a resource in tactics worthy of a veteran. The result was that at
the early age of forty-three he attained to the great
position
of Leader of

the

House

of

Commons, and

before he was ten years older he was Prime Minister.

Here, surely, was success beyond the wildest dreams

of ambition.

Yet

this is

what Mr. Balfour has

to say of

public life: "If I could wish for some earthly gift to

be given by a fairy to an infant

child be under

whom

I loved,

my

first

wish would be that under no circumstances should the

any temptation

to

become a
it.

politician."

The

right hon. gentleman plays golf,

and

it is

his

ambition that he should excel in

did not take to

He

has, moreover,
life is that

declared that one of the sore regrets of his

it

he

in his early years, so that he

might
of all

have mastered
games.
It

this

most

difficult,

as

he

said,

was as much as
Still,

to

say that he would gladly

exchange his success in the Senate for glory on the

golf links.

regret

destined always to stand

how he may, Mr. Balfour is forth exalted among politicians.

it

/S97
7.

A J'hc^.^'i

"WAY FOR BLACK ROD!"

Black Rod
is

perhaps the most picturesque function-

ary of Parliament.

An

official

of the

House

of Lords,

Upper he controls the admission of strangers to Chamber. But he is best known as the Parliamentary messenger of the Sovereign, for as such he plays a
the
historic

part

frequently during the

progress of the

Session.

When
either

King appears in the House of Lords, personally or by Commission, to open Parliament,

the

to give the

Royal Assent

to Bills

which have passed

both Houses, or to prorogue Parliament, the Members

of the
his

two Chambers must be present, and it is in capacity as royal messenger that Black Rod is

directed on these occasions to

to the

summon

the

Commons
cutaway

House
official

of Peers.
dress of Black

The
coat,

Rod

consists of

knee breeches,

silk stockings,

and silver-buckled

and a sword by his side. Li his right hand he ebony stick with a gold knob, from which he derives his curious title. As he walks through the lobbies between the House of Lords and the House of
shoes,
carries a short

Commons, the usher in evening dress who precedes him heralds his approach with cries of " Black Rod
!

Way

for Black

Rod

"*
!

* The Gentleman Usher of the Black Eod in the picture is General Sir Michael A. S. Biddulph, G.C.B.; the Usher, Mr. W. Chandler, one of the doorkeepers of the House of Lords ; and the police officer, Inspector Kenrick, of the House of Lords' police.

The Right Hon.

HERBERT GLADSTONE.
Me. Gladstone has been in the thick of things political ever since the day in January, 1854 he was born at the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

in

Downing

Street, the

very centre of our system of

poli-

tical administration, the

most famous

political street in

the world.

Those who have read the " Life of William Ewart Gladstone," by Mr. John Morley, know that while Mr. Herbert Gladstone was a student at Oxford his father used to write him long letters on political affairs. Consequently few men have a wider knowledge of There are entries in his father's diary which politics. also show how often he joined in the latter's favourite
pastime
of
felling
trees.

He

is

great

athlete,

proficient, indeed, in

every form of outdoor physical

recreation.

Hence

his

abounding

vitality

and energy.

Mr. Gladstone
Sir

who became Home

filled

Secretary
his

when
diffi-

Henry Campbell-Bannerman formed

December, 1905

Cabinet

in

with success the very

and responsible post of Chief Whip of the Liberal party. For such a position his engaging social qualities,
cult

as well as his acute political

judgment, and the glamour

of his name, eminently fitted him.

W%UmM^

f/(A-<lu-c^

THE MEMBERS' SMOKINGROOM.

In the old House of Commons, which was swept away

by the
room.
to

great

fire of
it

1834, there was but one smokinglike

What

was

Macaulay describes
at

in a letter

his sister, dated

July 23rd, 1832:

night,"

"I am

here at eleven
filthiest

o'clock

he says,

writing " in the

all

of all filthy atmospheres, in the vilest of

vile

company, and with the smell of tobacco in

In the Palace of Westminster there are

my

nostrils."

now

half-a-

dozen rooms devoted to the enjoyment of tobacco.

Into

some

of

them Members may bring

just ofE

their friends.

But
is

the chief smoking-room,

the dining-room,

sacred from the intrusion of strangers.

Is there

any
is

reality or sincerity in party conflicts

The

question

suggested

by

the engaging spectacle to

be seen in the Members' smoking-room any night of a

Session.
Political

opponents who, in the Chamber not

an hour before, angrily shouted at each other across the

floor,

policies,

exchange their real opinions of questions and with mutual amity and confidence, in free
talk,

and unrestrained
is

and with many a hearty out-

burst of laughter, over coffee and cigarettes.

that party conflicts in the

Thus

it

end serenely in a cloud of

rarely goes far or deep.

House smoke
!

of

Commons

usually

In truth, party animosity in the House of

the political strain in the

But, however severe

Commons may be
in

Chamber

at times,

the

smoking-room
is

it is

always relaxed, and no other rivalry

known

there but that of

tell

who can say

the cheeriest

word and

the funniest story.

The Right Hon.

GEORGE WYNDHAM.
The most
attractive

figure

on the

Treasury Bench

during the Balfour Administration, from the point of

view of the Ladies' Gallery, was Mr. Greorge Wyndham.

There he was considered the handsomest man in the

House.

About Mr. Wyndham,

poetry and romance.
picturesque stock.
Is

certainly, there

is

an

air of

He

comes, indeed, of historically

he not the direct descendant, on

his mother's side, of that romantic figure in Irish history.

Lord Edward
in prison of

FitzGrerald, son of the

Duke

of Leinster,

the leader of the Irish revolutionaries of 1798,

who

died

wounds received

in resisting arrest?

But Mr.
tion

Wyndham

has sterling mental qualities as

well as rare personal graces.

With a good deal

it

of affec-

and sentiment
Chief
of

for things Irish, as well as with the

blood of the martyrs in his veins,

should be
Secretary for
offices

was
he

fitting that

he
his

Ireland.

In this the

most

diflScult

to

fill,

estabHshed

undoubted capacity as a statesman.

He

introduced and carried through Parliament, with

all parties,

the approval of

the great

Land Purchase Act

of 1903, for converting the tenant farmers of Ireland

into peasant proprietors.

This, undoubtedly, will rank

among
there
is

the greatest of Parliamentary achievements.

it

In

carrying

through Mr.

Wyndham

proved that in him

the unusual combination of an ardent, poetical

tireless

mind with a
chase.

industry.

He had
displayed
sjjeech,

a complete

mastery of the large and complicated scheme of purIn

its

exposition

he
of

remarkable

lucidity

and

persuasiveness
its

and always

through his statement of

vein of imagination.

details

ran a delightful

5^

0-eo-n.<^^

^-A-yo-t c>Aj,'wv>^

SIR
Among
the

STATUE OF CHARLES BARRY.

immense crowd which witnessed the grand and terrible spectacle of the burning of the old Houses of Parliament on the night of October 16th, 1834, was an architect named Charles Barry. He had known and loved the ancient and historic pile from his earliest years, for he was born in Bridge Street, under its yery
shadow.
Parliament decided to have an open competition
for plans for the

new

legislative buildings,

and a Royal

Commission was appointed to award the

were
as

prize.

There
first

many

as ninety- seven competitors,

and the

prize fell to Charles Barry for his Grothic design.

successful architect

The

was forty years old

at the time.

From 1837, when the river wall was begun, until 1852, when the Palace of Westminster was opened by
Queen
Victoria,
Its

Barry superintended the erection of

progress was
beset with

the edifice.

culties and vexations for the designer. was originally expected to be finished

many diffiThe building

six years,

in

at

a cost

of

800,000, exclusive
years

of

furniture
it

and
fully

fittings.

Twenty

passed

before

was

completed, and over 2,000,000 was expended upon

The Treasury fixed Barry's remuneration at the lump sum of 25,000, which was 23,000 less than he considered he was entitled to if paid by fee.
it.

However, he was knighted on the completion of Dying in 1860, his remains were his splendid work. His honoured by a grave in Westminster Abbey.
statue,

by John Henry Foley, stands

at

the foot of

the great staircase leading to the committee -rooms of

the Houses of Parliament.

MR.
A PRIME
Healy.
up,"

T.

M. HEALY.
House
of

favourite with the

When word goes round that Members crowd in from lobby, smoking-room,

Commons is Mr. " Tim Healy is

and Terrace, deserting the humourist in the middle of his good story, leaving the cigar unsmoked,
library,

casting the popular novel aside.

Yet he
rugged.

is

not an orator, in the

common meaning
is

of the term.

His style of speaking

is

unpolished and

In matter he

often irregular and erratic,

is

for he does all the thinking while he

on his

feet,

and But

it

consequently suffers from a want of continuity.

his speeches are

made up

of rhapsody, fancy, fun,

anecdote,

humour, banter, sarcasm,

pathos,

that

are

never forced, that come to him quite naturally

the look on the face of

even
to

an opponent
of

is

sufficient

suggest
earnest,

brilliant

train

ideas
feels

and,

being
there

an
are

sensitive

man who

deeply,

running through

it all

strains of

marked

seriousness

and

genuine eloquence.

He

fires in

turn the sense of the

ridiculous, the heart, the imagination, of his delighted

hearers.

He

has grown to love Parliament, as Parliament

has grown to love him.

years ago,

He

once said in the House,

when

as a stern

and unbending Nationalist

he was the
care a
of

bitterest sayer of bitter things,

"I do

not

dump whether I am in jail or in the House Commons." No doubt he thinks differently now. But occasionally, like the old Irish pagan bard, Ossian, after he had become a Christian, he seems to look back with a heart heavy with grief, and an eye filled
with tears, on the glorious days of his unregenerate

Parliamentary youth.

n<AXL Xi<^

GROUP OF UNIONIST
" DiNG-DiNG-DiNG
!

WHIPS.

Ding-ding-ding "

In every part of

the Palace of Westminster the electric bells are ring-

ing out their summons to Members to hasten to the

Chamber for the great division. "Hurry up! Hurry Three minutes the time up!" they seem to cry. being taken by a sandglass on the table in front of the Clerk are allowed before the doors of the House are locked. Members come rushing in from all Eagerly bustling about in the skmrying quarters. throng are the Government Whips, crying, "Don't

be late

Don't be late " in unison with the

is

bells.

The debate
is

over.

The arguments have been

political issue at stake

advanced and disputed, and the

the division lobbies.

about to be settled by the weight of numbers in Oftentimes

many

of the

Members who thus come

thronging to the Chamber for the division are ignorant

of the matter at issue,

and do not know exactly how

Just inside the door of
left

they are to vote as party men.

the

Chamber, where corridors on the right and

lead to the two division lobbies, stand the Government

Whips, who shout

their

men

are

Indeed, not a

"No!" meaning that to go into the "aye" or the "no" lobby. word may be spoken. The Whips may
or
their

"Aye!"

simply point with

thumb
thus

to

the

right lobby.

Such

is

the force of party discipline in the House of

that

Commons
followed

the

sign

given

is

compliantly

by our

representatives.*

* In this group of Unionist Whips, during Mr. Balfour's Administration, the Right Hon. Sir William Walrond, Chief Whip, and the Hon. Ailwyn Tellowes are on the left, standing behind the seat. On the seat are Sir Alexander Acland Hood and Mr. victor Cavendish. Mr. H. T. Anstruther is seen with his elbow on the table ; seated in front of him is Viscount Valentia ; and on the right stands Mr. W. Hayes Fisher.

VISCOUNT SELBY.
" Mr. Speaker "
!

So begins each Member who

rises

to address

the House of
in

speakers

the

Chamber,

Commons. Yet, of "Mr. Speaker"

all

the

speaks

seldomest and the fewest words.

He

sits

in his high-

canopied Chair

an

imposing and dignified figure in a

silk

big wig and flowing

listen to other talkers.

gown

not

to talk, but

to

Hours may pass during which

"Order! Order!" are the only words spoken by "Mr. Speaker." Yet it is impossible to exaggerate the trying and
arduous nature of the Speaker's duties, or the
strain,

mental and physical, involved in their discharge.

man's qualities could be put

Selby

to

no severer

test

than that

of filling the Speaker's Chair for ten years, like Viscount

better
it

known

as

William Court Gully

and

at

the end of

to be ranked

among

the greatest, for firm

ruling and impartiality, of the long line of Presidents

House of Commons. The Speaker guides the deliberations of the House. He names the member who is to continue the debate.
of the

This

is

not simply a matter of "catching the Speaker's

it is

eye," as

popularly called.

The Speaker does not

his

always name the

first.

Member upon whom

it is

eye

rests

It is
is

a careful and deHberate

talking,

selection.

If

Liberal
will

certain

that a

Conservative
is

speak next.

The

object

"if

the Speaker
'

to

secure that as far as possible evv

shall find

phase of opinion
Therefore
it

expression in the debate.

opposite sides

is

that

Members on
of

the

opponents and

supporters

the

question

under

discussion

follow

each other alternately.

/?8

Ir

FRENCH NAVAL OFFICERS AT

WESTMINSTER,
" It was the great hall of William Rufus, the hall

which had resounded with

auguration of thirty kings.

acclamations
.

at

the

in-

."

So
trial

opens that
of
of

famous passage
minster Hall as
Hastings.

of
it

Macaulay
remarkable

descriptive

West-

appeared at the
still,

Warren

More

on

Saturday,

August

12th, 1905, the rafters of the Hall rang with

the mingled " Vive " of the French and the " Hurrah"
of the British, in a toast of amity between the
nations, so long historically estranged.

two

The most
island

auspicious event of the

of the visit of the

memorable week French Northern Squadron to this

and
the
their ladies, at a

was

certainly the entertainment of Vice-Admiral

Caillard, his officers,

banquet in

Westminster Hall by both Houses of Parliament, with

the

Prime

Minister,

Lord

Chancellor,

and the

Speaker to bid them welcome.

reception was probably
all

The

heartiness of then-

the more appreciated

to

by

the

French

sailors

owing

the traditional

belief

abroad that the people of this country on such occasions are unsympathetic

and

indifferent.
alert

The
and

officers

were smart and

young men, bold

and they had that breezy expansiveness of manner, with something of the smack
resolute

of face,

of salt in

it,

always to

which the briny, far-spreading sea seems impart to those who spend their lives with
the
officers

her in intimate association.

were brought on to the Terrace, and a group photographed with M. Paul Cambon, the French Ambassador, in the centre, Vice-Admiral Caillard on his right, and RearAdmiral Leygue on his left.
After the luncheon
ladies

and

/^M/lrJiim

DR.
It
is

T. J.

MACNAMARA.
House of Commous

true that that success in the

which is represented by early appointment to office stUl depends largely on aristocratic connections. A man who has the advantages of birth and rank may rapidly rise to an official position to which another of equal
talent,

but of democratic connections,

may

be years
all.

in reaching, or, indeed,

may

never attain at

But there

is

a more enviable kind of success in the

House, to the achievement of which neither birth nor

rank affords any assistance whatever.

not

That

is inclusion,

but
six

among among

the office-holders on the Treasury Bench, the twenty or thirty members, out of the

hundred and seventy, who have a hold on the assembly, who compel the attention of the House. Such a position is to be reached only by ability and
force
of character,

by

force of

character especially,

for in political life

it is

that

tells.

Instances of

temperament more than intellect men who have reached to this

prominence so rapidly as Dr. Macnamara are rare. His success is due entirely to his own merits. The
son of an Irish soldier, born at Montreal, though reared

and educated in England, he had

his

own way

to

make

in private

life.

