An Ancient Custom.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3465, 21 March 1890, Page 2

An Ancient Custom.

i London correspondent of Iha Bradford CbWfWr.Budwti.waß dining ~; . , ;i tho qtfoor pIjW tl|9 wN*'

Ibe Towor and,was privilflged lo witw & ecene not inojuded, in, tho i programme of nn ofdiriary visit (o that : i plane. It wna . tbe dramntio i-nd ipicturcmjue business of tho sontiy on '/guard challenging tho chief warder i who was taking tbo keys of tbo Tower ito tbo Governor. This happens overy | night as tho clock strikes cloven, and f:has happened every, night at. tho Giime jhour back to tho days of the Plantajgenote, Tho imo takes jilnco beforo jthe gate of the Bloody Towor, immedijs facing tho Traitor's Gale, through iWtfts Sir Thomas Moore marched on his way to tho condemned cell, iho reversed a'xo beforo him .being the Bitjn of his'sehtciico, From a littlo portico on the right-hand sidoof the Bloody Tower the sentry turns out md stands, on guard. From. tho traitor's Gate thcro presently appear wo or three inon, one dressed in a carlet robe iiid carrying a lighted antern. Tho (entry, his viflo ?ith a sharp click to his shoulder, alls oat, "Halt! who goes there!" 'he man in the scarlet gown an ewers, €ho keys," " Whoso koyc, I", Buys sentry, ''Queen Victoriu's Keys," "Pass Queen. Victoria's toys," eaya tho mollified sentry, and he warder: moves on a pnee. Then DO halts, and, holding ity his lantern, tries ilond,God bless Queen Yicoris I" The sentry presents. arms, ho men with tho chief warder chant ' Araon" threo times, and the' warder jesnmes his journey, carrying (he toys to tho Governor of the' Tow. About this tiroo all the theatres in tonjtoarc reaching, or have (ias«e J, ■iaeefKw of their dramatic pieces. Ink there is nothing in London, pro- i Inbly nothing in r . tho world,' so fiiif|ly ; J dramatic as this relio of old English |istory, played hero night after , night 1 Viith only tho griru walls of the ! Tower looking op, •■.'Centuries. bgd : ilia very gateway heard'tho.same !iallenge, " Whoso keys ?" 'only the' j iswer was " King Stephen's keys," i of "Henry tho Third's keys 1" or ' I Edward tho Second's keys," down j II Elizabeth, and through' the dreary iptdiocrity of tho Georges. ! !