THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 271, 15 November 1899, Page 6

THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW

For Londoners there is no need to describe the Lord Mayor's Show. For others we may say that it is a procession which is to be seen every 9th of November, when the new Lord Mayor takes office, and proceeds, attended by the Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Common Council-men, with bands of music, and with banners flying of all the City Guilds, to the Exchequer Court to be sworn in. Then, at night, follows the Lord Mayor's annual banquet, in the Guildhall—a mighty deed of drinking and feeding.

Every year since 1501 have these gustatory festivities been held there —about 400 of them altogether.

What beasts of the field and birds of the air have gone to the manufacture of that long series of official feasts. Alas! for Time's fatal touch. They have passed into Limbo, and so have most of the men that ate them. Solemn and instructive thought!

And they ran into money withal. The cost of the Lord Mayor's Show, dinner included, is about £3500, of which his lordship pays half and each sheriff oneifourth. Surely the Lord Mayor hath ways to spend his £ 10,000 a year-—even if it is twice the salary of the Prime Minister.

Not all the people who march in. the Lord Mayor's procession get a chance to put their legs under the tables at the Lord Mayor's banquet. Oh, no—nor anything like it. The elephants and camels are omitted, of course; and the policemen, the soldiers, the sailors, the beefeaters, etc., must content themselves with their ordinary rations, and a. good job for them too. • •

Because the guests at the big feed will eat too much and drink too much. They always do. And then the miseries of the day after! Sharp indigestions, paroxysms of biliousness, awful "heads" and collapsed nerves are on the list. The Habitual Dyspeptics— at least half the honourable and distinguished company—groan under the onset of their Intimate Enemy and •"wish they 'had stopped outside with the parties who were not invited.

But the remedy that pulled them through last year (Mother Seigel's Syrup) soon sets matters to ■ rights. The bowels are relieved of their load, the liver resumes work, the stomach digests the tough stuff that was so recklessly thrown into it, and they look back at tlie Lord Mayor's banquet as Wellington looked at the French after tfhe battle of Waterloo. Eat what you like, but keep "Mother Seigel" close at hand.