He made

it

with qidck

strides.

At the age of fifteen he was a school teacher, at thirtyone he was editor of the Schoolmaster, and at thirty-five President of the National Union of Teachers. In public life his individual gift of brisk and invigorating speech a style entirely his own was bound to carry him

far.

its qualities.

ing,

directness, humour, sincerity, are Behind the speech there are clear thinkstrong convictions, undaunted courage.

Spontaneity,

13

S/r^ei]j0n2//L S'har^jjkJ/ep^

y-C-T^

cy^^t^i^t

(^tKAA-^^^^i^^^tAM^lA ,

THE CHIEF OF THE PARSER

RACE.
The Jejeebhoy
family of

Bombay have

for a

hundred
of

years and more been the most conspicuous

members

the cultured and wealthy and enterprising Parsee com-

munity.

The head

of the family in

1858, Jamsetjee

Jejeebhoy, celebrated for his boundless philanthropy,

and since then the holder of the title has also been Chief of the Parsee race, and first citizen of Western India.

was created a baronet

Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, the fourth baronet,

was in

the public service, under the Grovernment of

Bombay
title.

interesting himself especially, like his predecessors, in

social questions

until

he succeeded to the
the

On
their

the special invitation of

Home

Government, he
Coro-

came

to

England, with
for the

family,

Lady Jejeebhoy and ceremonies of King Edward's

nation in 1900. Terrace, and with

He was
him

also

photographed on the

in the group are his son

and

daughter, and Mr. Jesse CoUings, M.P.

14

The Right Hon.

JAMES BRYCE.
an interesting instance of how a man may be at the same time a learned University don and a successful politician, two characters which are sup-

Me. Beyce

is

posed to be incompatible.

He
of

is

eminent as historian
social

and
the

jurist.

No

one has so complete a knowledge of

world's various forms

government,

its

organisations,
his scholarship

and

political

institutions.

But besides

and education he has the tenacity, the

ascendancy.

physical energy, and the force of will which sustain

political causes in the

Mr. Bryce
result of
this

is

a great mountaineer.
virile

One

sees the

and active form, and in the steady, searching gaze of his clear grey eyes from under his heavy eyebrows. As an advanced Liberal he takes in hand forward political questions
exercise in his

and
is

ideas

with

the

same
of

unfaltering

courage

and
It

resolution as he faces the far-off Alpine heights.

an

intellectual

treat

the highest order to hear

instances, reasons,

him
in

in debate, piling

up arguments,
side,

support

of

his

slowly,

tranquilly

passion, without emotion

but vigorously and

IS

without
earnestly,

and with deadly

effect.

T/J^T.*^,-^^

fj^l^-^^CC.

JUJ^ esz.^

THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER.

The most imposing view
is

of the Palace of Westminster

obtained from the Thames.

Standing at the eastern

a

end of
river,
full

Westminster Bridge, and looking across the

especially

when

the mighty waterway

is

at

tide,

one realises the beauty and dignity of this

for

great temple of legislation,

which the nation

is

indebted to the genius of Sir Charles Barry.

The

stately regularity of the long facade, its

its

uniform

symmetry, the lightness and grace of

the steeples and

stone carving,

pinnacles, terminating with the solid

massiveness of the high Victoria Tower, form altogether

a most impressive architectural triumph.

There

is

not only the grace of line and colour, which

beautiful
;

makes things material

dition.

there

of historic association, the

It is true that the

glamour of

charm antiquity and trais

also the

Houses

of the Legislature are

not yet mellowed, like the ancient

Abbey

across the

by the softening touch

tively

of the centuries.

way, But, compara-

new

as they are, the buildings

from the

historic site

have already caught upon which they stand a Royal

Palace having existed there since the time of

the Confessor

Edward

and from the

great traditions of Parlia-

ment, which has always sat at Westminster, something

of the splendid
past.

romance and mystery of the mighty

I6

The Right Hon.

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.
The
erect

and

alert figure of

Mr. Chamberlain, without

a superfluous ounce of material, suggests the trained

athlete.

As a matter

of fact

he scorns
is,

exercise.

Every-

thing about his appearance

indeed, spick and span.

That

is

why

so virile

and combative a personality

centre of passionate controversies

the always appears cool

It implies, to

and spruce and bland.

This carefulness in regard to

begin
is

dress at once inspires confidence.

with, a thoroughly businesslike

and orderly man, who

affairs.

never sloppy, who takes as

as about the

much

pains about his clothes

most important of public

his

The

in-

quiring eyeglass
flower,

and even that rare and unconventional the orchid, in buttonhole emphasises
directness,

his air

of authority

As a debater he Commons. Lucidity,

case

and determination that knows no baulking. stands supreme in the House of and force are the chief of speaking. No one can state a
is

attributes of his style

more

clearly.

There

never any doubt as to his

meaning.

Conviction and masterfulness are in his crisp

and
ful.

terse sentences.

The
is

alertness

and resource he

dis-

plays in seizing and utilising an interruption are wonder-

His elocution

perfect.

He

speaks, calmly and

;

dispassionately, in a penetrating voice

but

when he

is

deeply moved, or wishes to drive home some fierce

thrust, there comes,

with the glow of passion in his

language, a deep, inspiring swell in his otherwise even

and

clear utterance.

Above

all,

there

is

that highest

test of oratory

its

instant effect

upon the audience.

for success in public

Mr. Chamberlain has initiative and driving force

the two qualities which
life.

make most

Xj/ ^''''l'-^^^

jc-t-^

/^-^C^^-c^^

THE PIGMIES.
Surely extremes met when the
of the Ituri Forest, in Central Africa,

Members on the Terrace They are supposed to be

of

from the heart mixed with the the House of Commons.

little

folk

of the lowest type, mentally,

as well as the smallest, physically, of the

human
its

race.

What

did they think of the greatest Legislature of the

world ?

What dim
its

conception did they form of

pur-

poses and of

work ?

Probably they said

it is

a good

place for honey and lime-juice, the two things of civilisation for

which they cultivated the keenest

left their native dress aside

They
of 1905

zest.

^beads, bracelets,

earrings, nose-rings, anklets

on

the day in the Session

when they came

of

over from the Hippodrome to

the

Commons, and were photographed on the Terrace, with a background of Members of Parliament.
House

They wore the the men being

less picturesque

raiment of
suits.

civilisation,

in boys'

sailor

armed to the teeth with their bows and arrows and spears.
sleek

But they were weapons of war, tiny

These children of primitive nature were certainly

and healthy.

They seemed
with
wonder.

bright and intelligent.

What they saw

attraction in

in the Palace of Westminster did not

overwhelm them

the passing

They found more steamboats of the London

groups of Parliamentary

County Council than

legislators
to see

in the

who, with lady and speak to them.*

friends,

thronged the Terrace

* Members and others at the back from left to right are Sir John Batty Tuke, M.P., Mr. C. H. Wilson, M.P. (since raised to the Peerage), Mr. R. J. Price, M.P., Mr. J. J. Harrison (Explorer), Sir Charles Cayzer, M.P., Mr. King, Mrs. Hutchinson, Sir Walter Foster, M.P., Sir Robert Ropner, M.P., Mr. N. Hoffman (Interpreter), Sir Lees Knowles, M.P., and Dr. Hutchinson, M.P.
:

i8

MR. RICHARD BELL.

The
of
Greneral Secretary

of

the

Amalgamated Society
of

Railway Servants
in

perhaps

organisation

respected of
of

kingdom is one the Labour representatives

the

the largest trade union

the

best

in the

House

Commons.
Mr. Bell had been employed in Welsh iron-works

for four years before

he commenced his railway career

at the age of seventeen.

He

entered the service of

the

Great Western Railway

station.

Merthyr-Tydvil
prominent
wall, but as

Company as a porter at Ten years later he became

a Labour advocate
to

was transferred

at Swansea. He Cambrae, a remote place in Corn-

he goon resigned his position on the railway,

of

and, returning to Swansea, resumed bis post of organiser

for the

Amalgamated Society
of

Railway Servants.

In

1898 he was appointed General Secretary of the society.

At the General Election the House of Commons

Derby.
In the House of
chiefly

1900 he was returned to

of

as one

the

Members

for

Commons
affecting

Mr. Bell interests himself

the

in

matters

welfare

of

railway
his

servants.

Noted for moderate and practical views,

representations with regard to excessive hours of labour

on railways, and the absence of adequate provision

against accidents to the men, have always great weight

with the Board of Trade.

19

ST.
The
minster
is

STEPHEN'S HALL,
WestSt. Stephen's

"Strangers'" entrance to the Palace of

by

Porch, in Old Palace Yard.

Immediately to
of

the left extends the wonderful and

impressive Westminster Hall, the thrilling associations

which must quicken the pulses of the least imaginative.

lies

Straight ahead

St.

Stephen's Hall, leading to the

Central Hall of the Houses of Parliament.

This fine apartment

Session

is

traversed daily during the

by hundreds

of the public

from the Legislative Chambers.

to its strange history
It occupies the site

on their way to or How many pay heed

Stephen's

and vicissitudes?
of old
St.

Chapel,

originally the Chapel

Royal of the ancient Palace of

Westminster, and presented to the House of

Commons by
sat regularly

Edward VI.

In that Chapel the Commons

from the middle of the sixteenth century

totally destroyed

until it

was

of the
as a

by the fire of 1834. On the building new Palace, the Chapel Chamber was reconstructed noble hall. The place in the Lobby, just at the
was
of

door of the old Legislative Chamber, where Spencer

Perceval, the Prime Minister,
shot dead in 1812
is

by mad Bellingham, The a brass plate.

Its

a Liverpool broker,
positions

marked by

the Speaker's chair

and the table are similarly indicated.

splendid roof
is

delicacy distinguish

its its

Grace and painted windows, its stone and

most imposing.
of

wood carvings. But

features

most conspicuous and interesting

great

are

the memorials

Parliamentary

personages of the past.

It fittingly contains statues of

twelve of the greatest and wisest statesmen of former

days, whose voices, raised in behalf of patriotism and

public virtue, so often rang through the old

of the

Chamber

House of Commons.

MR.
The Houses

JOHN WANAMAKER.
ot

have naturally a great During the Session hundreds of them come to see the Chambers at work, to walk through the Members' quarters, to have a cup of tea on the Terrace. The visits of the Hon. John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, will be long remembered by those who have met him. He is one of those strong and
Parliament
attraction for Americans.
virile personalities of

which the United States seem

to

be so

prolific.

Those who run may read the characteristics of Mr. Wanamaker in his interesting face. They are unmistakable.
will,

Here, surely, are faith in

self,

indomitable

self-control that is absolute

and unshakable, and

with them the kindliness, the charity, the surrender,

which religious fervour imparts. At the age of fourteen he was an errand boy. He The is now one of the richest men in the world. largest business in America, that of Wanamaker and
Brown,
in
retail clothing

salesmen

with
stores

its

headquarters
the

Philadelphia,

and

branch

throughout

States

owes

its

extent and prosperity to his industry,

enterprise,

active politician,

and powers of organisation. He is also an and from 1881 to 1893 was Postmaster-

General of the United States.

But Mr. Wanamaker does not confine his energies business and politics. He is one of the great lay religious forces of the United States.
to the fields of

He

founded the largest religious organisation in the

country, the Bethany

Sunday School movement

still

of the

Presbyterian Church, and

superintends

it.

WirSmn^iqiqSbaqB'stk^

^ Hi ^|%44 f>l^^i<,

GROUP OF PEERS AND

COMMONERS.
In the popular fancy, fed on fabulous novelettes dealing

with high-born society, the Peers are glittering beings,

always clad in magnificent robes, and each with a golden

coronet, flashing with jewels,

upon

his brow.

The Lords

attending to their legislative duties wear sober suits of

customary black or grey, just like the Commoners ; and

when a

Joint Committee of both Houses

sit

together

for the consideration of a Bill, or a group of Peers

and

M.P.'s are

photographed

nothing to distinguish
its

absence

on the Terrace,* there is not even the strawberry mark or the hereditary legislators from the elected.

But what a contrast there is between the two Chambers in Session. The House of Commons is a responsive, emotional, and boisterous assembly. Party
statements are punctuated with roars of approbation or

vehement dissenting

retorts.

The atmosphere
other hand,
is

House of Lords, on the always calm and serene. Oftentimes

of

the

the speaker seems like one addressing, in loneliness and

isolation,

a strange and indifferent company.

Rarely

does the assembly give any indication of being moved. Debate there is but seldom associated with " Oh, oh,"

and laughter.
* In the picture is shown a group of Peers, M.P.'s and others. Front row from left to right : Lord Llangattock, Rt. Hon. C. B. Stuart Wortley, M.P., the Marquess of Zetland, K.T., Col. H. F. Bowles, P., the Marquess M.P. the Marquess of Granby, Sir Walter Plummer, of Londonderry, K.G., Sir James Bailey, M.P., Baron Percy de Worms, Sir Francis Powell, M.P., Lord Barrymore. Back row from left to right Sir F. W. Lowe, M.P., Col. H. W. Gray, Sir Lindsay Wood, Sir Thomas Wrightson, M.P., Mr. Imbert Terry, Sir Fredk. Dixon-Hartland, M.P., Sir Charles Philipps, Sir Charles Cave, Mr. P. P. Pennant, Mr. W. J. Marshall, Sir James Eankin, M.P., Sir Howard Vincent, M.P., Mr. R. N. SuttonNelthorpe, Mr. A. E. Southall, Earl of Stradbroke.

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD.

Lord Charles Beresford was
at different periods of his life, a

for

many

years,

Member
of

of the

and House

of

Commons.

But
he

it

is

as a sailor, rather than as a

legislator, that

lives in the

hearts

the people.

Joining the

Navy when he was only

thirteen,

by

sheer

hard work, and splendid courage and resource in times

of danger, he attained to the distinguished position

and unique

of

being hailed by popular acclaim as the

the

typical British sailor.

He

embodies

romance,

the

endurance,

the

handiness, the daring, and,

when
in

necessary, the " calm,

all

open-eyed

rashness "

which

ages

have

been

associated with the sea-faring

life.

On
as

the benches of the House of

Commons Lord

Charles Beresford was, in character and temperament,

much

the sailor as on board the Condor.

strong,

broad-shouldered man, with clean-shaven, mobile face,

laughing blue eyes, and a hearty,

bluff,

demeanour, as he walked up the

floor

and cheery of the House

roll of

one noticed in his gait the characteristic

" one

who names
in
relation

the waves his steeds."

Speaking from the

he
also

benches on such topics as that of physical deterioration

showed the sailor's frank and racy outspokenness and breezy good humour. On subjects connected with the Navy the
to

national

decay,

efficiency of its materiel, the comfort of its personnel

he spoke with a deep note of earnestness that was

unmistakable, and at times he was unsparing in his
criticism of the naval policy of the

Unionist Grovern-

ment, of which he was poHtically a supporter.

CAouOIju t^MuAjvdL.

LADIES IN POLITICS.
The
influence
of

women

in politics has always

been

enormous.

Formerly the
ladies

political salons of the great

were most important factors in the struggle between the parties for place and power.

Whig and Tory

These were fashionable assemblages held in the spacious drawing-rooms of Belgravia and Mayfair, where the party allegiance of the Member of Parliament was
steadied and strengthened

by bringing him, with

most
brilliant

his

wife, into association with the

coteries of gentility,

and

select

very jealous as
circles.

to

who

should be

admitted within their charmed

But different times, different methods. Not much is done nowadays in the way of keeping party men steady by the soft and insinuating influence of the drawing-room. The voter has become more important
than the representative.
If

the

convictions of

the

Member
therefore,

of Parliament

do not keep him straight as

It
is,

a party man, the danger of losing his seat will.

on the

electors that the great ladies of politics

now

bring to bear the charm of their brilliancy and

attractiveness.

