THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 232, 8 January 1898, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LORD MAYOR'S SHOW.

A very different spectacle was the ono I witnessed the following week, when—so as to be able to say I had seen it—l valiantly sallied forth with a friend to get a glimpse of the much, the oft-talked of Lord Mayor's Show ! The day was anything but agreeable, being dreadfully muggy, aud the streets not m that state of cleanliness conducive to comfort. However, on we went, and as we had been very uncertain about going at all wc had not tried to secure any particular seats, so took our chance with the crowd, like many others. We fixed on Finsbury pavement as our best place, there being so much space there, but, oh dear! when we arrived we felt inclined to turn back. There were thousands there already, packed as close as could be, but again patience aud perseverance gained the day. The police broke tho front ranks in some way, and without any trouble we found ourselves quite at the front line but one, and though I don't stand six feet without my boots, I saw the whole pageant at my ease. Not having seen tho show before I could form no opinion about it, but it was said to be better than it had been on previous occasions. There was certainly variety enough to please the people; such as the car representing British sports of every age and description up to date (drawn by six greys aud escorted by footballers in the colours of the Rugby winners of 1896-97), also the chariot with representatives of the founders of Greater Britain (drawn by six horses aud escorted by colonists), the model cruiser "Minerva, all the different civic companies, military detachments, and hosts of other "things. I enjoyed the music very much; there were no less than nineteen bauds, all good, especially the Life Guards, Grenadiers and Highlanders, all of which were loudly cheered. The London masses do dearly love anything like a military show and to hear the bands play. It happened that there was constantly a stoppage ju»t opposite where we stood 60 wo saw everything capitally. As usual the remarks of the people amused me highly. When the new Lord Mayor in his state coach came to a standstill in front of us I heard a woman remark : "I say, Martha Mary, I rather likes the look on him ; " to which Martha Mary, who was a pale-faced young woman, wearing a huge hat crowned with high nodding feathers, replied, after critically examining the unconscious Mayor with her head on one side; "Yes! He doesn't look a bad sort." Just then a lady could be seen through the glass windows waving her handkerchief and at first it looked as if the Mayor was flicking his own face. " Oh, lor' !" exclaimed the first speaker again, " why, t'man must be faint! See how he's a-moppin' of hisself!" The words "T' Mayors faint" were taken up by others, and, "Oh, 'Arry," said a young woman near me, whose waist was encircled by the arm of the young man by her side, <( T' Mayor's faint!" and as she spoke she iooked up into her 'Arry's face as if she thought of fainting herself and required a closer embrace, upon which 'Arry uusympathetically rejoined, " Your grandmother !" Well, I can say in years to come I have seen the Lord Mayor's Show in the Jubilee Year of 1897.