LORD MAYOR'S SHOW.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14962, 9 January 1919, Page 7

LORD MAYOR'S SHOW.

VICTORY PAGEANT

THE LAST WAR-TIME Pi'JOCES-

v SiUis

The procession of the new Lord Mayor of London, -Sir Horace Brooks Marshall, which paseeu through the heart of the British Empire on Saturday, November 9, was at once the story and the. explanation of victory (states the "Daily Chronicle"). The crowds who gathered in the. streets were there to be happy in honest, simple-hearted fashion, but they were there also to give thanks.

In the Lord Mayor's Show men and women found slowly opening before them the glorious pages of our war history, the unfolding of the talar of Britain's effort without, which thsre would have been no daw.n*~of peace, no coming of victoiy. I^all the cheers and cries there was heartfelt thanksgiving, and a' great pride in those who have defended our shores and our honour tor more than four years. First came men of the Navy, who have kept watch on our rfeas. Witu them marched some of the noble company of the merchant service, who, waving all danger, have brougu.c foou across the waters. For these captains of the sea. voices were raised in loua

greeting; men and women will not easily rorget the silent Navy or the men of thy merchant ships.

A SHIP OF SILVER.

The silver: ship, which, rode in majesty in the skies, the captured German aeroplanes,» men and women of the Royal Air Force in their blue uniforms, marching to the sound of music, tola how the- freedom of the air has been kept as surely as the freedom of the seas, and again there were the happy crowds, crying their gratituue. ' And that long line of men in khaki! There were memories of the days when most of them were working quietly in the factories and fields of our land. In tiieir passing on Saturday they brought to the eye the picture of that stirring moment when the garments of peace were thrown off for the armour oi- war and the manhood of the country rose ■Ji a body to fight in "the holy cause of Liberty;

Tlierc were. Serbian troops in the procession, and Americans, strong and eager j-and Italians, proud in. their victories, and there were the' men of our Dominions, who have thought it a tittle thing to leave their farms"on the veldt and plains to come over ami help in the work of our times. .. .

The South Africans had with them their mascot, a baboon, that has. twice been wounded in action, it sat on "a gun, -dressed in khaki, so solemn ;<ud .-Signified that one was almost afraid to laugh at it. Aioanted horsewomen. "Waacs" pixOmg potatoes in a field kitchen, "Wrafs" aiakmg aeroplane wings as their lorries swayed from side to siue, "Wrens" skilled hi carpentry, laiuTgirls in uui-toj-m that reminded ono of gay Robin Hood and his merry mates. Women of the forest carrying saws md axes, munition workers weldmg TOm&s with flaming -gas-—what a woiiieri'ul story of effort and achievement. Lhoiv Y.-ero tanks, big an 3 little, in the (■recession, and the array of captured berman guns-, most of winch wore fresh from the battlefield, aroused nnrestrainicd enthusiasm.

TWO MILES LONG PAGEANT

The procession was two miles long, and it took forty minuses to pass any point. The crowds were, almost everywhere, ten or twelve deep, and they were lined in front with- children. It was apparent that parents realised tliat no history of the Avar could ever tell the splendour of these last days so vividly as this last war-time procession. Beil-s of the City churches rang unendingly, flags hung from every building, the bands-- of the marching regiments played happy tunes all the while. It was' the beginning of the great relief, and there is pleasure and a certain prid? in the fact-that the London wEicii went to ■» ar in honour and in dignity, had made up its mind to go to "peace with equal honour and equal dignity.