The Primrose League of the Executive Committee of which Lady Louise Loder (eldest daughter of the Duke of St. Albans) is a member has turned the

attention of political ladies to the primary importance

of

wooing the electorate rather than the representatives.

Mr. Grerald Loder (seen beside his wife on the rightside of the picture) is also a leading
;

hand

member

of

League and on the left side is the Hon. T. Cochrane, M.P. (son of the Earl of Dundonald), who was Under-Secretary for the Home Department in the
the Primrose

Balfour Administration.
24

MR. W,
The
typical

S.

CAINE.

John Bull. It was thus that Mr. William Sproston Caine was depicted in a hundred caricatures. Rough hewn physically, blunt and downright in manner, he seemed to be the embodiment of the national rude
strength and self-confidence.

Yet
pist.

at heart he

was a frank and simple philanthroevil things of life.

He

was always at war with the

An

intensely religious man, in private life he

was a

sort

of lay minister, teaching the ignorant, visiting the sick,

raising the fallen, conducting

services

and preaching

eveiy Sunday to waifs and strays of society in a chapel

at Vauxhall.

In Parliament he was the most prominent

spokesman of advanced temperance views. The House of Commons has a weakness for giving
Mr. Caine, known Members. no means veiled whose muscularity and abruptness by his pitying and generous heart, was happily known as

nicknames to

its

best

" the genial ruffian."

2S

yiT^

(ZuC'i'p^.ji^

Q^^^imy^, V**-*-

THE SPEAKER'S STATE COACH.

The
Speaker's State Coach, a vehicle quaintly built but

handsomely decorated, is rarely seen in public. It was used in 1872 when Mr. Speaker Brand drove to St.
Paul's Cathedral to join
for

in

the thanksgiving service

the recovery of
illness.

the Prince of

Wales

from

his

dangerous
minster

In 1887, Mr. Speaker Peel, rather

than use the coach, preferred to walk on foot to West-

Queen Victoria Jubilee service. On June 23rd, 1897, the day of the visit of the House of Commons to Buckingham Palace to present an address to Queen Victoria on her Diamond Jubilee, the
for the

Abbey

old coach, after a quarter of a century of retirement,

was again brought forth into ceremonial life. On that occasion there was a difficulty in horsing the carriage, weighing, as it does, over four tons. It was only overcome by the provision of two horses of enormous strength from the stables of a well - known firm of
brewers.

The

coach, containing Mr. Speaker Gully, the Ser-

jeant-at-Arms, the Chaplain of the House of

Commons,

the Speaker's secretary, and his train-bearer, lumbered

slowly, with much rocking, to Buckingham Palace. It was accompanied by the Speaker's traditional escort, a solitary mounted Guardsman. Behind it followed the Members of Parliament, on foot, or in horsed vehicles of all kinds, and motor-cars.
26

MR. MICHAEL DAVITT.

The empty
sleeve

hanging by Mr. Davitt's side

tells
life.

a tale of the hardships and mishaps of his early

When

he was a boy his parents were evicted from their

homestead in County Mayo, and, coming to England,

settled in the little

town
mill,
off

of Haslingdon, in Lancashire.
old, his

There in a cotton
right

arm was torn

when he was ten years by the machinery.

All his life Mr. Davitt has been associated with the

extreme wing of the Irish Nationalist movement.

the age of twenty-five he was convicted in
treason-felony

At
of

London

the particular offence being the importation of arms to Ireland and sentenced to fifteen years'
penal servitude.

Released in 1877, he was associated

two years

later

with Charles Stewart Parnell in founding

the famous Irish

Land League.
But his appearances in and he seemed to be a lonely and

Mr. Davitt was returned to Parliament at various times

by

different Irish constituencies.

fitful,

the House were

somewhat pathetic
the place
to

figure.

The

political

atmosphere of

him most uncongenial. He found its was complicated cross-currents of thought and feeling bewildering.

stern stickler for principle,

accustomed to

frame his actions solely by reference to his convictions,

the opportunism of the House,
obligation of
its

its

sense that the chief

Members

is

unquestioning loyalty to

Party,

its spirit

and

take, puzzled

the House of
difficulties

and compromise, of give and somewhat scandalised him. In Commons more is gained by dodging round
of concession

than by desperate and heroic frontal attacks.

It has, therefore,

always been the despair of political

their

enthusiasts, to

whom

cause

is

a faith, a great

creed, a fanaticism.
27

THE NIGHT FIRE BRIGADE.

After the
build the
destructive fire of 1834

new

Palace, for

was determined to the accommodation of the

it

Houses of Parliament, as nearly

fire-proof as possible.
is

But the Palace

eight acres.

of Westminster

the largest Gothic

structure in the world.

It occupies pile

an area of about
It also

Withiu the vast

of so

there are no fewer

than 600 rooms and

the
principal
risk

offices of all kinds.

houses

officials

the

Lords

The
it

of
is,

fire

in

extensive

and Commons. and intricate a

building

therefore,

the police,

who

act

as a Fire

Brigade.

by no means remote. To meet as watchmen at night, are trained They are regularly drilled not

only on the Terrace, but in coping with imaginary outbreaks of

fire

through the Palace.

28

SIR

REGINALD PALGRAVE,K.C.B.
at the

Just below the Speaker,

head of the Table, sit the Commons and the two ClerkAssistants, in wigs and gowns, like barristers in the Courts of Law, busy discharging their multifarious
Clerk of the House of
duties,

such

as

sub-editing

questions

to

Ministers,

amendments

to Bills, notices of motion,

handed in by

Members, or taking minutes of the proceedings for the

Journals of the House,

was a wise and extremely able Clerk of the House of Commons. Unpretentious in manner, and most courteous, he readily placed his vast knowledge of Parliamentary history, customs, and traSir Eeginald Palgrave
ditions at the disposal of

anyone

to

whom

it

could be

of service.

Parliament.

He spent half He became a

a century in the service of

solicitor in 1851,

same year accepted a clerkship in of the House of Commons. He

died in 1904.

and in the the Committee Office and

retired in 1900,

for

The Clerk of life by letters

the House of
patent.

Commons

is

appointed

He

is

therefore independent
retired.

of the House, as

he cannot be compulsorily

Of

course, if he proved recalcitrant the

House could bring

This
is

him

to terms by withholding his salary.

2,000

a year, plus a residence in the Palace of Westminster.

29

THE THRONE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Formerly there was but one Chair of State on the Throne in the House of Lords. It was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin, the eminent architect, who was employed, under Sir Charles Barry, in the erection and decoration of the new Houses of Parliament. It has been in the House of Lords since the Chamber was first used in 1847, and Queen Victoria sat in it whenever she opened Parliament in person. On these occasions the lower chair on the left hand was used by the Prince Consort, and that on the right by the
Prince of Wales.

But

an

interesting

innovation

marked the

first

opening of

Parliament by King Edward VII. on February 14th, 1901. By command of his Majesty the Throne was provided with a second State Chair for Queen Alexandra. Perhaps for the first time in English
history,

Queen Consort accompanied the King

State Chair

in

equal state for the opening of Parliament.

The new

that on the

left of

the Throne
in

is

almost an

exact replica of

the old

design

and ornamentation, the only distinctive difference being that it is an inch and a half lower. Both chairs, with
their fine

carvings, gilt with

English gold-leaf,

and
their

the

rich

embroideries

of

the Royal

Arms on

crimson velvet backs, greatly augment the imposing

grandeur of the Throne.

30

SIR
The name

HENRY KIMBER, BART.

of
Sir

Henry Kimber

is

intimately asso-

ciated with the question of the reform of Parliamentary

representation.

His

investigations

of

the

subject

brought to light some curious results of the natural

growth and decay, driftings and

lation.

shiftings, of

popu-

He
same

found,

for

instance,

that

over

40,000
that

electors in

one place had only one voice in Parliament,

as 1,500 voters in another place of the
;

just the

one-half of the electors

whole Kingdom were

represented

by 206 Members

in the

House

of

Commons,

while the other half were represented by 464 Members

that a majority of the House, or 370

Members, were
of the

returned
electors,

by only a

little

more than one-third

namely, 2,750,780, as against a minority, or

300 Members, returned by 4,307,922 voters. By the exposure of these anomalies, and the declaration that
the only cure for them was a redistribution of seats,
Sir

Henry Kimber

precipitated
of

one of

the keenest

political

controversies

the

opening

years of

the

twentieth century.

The

celebrity

which Sir Henry Kimber thus attained

shows that a sure

self to

way

to success

in

Parliament

lies

through specialisation.

The Member who

it

confines him-

a single subject, masters

it,

thoroughly, and insists

upon advocating
word, the

in season

and out of season

man

of one idea

usually
3

in

attains to eminence.

>

/ /X- 1,_-c^

"-^

^-X-I.-u-->,'-i^<-t

STATUE OF CHATHAM.
Chatham
a peer.
for
is

better

remembered

He was

member
;

of

commoner than as the House of Commons

as a

more than thirty years

he was for scarcely twelve

years a

member of the House of Lords. He is known as " The Great Commoner," under
affairs in the

whose direction of foreign

eighteenth

middle of the

century

British

arms

were

everywhere

victorious. As a peer he was broken in health, mentally and physically, and had practically retired from public
life.

The
as

fine statue of the great statesman in his robes

an

earl,

by Patrick MacDowell,
tragic

in St. Stephen's Hall,

recalls

his

parting from the House of Lords.

On

April 7th, 1778, he was carried from his sick bed

to his place in Parliament, and,

haggard and emaciated,

the

wrapped in

flannels,

opposed

policy of

making
"Within
"little

peace with the revolted Colonies of America, backed as

they were by his old antagonist, France.

his

large wig,"
to

says

contemporary writer,

more was
crutch,

be seen than his aquiline nose and his

penetrating eye."
in

He

spoke, leaning heavily on his

broken

sentences,

with

slow and

feeble

utterance.

Then he

fell

back on the bench in a convulsive

fit,

and was carried out of the Chamber to die. The startled and sorrowing House instantly adjourned.
32

The Right Hon.

SIR A.
!

ACLAND HOOD, BART.

Think of the responsibilities of the Chief Whip of the Government He does not, it is true, initiate legislation. That is the duty of the Ministers. But once a
Grovernment Bill has been laid before the House, the
chance of
its

reaching the Statute Book turns upon

the success of the

Chief

Whip and
all

his

assistants

in

securing the attendance at

sufficient

hours in the House of a

number

of the supporters of the

to

steer the

measure safely
fate of

Government past the rocks and sand-

banks which abound in the division lobbies.

Government Bills, but practically the very existence of the Government itself, is in the hands of the Chief Whip. The object of the
Opposition,
of
course,
is

Not alone the

to

precipitate
;

General

Election

by defeating the Government

and, however

remote that chance

numerical
strength

may

seem, considering merely the

and weakness of the contending parties on paper, any day may bring it forth for in no place does the unexpected so often happen as in
;

the

House

of

Commons.

To keep

the Government

in office,, the Chief

Whip must

therefore ever be alert

and

vigilant.

It is required of

him always

to

be in
of the

his place.

Sir

Alexander Acland Hood, as Chief

Whip

Balfour Administration, was the one occupant of the

Treasury Bench dming

its

term of

office

who was never

have been

seen in the late hours of the night in evening clothes.

At any period
observed

of

the

sitting

he might

flitting restlessly

about the House and lobbies,

counting his followers, or consulting with the Minister

in charge of business.
33

THE ROYAL STATE CARRIAGE.

These
State
is

something suggestive of old romance, as well

as appropriate to the ancient glories of Royalty, in the

Carriage in which

King Edward and Queen

Alexandra rode to the Palace of Westminster for their

first

opening of Parliament on February 14th, 1901.

Towering high in its huge wheels, elaborately carved and gilt, its cream-coloured ponies ridden by yellowcoated postUlions and led by scarlet footmen, and escorted by gallant Guardsmen, it mmbled past, swaying ponderously from side to side on its leather springs, while through its glass windows the crowd caught glimpses of the King in his martial uniform, and the Queen with diamonds flashing in her hair. It was like an old coloured picture from ancient history. Impossible to think of is the idea of a King and Queen going in their robes to a State function in a vehicle so modern, and incongruous for such a purpose, as a closed brougham or an open landau.
Therefore
in gold
ancient.
it is

that this State

glass

coach,

flashing

and

colours, possesses the

harmony

of all things

The
back

sight of

it

imparts, too, something of the

It takes one's

joys of fantasy, the thrills of romance.

thoughts

along

the

mighty

line

of

English

Sovereigns to William the Conqueror,

who no doubt

came

in such a coach as this to hold his Court in his

Palace at Westminster, before even the notion of a

conclave of representatives of the people was thought
34

of.

The Right Hon.

LEONARD COURTNEY.
Mr. Courtney
is

one of those personalities

who dominate

you by an overmastering combination of mental power and physical energy. But there is a soft and gracious side to him, despite his shaggy eyebrows and intense
expression.

One day he was lounging on the Terrace near where Sir Benjamin Stone was at work with his camera, when a little girl, a stranger to him, came and asked him to take her likeness. Learning from the conversation of her friends, who were sitting on a bench near
by, that portraits were being taken, she ran to Mr.

Courtney with
operation.

her request

to

be

included

in

the

He

told her that she

had come

to the

wrong
is

person, but he

wotdd bring her

to the gentleman, and,

said,

going up to Sir Benjamin Stone, he

a

" Here

young lady who wants you to take her portrait," and Sir Benjamin answered, " I will at once, if you
Thus Miss Sheehy came to be " taken " on the Terrace with a Deputy Speaker of

will stand with her."

the House of

Commons. As Chairman of Committees during the

difficult

first

Unionist

Administration, from 1886 to 1892, Mr. Courtney had

a singularly

post to

fill.

He had
as

to preside

over the detailed discussion in Committee of some highly

contentious measures.

But many

were

his rulings

on complicated points,
into question.

his impartiality

was never

called

35

i_,c r^ 1/^

(^4^

/V-4t-~y

THE SULTAN OF PERAK.

Coloured potentates and princes who come to London never fail to visit the Houses of ParHament. Sometimes
they are to be seen in
all

the barbaric splendour of native

costume, sometimes in the full fashionable rig of Picca-

the East and the

and occasionally with a droll, fantastic blending of West in their attire. The Sultan of Perak, who came accompanied by an Indian prince. Raja Chulan, is the ruler of a native State
dilly,

Malay Peninsula, under the protection of the Not long ago it was a savage British Government. land, in the depths of whose primeval forests the native tribes pillaged and slaughtered each other. Now life and property are absolutely safe there, and the Sultan
in the
sits

securely on his Throne.

Short and

frail in stature, of light

brown complexion,

with the
golian

flat

features
his

and high cheek bones of the Monand contemplative expression

the

races,

mild

suggests the

religious ascetic rather than

warrior

ruler of a primitive

and warlike people.

36

The Right Hon.

J.

S.

SANDARS.
we
see

In one of Hogarth's ironic pictures

an inmate
plans for

of a debtor's prison occupying himself

mth

payment of the National Debt. The halls and corridors and lobbies of Whitehall and Westminster are haunted by hapless people, the wrecks of life, eager to transfer to their own shoulders some of the heaviest
the
responsibilities of our statesmen.

The man they

the Prime Minister.
desire to

are most
It is to

anxious to interview

is

of their

him personally that they confide the wonderful schemes and speculations distraught minds for making straight all the
social system.

crooked twists in the

Happy,
Sandars.

then,

is

the Prime Minister

who has

the

protection of so capable a private secretary as Mr. J. S.

Such were

his tact, geniality,

and good sense

the

while acting in that capacity for Mr. Arthur Balfour,

that

the

crazy old lady

who

says

Crown has

robbed her of 30,000,000, and the lunatic engineer

with a plan for uniting Ireland with England by a
bridge thrown across the Channel via the Isle of Man,

and thus

settling the Irish problem,

went away,

after

every fruitless attempt to see the First Lord of the Treasury, as pleased almost as
if

the dearest projects of their

hearts were about to be accomplished.

tion of Mr.

On

the resigna-

Balfour in December, 1905, Mr. Sandars

was made a member of the Privy Council.

37

^i-f^^-W^-^H/O.^

"THE JUDGMENT OF DANIEL."

Parliament, with a view to encourage the arts of sculp-

and carving in this country, decided that they should be largely employed in the decoration of the
ture, painting,

new

Palace of Westminster.

In regard to painting, a

Committee of the House of Commons reported, after several years of inquiry and experiment, that the fresco style was the most eligible, and the best adapted,
Select
for the intramural decoration of national buildings.

That was

in 1841.

At the time

fresco painting
colours,

done on the damp walls with water

which

become incorporated with the plaster as it hardens was but little cultivated in this country, as hitherto it had not much encouragement from public patronage. "The Judgment of Daniel" is one of the series of frescoes in the Peers' Robing Room, illustrating human justice and its development in law and judgment, which was executed by Mr. J. R. Herbert, R.A. The treatment of the different subjects is noted for its combination of dignity and simplicity. Time has dealt cruelly with some of the mural paintings of the Palace.

The

coloured symbolic figures in a group of cartoons

the genius of

illustrating

Shakespeare,

Chaucer, and

Milton, in the

Upper Waiting Hall

retain
all

of the

Committee
frescoes

Rooms, have entirely faded away.

But the

by Herbert
harmony

still

their original freshness

and

of colour.

38

SIR

HOWARD VINCENT, K.C.M.G.

a
life

Few men have had

Sir Charles

of such varied experiences as

Edward Howard

Vincent.

After five years

in the

Army

he joined the Bar, practised for some years

Circuit, then

on the South-Eastern

became a

journalist of

and war

correspondent,

and

ultimately Director

Criminal Investigations in the Metropolitan Police.

Able, well-read, accomplished in languages, widely
travelled, his

energy and thoroughness are remarkable.

a less
military and

Seeing in the middle of the 'seventies the growing

demand
of the

for

more

effective

civil

administration of the police, he

police

made

a practical study
Berlin,

systems of Paris, Brussels,

and

Vienna.

Just as he had concluded his investigations

a Committee was appointed by the House of

to

Commons
and

inquire into

the

detective

department of Scotland

Yard.
sent
it,

He embodied

his experiences in a report,

unrequested, to the Committee.

Shortly afterwards he received a letter asking him

to call at the

Lord Cross, But he left head of the detective department

mysteries of crime and criminals.

Home Ofiice. The Home Secretary was with whom he had had no acquaintance. the Home Office, the day of his call,
of Scotland

Yard,

entrusted with the duty of working out solutions of the

At the time

May,

1878 he was 28
on

years old.

In the House of Commons, which he entered in 1885

his retirement

from Scotland Yard, he devoted himthe advocacy of preferential trading

all

self principally to

relations

between

parts of the British Empire.

39

dx^-^^^aJl, Sje.sL0~iQje^

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

"The GriLDED Chambee !"
springs to the
Grladstone's descriptive phrase,

mind

as one stands at the

Bar and surveys

is

the House of Lords.

But, though the

is

Chamber

glow-

ing in gold and colours, the efEect

not garish, for the

hues of the superb decorations are subdued and har-

moniously blended with an

light

artistic efEect that is a de-

and refreshment

to the eye.

The solemn
edifice prevail.

stillness

and the

soft light of a sacred

The

figures of the

of

England

in the lofty

Kings and Queens stained glass windows look like

saints in their antique garments.

On pedestals, between

the windows, are large bronze statues of knights, telling

of times

when

the battle of principles was fought, not

with the subtle mind and ready tongue of

coats

men

in frock

and

silk hats,

but with sword and battle-axe by

steeds.

soldiers in

bold and^many of

armour on prancing

These are the

them

wicked

Barons who wrested

In the subdued light

Magna Charta from King John.

of the

House

of

Lords they seem like patriarchs and

apostles.

At the top
Throne.
flanked as
of
It is

of the

Chamber

is
;

the imposing canopied

it

superbly carved

glistens with gold

it

sparkles with precious stones.

it is,

It

suggests an altar,

on each

side,

by magnificent candelabra

wrought

brass.

The
seat

religious spell is

broken only when the Lord

Chancellor in his big wig and black silk

gown

takes his

on the Woolsack
is

a lounge inside the railing which

Then
it

fronts the Throne.

is

that the illusion that

one

in the gorgeous

chapel of

a great cathedral

passes away.
40

MR. SPENCER CHARRINGTON.

In
his

eighty-sixth

year
of

Mr.
pluck

Spencer

Chai-rington

showed

an

example

and

endurance

and

devotion to duty as a party

man

that will long be talked

about in the lobbies of Parliament.

The House
2
o'clock

of

Commons opened
Tuesday,
until

its

sitting

at

p.m.
to

on
sit

July
p.m.

19th,

continued

3.40

and on Wednesday,
1904,

July 20th, or for almost 25 1 hours. sitting for close on a quarter of

It

was the longest

century.

The

business was the committee stage of the Finance Bill,

founded upon the Budget of Mr. Austen Chamberlain,

which was stoutly opposed by the Liberals. Throughout that long sitting, all through the dreary There were night, Mr. Charrington stuck to his post.
twenty-one divisions, and in 19 of them the old
voted.
as

man

He was

cheered by his Conservative colleagues

floor

he walked up the

from the division

;

lobbies,

almost bent double with age

and each time turning

up the gangway, climbed to the topmost bench under the gallery, where he reclined until another division was challenged, and he had again to walk the weary round of the lobbies. A few days subsequently the octogenarian member for Mile End division of Tower Hamlets was presented by the Prime Minister, Mr. Arthur Balfour, with a silver
cup, subscribed for
his

by

his colleagues, as a

memento

of

signal

display of

loyalty to

party.

He

died

in

the following December.

41

INNER VIEW OF
There
is

"

BIG BEN'S

"

DIAL.
probably no feature of mighty London so
or so widely
familiar in the Metropolis,

known
to

name
of the

at least

in

by

the provinces, as the famous clock

Houses of Parliament.

No

visitor

London

would think of returning home without having seen " Big Ben," and heard him chiming the quarters or

booming out the hour.

It is the largest

clock in the world.

is

Each

of the

four

dials^

for,

of course, there

one for each point

of the

compassis twenty-three
together;

feet in diameter.
if

From

below, the minutes on the dial look as

close

they stood

they are fourteen inches apart.

long.

numerals

are two feet

The The minute hand is

fourteen feet, and the hour hand six feet, in length.

of

The mighty pendulum hangs through two apartments the tower. At night the dials are illuminated by The time is regulated by electric seventy-two gas-jets.
communication with Greenwich Observatory.

The
four
bell

clock has a large bell to

toll

the hour,

and
large

smaller ones to chime the

quarters.

The

is called "Big Ben" after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was First Commissioner of Works when the Clock Tower was erected. It weighs sixteen tons. Twenty men cotdd stand under it. For a clapper it has a piece

of iron

two

feet long, twelve inches in diameter,

and

weighing 12 cwt.
than

No wonder there are few things more "Big Ben" booming out the hour
in
his

impressive
of

twelve

midnight,

slow,

measured, and

solemn tones,

when the

roar of the Metropolis is hushed in slumber.

42

SIR
There
are

EDWIN
in the

DURNING-LAWRENCE, BART.
many men
House
of
rarely, if

ever, take part in debate, but

Commons who who discharge

by serving on

duties of the greatest public usefulness

the Select Committees to which private biUs

bills

in

which companies or local authorities seek for powers

to carry out

schemes involving interference with rights

of property

are

referred.

Among

these

Sir

Edwin

Durning-Lawrence
There
is

will always be

remembered.

a popular belief that Members of Select

five guineas a day. They do not But they enjoy one quaint and curious a Member wants to retain a certain seat

Committees are paid

get a penny.
privilege.
If

in the

Chamber

for the sitting

this rule

he must attend the openSelect

ing prayers.

From

Members serving on

Committees are exempted.

They may

secure their seats

before the House actually assembles.

The

chief reward for this unattractive

sit

work

for the

Committees
dull facts

early and long, dealing with evidence on

figures

and

and dry technical

fulfilled.

details

is

the

sense of public duty

43

STATUE OF
The marble
St. effigies of

PITT.

twelve distinguished statesmen in

Stephen's Hall form a splendid group of statuary.

subjects

The

are

Selden,

Hampden, Lord Falkland,

Lord Clarendon, Lord Somers, Sir Robert Walpole, Lord Chatham, Lord Mansfield, Burke, Fox, Pitt, and
Grrattan.
It is interesting to

note that the selection of

the statesmen
patriotism

who have

thus been honoured for their

virtue

and public was made by Henry Hallam and Lord Macaulay. Both historians were members of the Fine Arts Commission appointed, with
the Prince

Consort as

president,

to

superintend the

decoration of the

new Palace
Chatham,

of Westminster.

The
father,

statue of William Pitt, as well as that of his

the Earl of

is

the

work

of Patrick
relate,

MacDowell, R.A., a Belfast man who, curious to began life as an apprentice to a coachmaker.
chisel

The

of

the

sculptor has,

indeed, evoked from the

block of

marble the appearance and bearing of Pitt

so familiar to us

from the descriptions of contemporaries.

We

see the pride of the great statesman in the lofty

look of his rather rigid face, his self-esteem in his nose

which, as

Romney
spirit

said,

was uptm-ned

to all the world,

and we

also see in his attitude the intrepid

and com-

manding

which always animated him.

44

SIR

MICHAEL FOSTER,
of

K.C.B.
There
is

The House

Commons

is

truly an assembly of trained

minds with the most diverse experiences.

on which an authority
670 members.

hardly a subject, however obscure or out-of-the-way,

may

not be found

among

its

One night

in the Session of 1903 the

House was engaged discussing Vivisection. A tall, rugged, loosely framed figure, dressed in a tweed
suit,

arose,

and,

in

maiden

speech,

delivered an

impressive defence of experiments upon living animals

in the interest of medical science.
It

was

Sir Michael

Foster, then M.P. for

London University, eminent

in

the sister sciences of physiology and embryology.

In support of his contention that these experiments,

in the

hands of

skilful physiologists, entail

no suffering,

he told a thrilling story of a friend who had a nerve

in his

he might study the return of sensation, and who endured in consequence

in order that

arm divided

but

little

pain and the briefest loss of movement.

It is this first-hand familiarity

it

with things

whether
to the

be a curious phase of actual

life,

or the abstrusest of

the sciences

which gives so

great a value and distinc-

tion to discussions in the House.

Members bring
suffering.

common

stock the most varied knowledge, obtained from

practice or theory,

from enjoyment or
45

J^/.

:/tn^^

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

COMMITTEE.
The House of Commons is, when it is voting the
Army, and the
is

IN

Committee of Supply that millions needed for the Navy,

in

various Civil departments of the State

usually dull, but practical and businesslike.

In what a bewildered

state of

mind the

stranger, un-

acquainted with Parliamentary procedure, must be

is

who

present in the public gallery for the

is

first

time on a
!

night that the House

in

Committee

of

Supply

He

cranes his neck as far over the high barrier in front of

him
with
sees

as those sharp-eyed attendants in evening dress,

gilt

chains on their breasts, will permit him, and

?

what
is

Well, not

much more than empty benches.

is

He
empty.

surprised to see that the Speaker's Chair

on the

The Mace, too, is invisible, for that emblem lies table only when the whole House is sitting and
is

the Speaker

in the chair.
sits

gentleman in ordinary
usually the Chair-

morning

attire

in the place of the Chief Clerk,

beside the Clerks- Assistant.

This

is

man

of Committees, but

it

may
in

be one of the temporary

of the

Chairmen appointed from the private members

House
Yes,
nights

for

his

relief

as,

this

case,

Mr.

Jesse

Ceilings.

deserted and unpicturesque

is

the

House on
British

when the money

that
it

of

the taxpayers to grease

the wheels of

mammoth

machine, the
is

Empire, and provide

with steam,

being voted

by the

'*

faithful

Commons."
46

The Right Hon.

JOHN BURNS.
Not
only an interesting political personality, but one
of the undoubted forces of the

House

of
of

Commons
the

is

Mr. John

Burns,

who,
in

as
Sir

President

Local

Government Board

Henry Campbell-BannerLabour representative

to

man's Grovernment formed in December, 1905, has the

distinction of being the first

attain Cabinet rank.

and
stir

radical

views.

He holds the He has been

broadest democratic

pre-eminent in the

and

stress

of public life, figuring in

some
is

of the
affairs

stormiest scenes of political agitation.

or measures do not greatly

But State

more

in the

suffering

move him. He human problem in the betterment of the human race and in civil and municipal

interested

matters.

As a
elementary

debater,
force.
;

Mr.

Burns

is

something
of

of

an

He knows
all

nothing
is

the

tricks

of the rhetorician

but his heart

in his cause,
if

and
the

what he says has

graces,
of

the strength,
oratory.

none of the

appealing

He

can

move

assembly also

by

bursts

of

genuine eloquence

the

eloquence that springs from deep and fervid convictions

which

get added force from his powerful voice

gestures.

and passionate

Many

racy stories might be told of Mr. Bums.

is

His

reply to an offer of a bribe

very characteristic.

Speaking in a debate on the payment of members, he

evoked both hearty applause and laughter by mentioning that he got a letter offering him
fifty

pounds

if

he

succeeded in obtaining for the writer a collector ship of

taxes, to

which he sent the reply

I wish

"

Sir,

you are a

scoundrel.

you were within reach

47

of

my

boot."

^WlYhuUuJrfv^J^^^^n^

"

THE ROYAL GALLERY.

The Eoyal
Westminster.
clash of arms
Grallery
is,

with the exception of West-

minster Hall, the largest apartment in the Palace of

This spacious and splendid room seems

teeming with fighting men, and resounding with the

and the shouting of the Captains. The conveyed by the intensely dramatic frescoes by Daniel Maclise, R.A., of " The Death of Nelson
illusion is

and "The Meeting of Wellington and Bliicher

Waterloo," which, facing each other
long each and twelve feet high
the great hall.

after

forty-five feet

occupy

the walls of

Here it was that John Francis Stanley, Earl Russell, was on July 18th, 1901, indicted for bigamy before his fellow peers. The Royal Grallery was transformed to At the serve for the occasion the purposes of a court. trial of a peer by his fellows the Sovereign is supposed to be present. A throne was accordingly erected at the top of the hall. But Lord Chancellor Halsbury, as Lord High Steward, presided at the trial, sitting at the table in front of the throne, and assisted by the Judges of the High Court, who occupied the Woolsack beneath. The chairs on each side were filled with peers, who comprised the jury to decide the fate of Earl Russell. The defendant was accommodated with a chair and desk in
the centre of the Court.

was a picturesque and memorable scene. The pleaded " Guilty under the advice of Counsel" and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment as a first-class misdemeanant. Then those present were directed to " depart in the peace of God " and the Lord High Steward broke his wand of office, with
It

defendant

a desperate

effort, across his

48

knee.

MR.
The
among

JOHN REDMOND.
House
of

leader of the Irish Nationalist Party ranks high

the great debaters of the

Commons.

Orators
speaking,

now

are few.

The

style of Parliamentary

as

everyone knows,

has midergone a con-

siderable change.

Not, perhaps, so

much because
was
gift of

of

an

alteration in the public taste, as because the classic or

traditional
style (of
is

which

Gladstone

the

last
lost.

supreme master)
oratory,

a secret that was long ago

But Mr. John Redmond possesses the and with

voice.
it

genuine

a perfect elocution and a clear,

mellow

Few

can surpass him in the contribution of a well-

reasoned and finely phrased speech to a great debate, a speech that makes a serious impression on the House.
It

may

be

said, indeed, that Ireland

has never sent

to

Westminster a more astute and

skilful political leader

than Mr. John Redmond.

49

M^i^^c^i^t-^

Jva>Z^^^

THE LYING-IN-STATE OF WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE.

Westminstee Hall is rich in memories of great historical events. But on the 26th of May, 1898, it witnessed a
unique ceremony, the like of which had not occurred
before in the eight hundred years of
It
its

storied existence.

was the

lying-in-state of the remains of

William Ewart

Grladstone, before the funeral in Westminster

Abbey, and

and the spectacle

simple, of
all

of people of all classes, gentle

political

opinions,

Conservatives

Liberals, united in a

common

sorrow, crowding to

and pay

unanimous homage

to that great servant of the Nation.

was plain and simple in the and yet had a dignity and solemnity that made it most impressive. The building was undraped. No trappings of woe hung from its grey and rugged
lying-in-state

The

extreme,

walls.

In the centre of the

hall stood a lofty catafalque.

At the four corners were Kghted candles in massive Behind it stood a beautiful brass silver candlesticks.
cross

embossed with precious

stones.

A white

silk pall,

with gold and blue embroideries, hung at the foot of the

bier, displaying the inscription,

The
coffin

bier

Requiescat in paceP was surmounted by a plain polished oak

^^

casket with brass mountings.

of

How

curiously

little

the

the illustrious statesman seemed in the

hall

dim

and spacious

so

Chevalier

GUGLIELMO MARCONI.
The man whose name
that
will

be for ever associated with

or

stupendous

discovery

invention

wireless

telegraphy.
It

was

bom

had already been proved before Chevalier Marconi in 1875, that an electric wave, or shock,

generated by a special apparatus, would travel swiftly

through space, and affect a sensitive instrument, tuned

to

receive

its

vibrations,

several miles

away.

This

discovery gave to the youthful Marconi the idea of the

abolition of the telegraph wire, as but a clumsy device
for instant

communication between distant lands.

It

exercised a powerful fascination over his imagination,

and spurred the inventive faculty and the delight in electrical experiments which he had displayed even in
his earliest schoolboy days.

After years of painstaking and exhaustive investigations on his father's estate in Italy, he invented two

instruments of weird and almost uncanny powers

"transmitter" which sends a message on a magnetic

wave from one continent

to another, across thousands of

miles of sea, undisturbed even

by

the swift and over;

powering rush and roar of the tempest and a " receiver," which registers the communication almost the moment
after it has

been despatched!

Thus did Chevalier

Marconi

rise to

a position of the highest repute

among

scientific discoverers.

SI

STATUE OF QUEEN VICTORIA.

The Prince's Chamber serves as an ante-room to the House of Lords. Here it is that the King is received by the great officers of State on coming to open Parliament, and thence conducted by them to his Throne in the House of Lords. It is a splendid apartment.
Softened light
rose, thistle,
falls

through windows painted

with the

and shamrock on panelled walls

all

with bronze bas-reliefs of historic events, and on paintings of Kings and Queens,

eloquent of the growth

and development of the British Constitution.

But the most conspicuous object

of statuary

is

a fine group

the

room.

under a carved archway in the centre of Queen Victoria, robed and crowned, is
a throne,
left,

seated on

with Justice on her right,

the two qualities

and
true

Clemency on her
sovereignty
is

by which

best girt round

rests.

and guarded, or upon

which
group

it

most securely

On
John

the pedestal there

are bas-reliefs of Science,

is

Commerce, and Industry.

of
Gribson,

The

from the

chisel

leading British sculptor of his time

years to
It
is,
it,

who

R.A.

the
five

gave

and considered

it

his masterpiece.

indeed, fitting that the finest statue in these

legislative

buildings of

men

law-givers should be to
great
Constitutional

Queen who was not

womanhood.

only a
also

Sovereign, but
of

who wielded

the stainless sceptre

S2

The Right Hon.

ST.
The
is

JOHN BRODRICK.
educated at

son and heir of Viscount Midleton,

Eton, and an M.A. of Oxford University, Mr. Brodrick a type of the young

men

of birth

and

leisure in this

country who, in an age of lassitude, are possessed by a

desire for strenuous

and exacting work, and, attracted

to politics, display in the service of the State a practical

talent for the very difficult business of administration.

He
offices

has fiUed with credit some of the highest political

under Unionist Governments.

There could be
the lazy dandies

no more conscientious Minister.

of his

To

own rank

in

life,

lounging gracefully on the back

benches of both sides of the House, his earnestness of

conviction and capacity for arduous
of office

work

in his years

must have contributed to the end for which

they seem, mainly, to have entered Parliament

to obtain

that

is,

new

sensations.

53

cJ<^-.
c/Ct

^--^^^T^ y'xU:r

L ^^
/pff2-

SIR

EDWARD
and

MR.

E.

REED, K.C.B., T. REED.

a
distinguished

Father and

son

the

one

marine

engineer and naval architect, the other a renowned

political caricaturist.

Edward Reed, for long a familiar figure in the House of Commons, was Chief Constructor of the Navy for seven years, in a critical period of transition.
Sir

He

presided over the transformation of the Fleet from

sailing-vessels
into

wooden
steam.

ironclads

propelled

by

He

also

designed

and

supervised the con-

struction in
It is

England

of warships for foreign Powers.

first

an interesting fact that Japan's

battleship,

the Foo Soo, was designed

by

Sir

Edward Reed.

From

that vessel one of the most powerful fleets in the world

in ships

and in men has developed in a quarter of a

life

century.

In what a different walk in

won

success

His

deliciously

absurd

has Mr. E. T. Reed " Prehistoric

Peeps " in the pages of Punch made the whole EngHshspeaking world laugh.
fully

As a
a
of

caricaturist

he

is

delightto

happy

in

giving
tricks

humorous

turn

the

individual

little

attitude

and expression of

the chief personalities in the House of

genially
for
is
it

all

Commons. So done that Members invitingly pose

him

in

the

Lobby

with
is

an amusing pretence of

unconsciousness that he
it also

sketching them

and they do
is

in the

Chamber,
it

as

he

sits

above in the Reporters'

to

Gallery.

Indeed,

is

difficult

say which

the

better test

of Parliamentary success a seat on the Treasury Bench, or to be caricatured by Mr. Reed in

Punch.

54

^.-^^r^.

SIR
Starting in

WILLIAM ARROL.
an apprentice to a blacksmith, Sir
to

life as

William
Arrol

Arrol

rose

be

senior

in

the

firm

of

&

Company, engineers and

and supplied the
steel

contractors,

who

built

the great bridges that cross the river

of Forth,

Tay and

the Firth

work

for the

Tower

Bridge, London.

was the central figure in a unique assembly of the Unionist Members, in one of the largest Committee Rooms of the House of Commons. In the division on an Opposition amendment to the Address, when the Ministerial majority was
of 1905 he

During the Session

reduced to forty-two, one of those

Grovernment was Sir William Arrol.

ofE at

who voted for the The division came

midnight, and he had been married that morning

at

Ayr.

This hurried
that 350 of in

political

journey on his wedding day

so impressed his colleagues in the

House

of

Commons

them subscribed for a handsome silver vase

commemoration of the event. The Prime Minister, Mr. Arthur Balfour, in making the presentation, said

that no doubt most of

them

tried to imitate their hon.

it

friend's devotion to the Party, but

was given
virtue.

to

few

to afford such a striking

example of that
ss

'ii:!j^LL^

CbtA^

THE CLOISTERS OF
ST.
The
Members
is

STEPHEN'S.
House
of

private entrance to the

Commons

for

from

New

Palace Yard.

Passing through

"Westminster Hall, or the adjoining Star

Chamber

Court,

they reach

St.

Stephen's Cloisters, a portion of the small

section of the mediseval Palace

which survived the

fire

of 1834.

It

now

serves the purposes of a cloak room.

members has a peg with his name attached the names being arranged alphabetically He carries his hat with him always, for his overcoat. by the etiquette of the House. A staircase leads from the Cloisters to the Lobby, which gives immediate

Each

of

the 670

access to the Legislative Chamber.

Sir

Charles

Barry showed

remarkable

skill

and
the

judgment

in the incorporation of the Cloisters in

New

Palace,

thus

preserving a splendid example of

architecture.
is

ancient taste

and achievement in

The

fan-

tracery of the stone roof, especially,

very beautiful.
of

Constructed during the Tudor time in the florid Gothic

style,

these

Cloisters

give
of

some impression
the old Palace
of

the

architectural

splendour

West-

minster.
S6

SIR
Foe

ARCHIBALD MILMAN,
thirty-one years Archibald

K.C.B.

John
of

Scott

was a conspicuous figure at the table Commons. His appearance conveyed

suggestion
of
if

Milman the House of

figure

at a glance the

force

of

character.

The

was
lore.

stooped as

with the weight of Parliamentary

was rugged, and severe in aspect, telling of an earnest and serious man, with independent judgment and decided views. During a scene in the House, his restless movements and the austerity of his countenance showed how keenly he felt and resented the slight to the dignity and
face

The

authority of Parliament.

Committee stage of the

Irish

On one occasion during Home Rule Bill of 1893

the the

Members came

into conflict with the Chair.

The
of

Clerk- Assistant was observed whispering eagerly to the

Chairman by his side. There were " Leave the Chairman alone, Milman."
in the Nationalist quarter that he

fierce

shouts

man

to resort

painful, as, of

It was thought was urging the Chairto extreme measures. The position was coiirse, the Clerk-Assistant was without

the right to reply to the taunt, or to explain his action,

and the twitching of his sensitive mouth showed that he had not complete mastery of his feelings. Mr. Milman succeeded Sir Reginald Palgrave as

For two Sessions only he filled this most responsible post. His resignation on the ground of ill-health was announced at the opening day of the Session of 1902 and he was made a K.C.B. A few weeks later he was dead.
;

Clerk of the House in 1900.

57

^/o<L^z_

FURNITURE CLEANERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The most
expensive house in the country
is

the

House

of Commons. A very large sum goes to meet just the same sort of expenditure as is necessary in a private

house, but, of course, on a

much

larger scale.
year.

Carpet-

beating, for instance, costs about

700 a

Window-

cleaning absorbs another 200.

The House, after every sitting, is in a slovenly litter. The benches and the floor are strewn with torn-up But when the proceedings are over, letters and papers. when in response to the door-keeper's quaint cry, " Who goes home ? " Members rush to the cloak-room, and
thence disappear into the darkness of
the

New

Palace Yard,
of

sweepers

and
is

cleaners

take

possession

the

Chamber, and after a few hours of rubbing and scrubbing,

everything
sitting.

spick

and

span

again for

the

morrow's

58

MR. JAMES
When
management.
training
of

H.

YOXALL.

Mr. Yoxall was a Board School master in Sheffield

Strongly convinced that the body should
should

he was noted for his original methods of teaching and of be developed equally vnth the mind, that the physical
intellectual, the

ingly,

first

pace with the Sharrow Lane Board School was, accordin sport and first in scholarship.
children
its

keep

Cambridge University gave him

great organisation,

hon. M.A. degree

in recognition of his services to public education.

That

the

National Union of Teachers,

his devoted advocacy of their interests by making him Greneral Secretary. Mr. YoxaU is also a successful writer of fiction. In " Alan Tanger's Wife " he has turned to good account

rewarded

experiences

obtained

through
"

his

favourite pastime,

tramping in France.
novels,

Romany

Stone," another of his

life

deals

with gipsy and Methodist

on the

Peak

of Derbyshire.

S9

c:4^t^^vt/

uC'

PRESENTING PETITIONS TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The House
its

of

Members.

Commons receives petitions only through The time allotted for the presentation of
saying that he has a
of the prayer

petitions is just after the Speaker has taken the Chair.

The Member

rises in his place, and,

petition to present, reads a brief

summary

or request of the petitioners.

"Will the hon. Member

bring

it

up

? "

says the Speaker, and the

roll of

Member

forth-

with drops the

a big black
chair.

paper into the yawning mouth of

at the

bag hanging
is

back of the Speaker's

This

the procedure in the case of petitions of

public interest.

With regard

to

most of the petitions the

bit

Members
into the

to

whom

they are sent privately bundle them

bag without anyone in the House being a

is

the wiser.

more picturesque method of petitions from the By right of an Corporation of the City of London. ancient privilege these petitions are presented at the Bar of the House by the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex,
But there
a different and
in of presentation

the

case

in their robes of

office.

The

Sheriffs are conducted to

the Bar

by

the Serjeant-at-Arms, bearing the

Mace on
his

his shoulder.

The Speaker

says, "

What have you got

answers by reciting

there

"

and the City Remembrancer, standing in

Sheriffs,

wig and gown between the

the substance of the petition.*

* The Sheriffs shown in the picture are Alderman Sir John Knill, left), and Sir Alfred Jas. Reynolds (on the right). In the centre is the City Remembrancer, Mr. Adrian D. W. Pollock.
Bart, (on the
60

SIR
The
made

J.
great

BLUNDELL MAPLE, BART.

London name of
firm of upholsterers, Maple
Sir

&

Co.,

the

throughout the land.

John Blundell Maple familiar One of the most successful business

to business,

men, thoroughly devoted

business until his
as

he remained in

death in November, 1903.

Even
all

Member

of

Parliament

he

conducted

the

details of his big establishment.

He was

a well-known

figure at Westminster, bustling about with bundles of

papers under his arm, his pockets bulging with similar

documents, interviewing people in the Lobby, visiting

the business-room of the
his secretaries
;

Members

to dictate letters to

and, invariably spruce and sprightly,

it

he seemed to do

all

with the greatest ease.

father's factory straight

"I went on
school," he once

to

my

from

said,

"and

studied detaU from an

envelope to a ledger; grounded myself in the prices

and sources of woods of every description, from the battens of Sweden to the satin-woods of South America,

and a hundred other

making."

varieties that are

used in cabinet-

As a

politician,

being bluff and good-hearted, he

was on terms of friendship with men of all parties. He was never in office. His practical knowledge of
affairs, his

business ability, his enormous capacity for

work, wou.ld have enabled him to manage successfully

some Department
But he seemed
exposition,

like the

Board

of

Trade or the Post

Office, in touch with the vast ramifications of commerce.

to lack the gift of lucid statement

is

and

which

regarded as more essential to a

of

Minister in the

House

Commons, where measures

have to be explained and defended, than even business

capacity.
6i

THREE TYPES OF MEMBERS.

Me. Whakton, the centre
the
of the group,

who

represented

Eipon Division of Yorkshire continuously for twenty years, is a country squire of the highest type. In and out of the House his views, noted for common and he discharges duties sense, carry great weight
;

In Durham he is immense public usefulness. Chairman of Quarter Sessions, and Chairman of the County Council. For his services to county government, as well as to national, he was called to the Privy Council, that eminent body of prelates, nobles, and commoners nominated by the Sovereign as his Each Privy Councillor enjoys advisers in State affairs.
of

the

title of

Right Honourable.

The Hon. Seymour Ormsby-Grore, who sits to Mr. Wharton's right, and who represented the Gainsborough
Division of Lincolnshire for some years, has specially

devoted himself to financial questions.

second Lord Harlech, he
of Grore
is

The son

of the

a senior partner of the firm

&

Co., stockbrokers.

In Lord Edmund Talbot, sitting to Mr. Wharton's left, we have the soldier Member of Parliament. He is
a scion of the notably historic family of the Howards,

and the brother of the Duke of Norfolk, premier Duke

of England.

He

took the
licence,

name

of Talbot, in lieu of

Howard, by Royal
South African
Talbot
is

under the will of the 17th

Earl of Shrewsbury.

soldier

whose

services in the

War won him

House
of

the D.S.O., Lord

conspicuous in the group of

Edmund retired Army

influence
is

men

in the

Commons whose
affairs.

felt in the discussion of military

62

The Right Hon.

SIR
quality as

HENRY
an eminent

H.

FOWLER.
Henry Fowler's Though a very busy
given a rare

" HiGH-MiNDEDNESs " best expresses Sir a Parliamentarian.

solicitor

man he

is

he has

devotion and enthusiasm to politics as an engine of

himian progress.

An

admirable speaker, deep earnest-

ness and seriousness

questions.

mark

all

his utterances

on public
in the

As President
last

of the Local

Grovemment Board

Gladstone Administration, he carried through Par-

liament in 1893 the great Act which established Parish

Councils.

was a huge Bill, containiag 70 clauses, to which over 800 amendments were put down. He had
It

to find reasons for accepting or rejecting

each of these
the argu-

800 amendments, according as they were moved.

How

did the Minister carry in his head

all

ments as to

why

he was opposed

in favour of that ?

amendment and The method adopted by Sir Henry

to this

Fowler

illustrates

how

a big Bill

is

steered through the

uncertain and perilous stage of Committee.

At each sitting he produced from his despatch-box the amendments to be considered, each pasted at the top of a separate slip of paper, and below it, typewritten, the

reasons for accepting

it

or rejecting

it-

These brief speeches were thought out by Sir Henry

Fowler in the morning before the House met, dictated

to his secretaries,

and typed in this convenient form. The Bill was three months in Committee. But no matter how fatigued the Minister might be after hours
of close application to
his replies

work

in

an enervating Chamber,

were always fresh and vigorous.

63

SIR J.

DICKSON-POYNDER,BART.,
and

MAJOR SEELY.
during
the

Comrades
glory,

IN

AEMS

South African "War,

through which they passed, covering themselves with

Sir

John Dickson - Poynder and Major Seely

were comrades also in political vicissitudes in the House of Commons. Unionists both, they crossed the floor which, in its way, requires as much moral

grim tenacity, and stern sense of duty as were needed in fording the Tugela river, or mounting Spion Kop on the adoption of Fiscal Reform by the
courage,

Unionist Grovernment.

The Balfour Administration, Hke every G-overnment, had among its followers on the back benches many young men, ardent and able, who were disposed to be independent critics of its policy. Of this group Sir John Dickson-Poynder (seen in the motor-car) and Major Seely (standing by the motor's side) were prominent members. But it is one thing for a Member of Parliament
to express his disagreement with measures introduced

by

Government of which he has been elected a and quite a different thing for him to separate himself entirely from his own political party, and join
the
supporter,
its

the party of

opponents.

House of Commons is but a few yards wide yet what a revolution in one's political opinions, what a wrench in the associations of a life, is meant by passing from one side of the Chamber to

The

floor of the
;

the other
64

'ngfm-vT-'^iiw^

vmms^:

VISCOUNT GOSCHEN.
One
of the keenest intellects ever devoted to the services of the State

was

enlisted

when George Joachim

Goschen, of the firm of Frilhling and Goschen, financiers,

was

first

returned to the House of Commons, in City of London.

offices in
first

1863, as

Member for the He filled many high

Liberal and Unionist

of the

Administrations.

He was

Lord

Admiralty
late

under Mr. Gladstone in the early 'Seventies, and Chancellor of the

Exchequer under Lord Salisbury in the

'Eighties.

He

brought to the control of these depart-

ments, not business experience only, but a thoroughly

logical
officials

and

scientific

mind.

One

of

those permanent

who, whatever Governments come and go, play

if retiring,

a leading,
nation's

part in the

management

of the

affairs,

said that most of the Ministers with

whom he had anything to do were inclined to be lazy. He made two or three exceptions. Among them was
Mr. Goschen.

But Mr. Goschen was not only a successful Administrator he was also a most gallant fighting politician.
;

When

aroused

by

opposition there was a fiery touch in

It

his oratory that

was unique.

always

set the

House

of

Commons

aflame with party passion, stirring foes and

friends to a white heat of fury or ecstacy.

6s

""^^^"^^
^^/-y^n^/

^>s^^.,^.=t^

THE SPEAKER'S DINING-ROOM.

The
Speaker's
of

House

is

that conspicuous

wing

of the

Palace

Westminster, with carved

stonework

and

Gothic windows, extending from the Clock Tower to

the river, close to Westminster Bridge.
It is furnished
it

by

the State, and the fortunate Speaker enjoys

free of

rent, rates, taxes, coal,

and

light.
official

The Speaker

gives

several

entertainments

during the Parliamentary Session.

There are separate

According
to

dinners to the Ministers, to the leaders of the Opposition,

and

to

private Members.

long-

established custom, a

Member who
is

accepts the invitation

to dine with Mr. Speaker

required to appear either in

uniform or Court

dress.

This

been rigidly enforced, cut off tarians as Joseph Hume, Richard Cobden, and John
Bright

which has always such eminent Parliamenrule,

all of

whom

objected to wear Court dress

from
The
knee

the pleasure of the hospitality of

host himself
breeches^^
is

Mr. Speaker.

attired in a dark velvet Court suit,

and

silk stockings,

with dainty lace

his side.

ruffles

and

wristbands, and a sword

by

In the mirror^panelled dining-room the long table

is

magnificently spread with old plate

portraits

the walls are

hung with

toast is proposed

famous Speakers. Only one that of " The King." The dinners
of

are intended, principally, to bring

Members

together for

the interchange of views. severe of aspect, looking

But with so many Speakers,

down upon

the diners,

how

could these

functions

be otherwise

than sedate and

solemn

SIR
At
advocate.

FRANK LOCKWOOD.
A
Frank Lockwood was a most persuasive versatile man, he was also a clever,
an amateur
actor, the
caricaturist, and, as

the Bar, Sir

humorsome
drollest of

But as a Parliamentarian, his reputation rests less upon the display of political ability than upon the memory of an unusually sunny
comedians.
disposition.

His was the distinction of being in his

time the most popular

man

in the

He was
geniality

pleasant to look

at, tall

House of Commons. and broad-shouldered,

with a fresh, handsome face, carrying always an air of

and good nature, and suggesting more the

perforce,

squire given to following the hounds, than the lawyer

who

spent,

much

of

his

time

poring over

briefs.

In the Lobby he was always the beaming centre of a merry group enjoying his sallies of wit. He enlivened debate also. There was always a ripple of gaiety and fun through his speeches. But with all his jaunty
air

he

felt

deeply.

In dealing with cases of wrongearnestness

doing,

especially, the thrill of

and indigthe

nation in his fine voice stirred the House

deeply because of his qualities of

nature,

more good humour, good

all

and good

sense.

^>.

y^^j />^'

y.

THE LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

The Lords
are pleasantly housed, and certainly the most

agreeable adjunct of their

Chamber

is

the Library.

The

walls of the suite of rooms are lined completely with

bookshelves in dark oak; the volumes are beautifully

bound; there are inviting writing-tables supplied with

stationery
in.
;

the old-fashioned chairs are a delight to

shelves
is

sit

Above the

a frieze, with panels displaying

the armorial bearings of the Chief Justices of England.

Peers pass in and out with noiseless tread, for the

thick carpets deaden
all

sound.

The atmosphere

is

per-

vaded by the pleasantest and most appropriate odour for The recessed a library, the aroma of Russia-leather. windows of the rooms, overlooking the river, with
glimpses of the Surrey
Palace,
hills,

far

away beyond Lambeth

make

the cosiest retiring places for quiet reading

and study.

The Library
legal
is

is

mainly

historical

and

constitutional,

and
of

political.

Just the sort of library, in fact, that

best adapted for providing noble lords on opposite

sides

the House with

material for refuting each

other's arguments.
68

THE LIBRARIAN OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Me. Edmund GtOSSE
in a Library "

one of our most experienced and accomplished literary critics. In his delightful " Gossip
is

collection of

scholarly essays about

books,

made

lip

of a little criticism, a little anecdote,

'

he says, "In my sleep, and a little bibliography where dreams are multitude,' I sometimes fancy that
shall

one day I

have a library in a garden.

felicity of

seems to contain the whole

in a garden.'
It

man

The phrase
'

a library

sounds like having a Castle in Spain,

or a sheep-walk in
to wish for
it is

to be faddling hedonist.' "

Arcady and I suppose that merely what indignant journalists call a

;
'

In 1904 Mr.

Grosse,

who had been

in the service of

the Board of Trade, was appointed Librarian of the

House

of Lords.

Writing of his own collection of

is

books, he says, " There nights and

something awful to me, of

when

am

alone, in thinking of all the souls

imprisoned in the ancient books around me.

suppose,

Not

one, I

but

was ushered into the world with pride

all

and

glee,

with a flushed cheek and heightened pulse

points justified

not one has enjoyed a career that in

those ample hopes and flattering promises."

Some
on

day, perhaps, Mr. Gosse will give us an essay

Library over the Thames"; and the thoughts suggested by its numerous ranks of " Hansard," with
their

"The

thousands of

speeches of

forgotten Parliamen-

tarians,
its

and the

futility of print that is

proclaimed by

shelves

upon shelves

of Blue Books,

which nobody

reads.

r-i

."_

''

^^

.X_

STATUE OF CROMWELL.
In the original decoration of the Palace of Westminster

memorials were provided in statuary, fresco, painted

window, or stone-carving of all the Eulers of England from Alfred to Victoria, with one exception. The one
Elder nncommemorated was Oliver Cromwell.

During Mr. Gladstone's

proposed that the

last

Administration

it

was
be

memory

of the Protector should

honoured within the

such a motion,

^^recincts of the It

Palace by a statue

erected at the public expense.

made with
respect

the

was inevitable that Mace on the Table

the

though not exactly " the bauble " to which Cromwell

showed

so

little

when he turned

Long

Parliament out of doors

would be passionately resisted.

a

The

Royalists and the Nationalists united in vehement

it.

opposition to

Not

penny

of the people's

money

should be spent on a memorial to the executioner of

Charles
I.,

said the one Party

nor, said the other, to

the author of the massacres of

Drogheda and Wexford,

The motion

accordingly was withdrawn.

The memory perpetuated by

pubUc money
were the

But strange, indeed, was the ending of the episode. of Cromwell at Westminster is now a noble bust in the outer lobby, and by

a heroic statue in the garden of Westminster Hall.

No

was spent upon them.

donors.

gifts of private

Both memorials That being so, no

objection to their acceptance

The

statue was presented

was raised in Parliament. by Lord Rosebery. A

it

stern figure, on a lofty pedestal,

makes a very

striking

object on the sunk grass-plot

Hall.

by

the side of Westminster

70

THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Sir Couetenay Peregrine Ilbert was a Parliamentary

draughtsman, having been for thirty years engaged in

the preparation of legislative measures, both in England

and in India, before he

vyas

appointed Clerk of the

House of Commons, in 1902. For four years he was a legal member

of

of the Council

the Viceroy of India.

several

In that capacity he was

Bills

responsible for
relations

important

revising

the
parts

between landlord and tenant in

many

of India.

On
to

his return

from India in 1886 he was

appointed to the Parliamentary Counsel's Office

the

Department

which Ministers send

in Bills

their suggestions

of proposed legislation in

rough outline, in order to have

them embodied

and

he draughted some of the

most important enactments between 1886 and 1902.

The
ing.

daily routine of the Clerk of the

the Parliamentary Session,

House of

Commons, during

is interest-

Between ten and eleven in the morning he is in his room signing the Orders of the House, made during the previous sitting, for service on Government Departments, summonses for the attendance of witnesses before Committees, and Bills which are to be transmitted to
the

House

of Lords.

Then he has

to

pass for the

printer the proofs of

the Votes and Proceedings, and

the " Orders of the Day," or the agenda of the work

set

down

for the ensuing sitting.

Further on in the day the Clerk attends to matters brought before him by Ministers,
officials,

and Members,
to

and

for

an hour before the House meets he has

prepare himself for the work at the Table, and consult

with the Speaker about the business of the Sitting.

7i

IN
The
tlie

THE ROYAL SEAT THE KING'S ROBING-ROOM.

King's Robing-room
is

a magnificent apartment of

House of Lords, in wkicii the King dresses for the ceremony of the opening of Parliament. On the walls a splendid series of frescoes by William Dyce, R.A.,
illustrate

the

beneficence of

chivalry.

The

subjects,

taken from the legend of King Arthur and the Knights

of the

Round
Sir

Table, are: Hospitality

"the

admission
;

of Sir Tristram to the fellowship of the

Mercy

"

Round Table"
vision
of

Gawaine swearing
ladies "
;

to protect

aU

Religion
"
;

" the

to

be merciful, and
Sir

Gralahad

and

his
is

"

Arthur unhorsed

spared

company by his adversary

Grenerosity " King

"
;

Courtesy

Sir Tristram harping to

La

Bella Isidore."

But the object which

entering the

at

once fixes the attention on

It

room

is

the Royal Chair.

stands on

a dais, beneath a canopy of carved oak.

chair,

Behind the
is

and forming the back of the canopy,

of

a beautiful
artistically

piece

tapestry

with

the

Royal Arms

embroidered in the centre, surrounded by repetitions The back of of Queen Victoria's monogram, " V.R."
the chair
is

similarly embroidered in velvet.

72

SIR
The

WILLIAM ANSON, BART.

may
tell of

faces on the Treasury Bench, whatever Party

be in power,

energy, masterfulness, tenacity, the

of Parliament that surely lead

qualities in the

Member

to

oflfice.

In the Balfour Administration Sir William

Anson, Parliamentary Secretary of the Education Department, thin and almost fragile of frame, with clear-

and something of the reserve and aloofness of the scholar, seemed out of place in the row of robust, Before he entered strenuous and pushful Ministers. Parliament, as Member for Oxford University, he was one of the most distinguished Dons at that historic
cut face,
seat of learning.

He
and

wrote a

classic

work on Parliament, " The Law

Constitution,"

Custom

of
it

the

which,

perhaps,

was that he strayed from the quiet and secluded groves of the University into the glare and turbulence of the House of Commons. As Minister in charge of the great Education Bill of 1902, which
explains

how

aroused the bitterest antagonism, his affable interposition

in the heated debates always

had the eSect of allaying

passion and acrimony.

It

was

difEcult to

resist

the

soothing influence of his low, serene and even voice,

his almost

depreciatory manner, and his logical and

dispassionate

arguments,

so

closely

to

the point,

so

innocent of the faintest trace of party feeling.

THE KATIKIRO OF UGANDA

AND

HIS

SECRETARY.

Apolo Kagwa, Katikiro of Uganda, and his Secretary, Ham Mukasa, were among King Edward's guests at the Coronation. Uganda, where elephants are still numerous and the banana grows in wild profusion, is
under the administration of a British Commissioner. But it has its native King, and the Katikiro is his
Chief Minister, being, at once, a sort of Premier and Chief Justice, the maker of laws and the righter of

wrongs.

These ebony-skinned

visitors

from Central Africa

won

the esteem and regard of

all

who were brought

and
alert-

into relations with

ness, the

them by

their intelligence

keen interest they displayed in the wonders

their agreeable

of

civilisation,

ways,

and, above
in their eyes,

all,

the contagious glint of good

humour

and

the genial expansiveness of their smiles.

The Katikiro

was the
six feet,

taller of the two,

being a couple of inches over

and well

built in proportion.

He became
is

Christian at an early age,

and

to

him, mainly,

due

the progress of
to
^

Uganda from

a barbarous and unruly

an orderly and industrious community.

He was asked what were his impressions of England, " First," he replied, " that you have no mosquitoes
second, that your roads are
all

good, and that you

;

have

many

horses

and carriages
;

thirdly,

that your

houses are large and well built

together in great crowds
;

fourthly, that
lastly,

and

that

you live you have

a splendid police force, which prevents fighting in the

streets,

and keeps order even when many are gathered

together."
74

MR.
Mr. F.

CARRUTHERS GOULD, Carruthers GtOUld " F. C. has won

F.
Gr."

world-wide

fame

by

his

political

cartoons

in

the

Westminster Gazette.

He

has a wonderful instinct for the idea which best

of the political situation of the hour,
it

sums up the comedy

and a genius
in drawing.

for giving

vivid and mellow expression

During almost every week for many years he has produced some political cartoons. The originality, humom", and force of his work are, in the circumstances,
very remarkable.
sources
It is interesting to note, too, the varied

from which he obtains

his ideas.

Folk

lore,

natural history, mythology, fable, ancient history, are

turned to excellent account in hitting

Kttle

ofE the

passing

shams and
is

insincerities of public Hfe.

Mr. Gould

a keen politician, with strong Liberal

convictions, but his caricatm-es are absolutely free

from

personal ill-feeling.

The

liberties

he takes with the faces

and

figures of his subjects are always too

good-humoured

to give offence.

Indeed,

many

a politician owes some

of his

fame and popularity

to his success in inspiring

Mr. Gould's sense of fun.

at

People get to love the

to laugh.

man

whom

they are moved indulgently

political situation or a poHtical

Yet the effectiveness of the cartoons in ridiculing a opponent is in no way

reproductions of

impaired by their geniality.

election

At every Parliamentary them on a large scale, and

printed in colours, are widely distributed in the constituency.

They

turn every dead wall into an excuse

for a hearty, honest laugh, and, at the

same time,

into a

profession of political faith.

7S

/Y^iyiA.^v^ v<f ^^j-^t^^^^

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FROM THE BAR.

The
first

sight of the

House

of

Commons

is,

from the

architectm-al

point of view, usually attended with a

It is

feeling of

disappointment.

hardly credible that

of severely

in this simple

Chamber of modest dimensions,

that here have
battles

businesslike appearance, the destinies of a great

Empire

are

controlled;

been fought so

many

exciting
Parties
;

and momentous

between the

political

that these wainscotted walls have really echoed

renowned Parliamentarians of the Victorian Era Lord John Russell, Palmerston, Cobden, Disraeli, Bright, Parnell, Lord Randolph Churchill, and Grladstone. A Chamber of greater spaciousness and more magnificence was designed for the Commons by the architect, Charles Barry but the Royal Commission, to whom the plans were submitted, decided for a plainer and much smaller apartment, in which debate could be carried on without any undue strain upon the voice It was in 1852 that the House of Commons or ear. first met in the Chamber. It seats 360 Members, little
to the potent voices of the

more than half the House, and about 100 more can find standing room at the Bar and in the passages or gang-

ways of the benches. But if the general

it

aspect of the

Chamber be

severe,
artistic

will

be seen, on a closer examination, that

taste

and labour have been lavished upon The wood-carving, with which decorations.
are covered,
is

its
its

plain

walls

most
is

delicate.

of

the whole

rich

oak,

The predominant colour softened by the painted

ceiling.

windows, and the decorated panels of the glass

16

THE BOOTBLACK OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

of Commons has been called, as everyone " the best clnb in London." The term was long knows,

The House

regarded as happy and appropriate.

Members seems to more and more become a

in social rank
opinions.

But the view of have changed since the House has

collection of

men
and

differing
religious

and

pursuits, in political

Yet there
needs

is

no doubt whatever that for

at least

one

of the purposes of a club

its

ministering to the personal

and
is

comforts of

Members

Commons

far better equipped at

House of om- time of day than

^the

ever it had been in its socially selectest period, before the great Reform Act of 1832. Formerly, Members were only able to get a steak or
a chop or pork pie at " Bellamy's."
elaborate kitchen
cellars

Now

they have an

and a

suite of dining-rooms.

In the
" the Scotch
is

of

the House

there

is,

for

one thing,
gallons
of

Valantia vat," which holds

1,000

whisky.

There are

also bath-rooms.

hairdresser

kept on the premises.

In the

cloisters the services of

Greorge Warner, bootblack, are always available.

What

more can Members require?

77

MR.

J.

F.

X.

O'BRIEN.
are to be found

In the House of

Commons

men

of

every kind of experience

in

the

and romantic adventure

type of character.
for the

as

way even of stirring well as men of every

Mr. James Francis Xavier O'Brien

interesting figure at Westminster

was a conspicuous and

Parliament.
debates.

twenty years he was a Nationalist Member of

Yet he rarely took part even in the Irish

used to be pointed out to visitors as a
not only condemned to death, but

He

man who had been

sentenced, according to the mediaeval formula in cases of high treason, to be " hanged, drawn and quartered."

was hard to realise that this gentle-looking and fragile little man, with the long, venerable beard, and the black skull-cap hiding his baldness, had really been engaged in desperate enterprises, and, condemned to Yet so it was, for in die, had cheated the gallows. the days of his hot youth he was convicted of high
It

treason,

by bearing arms

against the

Crown

in the

Fenian Insurrection of 1867. Mr. O'Brien was in command of the Fenians of

Cork.

They captured

country police station

or

"barracks,"

as the quarters of

the Royal Irish Con-

stabulary are called

constable and
six

which
was

was occupied by a head

quickly
It

men.
suppressed.

The
at
hiri

insurrection

Mr.

O'Brien was soon arrested.

came out

in evidence

trial that during the attack on the police barracks

he had shown great humanity and courage in rescuing

from the burning building, before the police surrendered, The the wife and children of the head constable.
sentence of death was,

on the representation of the

it,

judge who had pronounced

78

immediately commuted.

THE GRAND COMMITTEE ROOM.

Immediately
ofi

Westminster Hall, the scene of

is

many

State trial and political impeachment,

the Grrand
the

Committee

Eoom.

Here

it

was that on

16th

February, 1897, the Select Committee of the House of

Cominons opened the historic inquiry into the origin and circumstances of the famous Jameson Raid on the Transvaal, in December, 1895, and also into the administration of the British South Africa Company.
lately the

was really a great State trial. Mr. Cecil Ehodes, Prime Minister of Cape Colony, was practically The mind inevitably recalled a being impeached.
It

similar trial, just a century back, in Westminster Hall,

when Warren Hastings was impeached

and
misdemeanours," as
will

of " high crimes

Governor- General of India.

That scene
colours

live for ever, as painted in

glowing
says

by

the splendidly descriptive pen of Macaulay.

civil

" Neither military nor

the historian.

pomp was wanting,"

At

the South African Inquiry there

was

The only gleam of colour in the room was a big, painted map of Africa. The fifteen members of the Committee sat round a
no display of pageantry.
,

horse-shoe table.

In the chair was Mr.

W.

L. Jackson
right
table

(now Lord AUerton), with Mr. Chamberlain on his and Sir William Harcourt on his left. At the long
at the base of the horse-shoe

were the counsel for the defence, engrossed in papers and documents. In the centre of the horse-shoe table sat Mr. Cecil

Rhodes during examination.

He

fortified himself

each

day

for the ordeal with a large tumbler of stout

of

and a

plate

sandwiches,

which he munched and sipped

while giving evidence.

79

VISCOUNT ALTHORP.
" I AM not an agricultural labourer."
thing to say; yet in saying
it

It

seems a simple

Hon. Charles Robert Spencer

Lord Althorp then the contributed to the gaiety

of Parliamentary gossip for all time.

The humour of the remark lay in its obviousness and incongruity. One night there was a debate on the unhappy condition of the class that Hves closest
to the soil.

Mr. Spencer was fresh to the House of

he was returned for North Northamptonshire in 1880 and had not long crossed the threshold of manCommons
hood.

He was

one of the youngest and best-looJdng

men

in the assembly,

Rising to

and certainly the best dressed. take part in the discussion, he declared, with

a glint of fun in his eye, that he was not an agricultural

labourer.
historic

The House looked

at the

young
all

heir toJ;he

Spencer earldom, arrayed in

the splendour

of the smartest of evening clothes, and roared with

laughter at the

humour

of the situation.

There were
earnest

cheers, too, later on, for Mr. Spencer

made an

and appealing speech on behalf of the peasant delvers

of the sod.

Mr. Spencer at once got a place in the affections

Ever after he was paid and esteem of the House. the compliment of being familiarly referred to as "Bobby"; and what the Commons lost the Upper

Chamber gained when he became Lord Chamberlain and received a peerage on the formation of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's Administration in December
1905.
So

'

9<^'^

''</U-^

LORD CURZON.
The
But
accidental advantages of
birth

doubt, belp advancement in the

and station, no House of Commons.

George Nathaniel
St.

Lord Curzon,

vrhen,

as

Mr.

Curzon, he

made

his

appearance at

Stephen's in

1886, also possessed qualities

are
far

vrhich, in the long run,

more helpful

to

the

young

politician

than

aristocratic connections

oratorical

abilities

of

a high

order,

consciousness of power, faith ia one's

of

self,

and
that

the

force

compelling

others

to

share

in

confidence.

The youthful
that

scion of an old family obtains easily

an Under-Secretaryship. minor post

if

But he rarely gets beyond

little

he has

else to rely

upon but

the claims of long descent.

Mr. Curzon discharged the duties of Under-Secretary

for

India,

and subsequently, of Under-Secretary

for
fit

Foreign Affairs, with enthusiasm and industry.

ambition aspired, he travelled

To

himself the more for the greater career to which his

much

in the

Far East,

penetrating to remote and perilous spots, for the purpose

of studying the problems clamouring to statesmanshijo

for settlement in India, Persia, Korea, China,

and Japan.

Equipped with knowledge and insight into Eastern which raises no conditions, he was made an Irish peer barrier to subsequent election to the House of Commons

for a British constituency

and
the

appointed to the Vice-

royalty of India.

Thus, before he was forty, he was

the ruler of nearly 300,000,000

human

beings.
duties

In the discharge of
responsibilities

tremendous
for

and

of

that august office

seven years

he displayed enormous capacity for work, courage in

carrying out large reforms, and, withal, a gaiety which

no disappointment could

eclipse.

8i

/8f3

/^^

iT^'^C/t ^C^^^-cA^

M.P.'S

PROCEEDING
SERVICE.
all

TO THE JUBILEE
On

the 20th June, 1897, there were services in

the

churches and chapels of the land in thanksgiving for

the sixty years of Queen Victoria's rule.

The two
Westminster

Houses of Parliament joined, of course, in the popular

rejoicings.

The Lords worshipped

St.

in

Abbey.

In

Margaret's Church, Westminster, which

has been for centuries intimately associated with the

lower Chamber, the

Commons had
striking.

their service.

The
to the

procession of the representatives of the people

Church was very

(Mr.

As they emerged
Palace Yard, the

from Westminster
Serjeant-at-Arms

Hall into

New

H. D. Erskine), bearing the Mace shoulder high, was at their head, and he was immediately followed by Mr. Speaker Gully (now
Viscount Selby), in his State robe of brocaded
silk,

with lavish embroideries of gold

lace.

The

Clerks

came next in wigs and gowns. Then came the general body of the Members, headed by the Leader of the House, Mr. Arthur J. Balfour, and the Leader of the
Opposition, Sir William Harcourt.

The
reasons

representatives of the people had, indeed, solid

for

regarding

Queen
In

Victoria's
it

reign

with

thankfulness and gratitude.

there

was a most

remarkable development of government by democracy.

Parliament attained
to
its

position of unchallenged

At the same time, the stability and popularity of the Monarchy were enormously The Crown was lifted absolutely above increased.
ascendancy in the State.
Party
conflicts

and

political intrigues.
83

THE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS.

Sir

Henry John Lowndes Graham, K.C.B.,

office of

fills

the

very ancient and most important

Parliaments.
antiquity.
It

Clerk of the

Even the

title
it

of the office tells of its

shows that

must have been created

consisted of but
spiritual

in that far-ofB time

when Parliament

one assembly, in which the Lords

and temporal

and the Knights of the Shires

sat together.
is

The Clerk
clerical staff.

of the Parliaments

head of the estabits

lishment of the Lords, and appoints and controls

He

is

also

Registrar of the

House

as

the supreme Court of Appeal.

When

the House of

Lords
to the

is

in session he sits

at

the table, in wig and

fall
is,

gown, and discharges some of the duties which

Speaker in the House of Commons.

He

it

and not the presiding Lord Chancellor, who calls on the Peers to bring on their Bills and Notices of Motion
as set out in the Orders of the

Day.
which have interesting ceremony in
to Bills
is

He

also gives the

Royal Assent

passed both Houses.

the House of Lords
five

At

this

the Sovereign

represented

by

Lords Commissioners.

But
Acts

it

is

the Clerk of the

Parliaments

who

utters the quaint old

Bills into

Norman

phrases

which transform
Public Bills, "

in the case of general

Money

Bills,

"

Le Roy le vault,'' and in the Le Roy remercie ses bons sujets,

case of

accepte

leur benevolence, et ainsi le veult."

The Clerk

of the Parliaments also endorses the only

authentic copies of the Acts (one for the Rolls Office,

the other for the Victoria Tower), and
of all the Records of the
is

the custodian

House
83

of Lords.

The Right Hon. SIR

in the course of

JOHN GORST.
won fame
for

Sir John Eldon Goest has

many

things

a long and distinguished career

He

career in which thrilling personal experiences have not

been absent.
started
for

At twenty-four, while studying

for the

Bar, the spirit of unrest took possession of him.

New

Zealand in a sailing
at

vessel.

The

Governor of the Colony

Grey,

the time was Sir George

who

appointed him Civil Commissioner to the

It

native district of Waikato.

and the adventures which that he filled it are told in

interesting book,

befel

was a dangerous post, him in the few years

"

his little known but deeply The Maori King."

Entering Parliament in 1866, he became a notable

figure in
tinction

the House,

and eventually
offices,

filled

with
that

dis-

many

important

including

of

Minister of Education between 1895 and 1902.

John Gorst has devoted faculties more to the solution

Sir

his brilliant

and trained

of social problems than

to political questions.

He

is,

indeed, one of the most

social

resourceful

and persuasive advocates of

service
all,

of the absolute necessity of providing, above

for

the comfort and happiness of the people.

Especially

fond of children, his zeal as a reformer

the interest and welfare of the
will,
little

is

warmest in
Sir

ones.

John
of his

perhaps, best be

remembered on account
incapable

crusade for the provision of meals to underfed school

children
profiting

who

are rendered

by hunger
State has

of

by the education which the

free. It
is

made

compulsory and

appropriate,
in

therefore,

that he should be presented

little

hand

hand with two

girls,

end

for

whose charm and joyousness suggest the which he labours that among the children

of the earth there should never be sorrow more.

84

MR. WILLIAM
A& Mr. Cremer
the Liberals he
sits

RANDAL CREMER.
left

is

in the House of Commons among made conspicuous by the piece of

lapel of

red ribbon which he wears in the

coat.
It is

his

the

badge

of the Cross of the

Legion of
Republic
the

Honour.
bestowed
initiated

The
this

President
distinction

of

the

French

on Mr. Cremer for having

chief
first

and for being the

organiser

of

Inter- Parliamentary Conference,

held in Paris in

1888, and in

London
of

in 1890, for the promotion of

international peace

and progress.
herald painter,

Cremer was apprenticed to the craft of carpentry and joinery. From his earliest years he has been associated with movements on behalf of the working classes. He was the founder of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. But it is as an advocate of peace, of the
a

The son

Mr.

settlement of disputes between nations

that

by

arbitration,

he
the

is

best

known.
its

He

is

the

Secretary

of

the International Arbitration League,

of
Arbitrator^
official

and the editor

organ.

Through
to

hie

exertions
sentative

every Parliament in

Europe has a repreuphold the

group

of

Members pledged

peace movement.

In 1903 Mr. Cremer gave a signal proof of devotion

to

the great cause with which his

long and so honourably associated.

name has been so That year he was

Medal and Peace
peaceful relations

awarded
Prize
for

the famous Nobel

his
efforts

Gold

to

establish

between the nations of Europe, and he gave the bulk of the prize, 7,000, as an endowment to the International Arbitration League.
8s

REPRESENTATIVES OF

COMMERCE.
The
politicians, or Parliamentarians,

purely and simply,

by no means

Membership of Commons. By these are meant the men who are more or less conspicuous in the public eye Ministers, ex-Ministers, and also private Members of independent means and leisure, possessing political
constitute the bulk of the

the House of

abilities,

or that engrossing interest in public questions,

or that delight in public service, or that love of public

distinction,

which induces them

larger
class

to give a

good deal of

time to Parliamentary work.

far

are

the

commercial
shipowners,

men
railway

merchants,
directors

bankers,

financiers,

who do not take a very active

work
of the House.

or prominent
are regular in

share in the

They

their attendance.

They

vote in most divisions.

They

are always in their places

required.

when

their presence

may

be

But not often do their names appear in the Yet they render very efficient newspaper reports.
services to the State.

They

give invaluable aid in the

affecting

guiding and

controlling of legislation

the

development of industry.

They supply

that knowledge,
affairs,

derived from practical experience in business

which

is

indispensable in the

Government and Admini-

stration of a great commercial nation.

In the group here reproduced are representatives of

that great class in and out of the

House

of

Commons

through whose capacity and enterprise British commerce

has been spread to
*

all

the ends of the earth.*

consists of, from left to right at the back, Sir Walter (M.P. for Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1900-1906) and Sir Charles Front row, Sir Cayzer, Bart. (M.P. for Barrow-in-Furness, 1892-1906). Christopher Furness, M.P., Sir Walter Peace, Agent-General for Natal,

The group

Hummer

and Sir John Johnson.

86

DR.
On the
the
in
floor

ROBERT WALLACE.
of
tlie

House of Commons a tragedy was

Dr. Robert Wallace,

enacted the 5th of June, 1899.

Member

for East Edinburgh, had begun a speech

opposition to the grant of public

money

to

Lord
hon.

Kitchener, proposed

by

the Government, in recognition

of his services in the

Egyptian campaign.

The

gentleman was one of the humorists of the House,

having a rare faculty of dry, caustic Scottish sarcasm
;

and

it

was

in

that veia

that

he was treating the

proposal.

note in Hansard's " Debates " thus describes the " The aristocratic official,' said Mr. Wallace, sequel
:

'

'

gets

everything,

while the poor

man who
At

risks

his

life

and does the wotk gets nothing.'

the official record,

this point,"

"the hon. Member was apparently seized with faintness. His voice failed, he
continues

could not read his notes or find his eyeglasses,

nor

could he drink or even hold in his hands the glass

of

water that was passed to him

from

the

Front
after

Opposition Bench.
a
painful
pause,

He

sat

down

abruptly,

and

Mr. Arnold- Forster

continued the

debate."

Before the debate was resumed Dr. Wallace,

who

fallen to his seat insensible, was carried out of Chamber and removed to Westminster Hospital. He died there at two o'clock in the morning of the

had
the

6th of June, within three hours of his rising to address

the House of

Commons.
87

^.

INDIAN REPRESENTATIVES AT

KING EDWARD'S CORONATION.

What
an
air of

adventure and romance the Colonial

at the Coronation of

and Indian representatives

Edward

VII. imparted to the thoroughfares of

King London
need

during the summer of 1902

them, even in
but a turning

As one caught the roaring Strand, it seemed

!

sight of
to

down

the next by-street to find oneself

lost in pathless forests

crocodiles

and lions Of them all, the Indian contingent was undoubtedly

In their Oriental splendour of attire

and jungles where there were and tigers.

the chief attraction.

of

their silken, flowing robes,

and many-folded turbans

their lavish

the most varied and exquisite hues,

display of glittering jewels on hands and breasts and

in their ears
if

the home-staying Cockney had fascinating,

mighty and
fantastic India.

inscrutable, glimpses of

The Indian

military representatives

photographed

on the Terrace, with Lord Valentia, one of the Unionist Whips, in their midst were of an unexpectedly fine

physique.

There was nothing

they,

of the Eastern softness

and

frailty about them.

Stalwart and wiry and soldierly

also.

men were

and remarkably good-looking

ss

MR. ERNEST
The
adventurous
spirit

GEORGE
finds

PRETYMAN.
in

England

an

outlet

either in the

Army

or in politics.

Mr. Pretyman, the

son of a Canon of Lincoln Cathedral, has in both given

He was a Captain Royal Artillery when he was left an inheritance by a relative, and quitting the Army he soon after
vent to his courage and enterprise.
in the

entered the House of Commons.

He was
conspicuous

not long in the House before he became

among

the

younger

Members

of

the

Conservative Party below the gangway, as

his attractive exterior
clear, cogent,

much by
his

and winning address, as by

style of speaking.
responsibilities

and sincere

Soon he
In

was invested with the

of the Admiralty,
that Department.
It

of

office.

the Balfour Administration he was,

first. Civil Lord and then Parliamentary Secretary to

needs a

man

of practical common-sense,

and an

indefatigable worker, to deal promptly and sagaciously

with the multiplicity of

affairs that

come up

for settle-

ment in the great department of the Admiralty, and, by general acknowledgment, Mr. Pretyman's soundness and sobriety of judgment were never at fault.
89

^y^u.^ .f. P7X.7^.

~/3^-^iu.

BLACK ROD'S KNOCK.

The moment
House
of

the usher's loud cry of "Black

Rod"

is

heard from the lobby by the Serjeant-at-Arms in the

Commons, he

springs from his chair,

it

and

hastening to the open door shuts

with an inhospitable

clang in the very face of Black Rod, and securely bolts

it.

Presently

three

faint

knocks are

heard.

The

Serjeant-at-Arms peers out through the grated peephole which, with a

wooden

slot,

is

fixed in the stout

oaken door.
messenger.

He
The

finds,

with mild surprise, that the

knocks were given by the ebony stick of the Lords'

petitionary appeal of that
soft

and

humble "rat-tat-tat" it would be impossible to resist; and accordingly, at a nod from the Speaker, the door is flung open and in walks Black Rod to deliver his
blameless message.

What, then,
inoffensive

is

the meaning of this slamming of

the door of the House of

Commons

in Black

Rod's
the

face?

Why

must he wait submissively

to
It is a

and humbly knock three times for admission

Chamber before
and
significant

it is

granted?

time-honoured
right
of
^

demonstration

of

the

the

representatives of the people to conduct their deliberations in secret, should they

deem

it

necessary,

and

to

shut their doors

especially against the messengers of

sovereigns or peers.

These three solemn knocks of Black Rod on the door of the House of Commons in truth recall many momentous Parliamentary incidents in the long and
bitter

struggle

for

constitutional

liberty.

We may

hear them only in fancy, but they thrill us like a trumpet call, and set the impulses of our ancestors
stirring within us
still.

90

SIR

RICHARD CLAVERHOUSE
JEBB.
idea of the House of

The popular
opinions.

Commons

is

too often

merely that of a body of

far short of its due.

men

of conflicting political

Such a conception of the House falls very It is something greater than that.
the composition of the
set

Anyone who examines

ship of the House, as

Memberit is,

out in the Parliamentary

representative

reference books, will see

how

not

only of the political opinions of the Nation, but of

the Nation's
experience,
its

intellect,

learning,

science,

its

practical

Thus there is at the disposal of the House a vast and varied mass of knowledge and observation to draw upon in the discussion of the concerns of the Empire. High among the representatives of scholarship in the House was Sir Richard Jebb, one of the representatives of Cambridge University, and its Eegius Professor of Greek up to the time of his death in
business capacity and enterprise.

December,
attainments

1905.

In the consideration of questions

of education, especially, his trained intellect

and erudite

were most valuable.

The House always

welcomed
its

his soothing

and persuasive contributions to

debates.
9*

^. c.

pM

THE EARL OF HALSBURY AND ADMIRAL LEYGUE.

It would be natural to expect strikingly contrasted
types, of personality and of temperament, between an

English Lord Chancellor and a French Admiral.

dissimilar are the qualities

How
and
in

and

characteristics of the

two Nations!

How

far apart, iu circumstances

thought, are the professions of the

Law and

the Sea

Yet when the Earl of Halsbury and Rear-Admiral Leygue met at the historic entertaiament of the officers of the French Nayy by the Houses of Parliament in Westminster HaU on the 12th of August, 1905, it

was not

so

much

points

of

difference
;

as points

of

was not a distinction but a harmony in individuality that was apparent. Hardinge Stanley Giffard, Earl of Halsbury, and three times Lord High Chancellor of England, was eighty years of age on that memorable occasion when the friendship of the two great neighbouring peoples was sealed in Westminster Hall. Nevertheless, he was There is in the fidlest vigour, mental and physical. an axiom of the English Bar that a practitioner in
comparison that were furnished
it

the criminal courts never reaches

the Woolsack.

An
at

exception to the rule

is

Lord Halsbury.

While

the Bar he practised chiefly at the assizes, and was a

Crown

Prosecutor.

But such are

he was

the virility

of

character and

the

powerful and versatile intellect of Lord Halsbury, that

certain to succeed in
difficulties

any walk

of

life,

no

matter what

might be in the way.

if

Indeed,

on that 12th of August, 1905, he looked as

step from the

he could
to

Bench of the Court

of

of

Chancery on

the quarter-deck

the Admiral's flagship, to take

command

of the Channel Fleet.

92

THE DUKE OF ARGYLL.

John Douglas Sutheelakd Campbell, Duke
bearer of the ancient Celtic
title,

of Argyll,

"

Mac

Cailean Mhor,"

from Sir Colin Campbell who was knighted in 1286

chief of a great
as well as

Highland

clan, is

an author and poet

better

a poUtician.
of

He

is

known

as

the

Marquess

Lome.

As such he married

in

1871

Princess Louise, the sixth child and fourth daughter of

Queen
1883

Victoria, being at the time the Liberal

Member

for Argyllshire.

For

five

years

he

between
in

1878 and

filled

the exalted post of Grovernor-General

of Canada.

He

sat

as

Liberal-Unionist

the House of

Commons from 1895 until he succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his father in 1900. But though he was
constant in his attendance during those five years he

never spoke in the House.

speaker, with

Yet he

is

an excellent

much
is

of

the fancy and imagiaation of

the Gael.

He

also a thinking, earnest

man, desirous

of grappling with important questions, such as Imperial

Federation, in which he

is

especially interested.
his

But
tfie

he
to

felt

the constraint

of

position to

as

son-in-law

Queen Victoria too deeply

go down into

political arena.

93

iZ/ffL^-^,

^-

^<^^

STATUE OF RICHARD
The memorial
to

I.

King Eichard the

First, better
is

known

as " Coeur de Lion," in

Old Palace Yard,

It
is

a striking

example of equestrian statuary.

Marochetti, an Italian

the

work of

who

lived in Paris, and, having

to fly for his part in the

settled in

French Kevolution of 1848,

London.
little

There was
Richard.

of the ruler of his people in

King

He was more

the chivalrous knight-errant,

wandering in quest of adventures to show his prowess at arms and his high-souled generosity and self-sacrifice.
His
darling

ambition was

to

relieve

the

Christian

pilgrims to the

Holy Land from the

oppressions of the

Turk. In 1192 he led his gallant troops to the very walls of Jerusalem, only to be forced to turn home-

wards again, so wasted were

his followers

by

fighting

and disease. Nevertheless, he was strong enough to be able to conclude a treaty with Saladin that for
three years, three months, three days, and three hours

pilgrims should have free access to the

Holy Sepulchre.

As he
resolution

is

depicted

by the

chisel of Marochetti,

we

see high purpose in his ardent face,

and command and

which nothing can baulk.

94

SIR
Sir

EDGAR VINCENT,
who

K.C.M.G.
started

Edgak Vincent, who represented Exeter from 1899

on an Like his elder brother, Sir began life as a soldier and
first

to 1906, is an eminent financier

entirely different career.

Howard

Vincent,

who

became Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard, he too, before finding his definitive and instinctive destiny in the appHcation of
the science of public revenue and expenditure,
five years in the

spent

Coldstream Guards.

For six years he was Financial Adviser to the Government of Egypt. It was mainly owing to the reforms which he introduced that Egyptian finance was restored to prosperity. He subsequently rendered a like service to Turkey. As Governor of the Imperial Ottoman Bank, he lifted Turkey out of its financial difficulties, and directed it on the path of economic
progress.

95

<i

JV.V

^VV^

t<.V.^

WESTMINSTER FROM THE CLOCK TOWER.

Over the
dials of

Big Ben there

is

a wide, open gallery

of the

which affords a

thrilling prospect

Metropolis.

The

bustling crowds, the hurrying traffic in the streets

below, seem strangely remote and unfamiliar, and their

streaming roar
in a dream.

falls

on the ear drowsily as

if

heard

In the far distance, the northern heights

loom through the haze, dim and mystical. But the chief interest of the prospect is found in the Government Departments in Whitehall. Conspicuous
in the scene
is

the block of buildings in which

the Education Board,

the

and the Home Office are housed. Beyond them the Admiralty comes The Duke of York's Column stands view. into out boldly and apart. The greenery of St. James's
Foreign
Office,

Park refreshingly breaks the grey of the clustering Then the eye falls upon Buckingham house-tops.
Palace, the

home

of the Sovereign.
is

Here, indeed,
the political

the heart of things, the centre of

and administrative

system of the

far-

spreading British Empire.

96