The ceremony is a most interesting one. The floor of the Hall is strewn with aromatic herbs, which is perhaps the only survival of the mediæval method of carpeting a floor with rushes. The aldermen or heads of the city wards, gather in their scarlet gowns, and are met by the representatives of the companies, all clad in the robes or "liveries," which, by ancient grants bestowed upon them, they are privileged to wear, whence their name of "Liverymen" is derived. To this assembly the recorder or law officer of the city then makes a short, set speech, declaring that from the time of King John the liverymen have possessed the rights of election which they are now to exercise. The liverymen thereupon proceed to choose, by vote, two of the aldermen for the office of Lord Mayor, and from these two the incumbent Lord Mayor and the aldermen with formal ceremony select one, who is to become Lord Mayor of London for the ensuing term. This selection the liverymen must ratify by stating that the man named is their free choice. On the evening of his election the new Lord Mayor presides at a splendid feast in the Guildhall, and among the illustrious company assembled not the least picturesque figures are the liverymen of London in their gowns edged with fur, wearing the golden chain-like collars from which depend jewelled badges.
| PLATE LX | ARMOURER'S HALL: BOARD ROOM |
Not only do these private companies thus possess civic powers which are strange to Americans of more republican traditions, but they exercise other inherited privileges of no small importance. The Company of Stationers records and grants all copyright privileges in England. The Fishmongers Company controls and regulates the sale of fish in the metropolis. Every piece of gold or silver plate manufactured in London must be stamped or "hall-marked" at the Hall of the Goldsmiths with the crest of their order, the panther's head. The Company of Clothworkers still guard the silver yard-stick which is the standard for all English and American measures, and other companies possess and exercise similar public functions and authorities.
| BUTCHER'S HALL | BOARD ROOM |
Through the increase of their common funds and from the numerous legacies which have been left to them, these companies have become very wealthy. The corporate moneys of sixty-four of them amount to £484,475. The richest company is that of the Drapers, which administers £50,000 and the Mercers own, among one hundred ninety-five members, £4800. In addition, the trust incomes of fifty of the companies amount to £201,427 and the total income of all foots up to no less than £750,000. These incomes are, however, by no means considered by the companies as to be applied to their private uses. Much of the money is, as has been said, in the nature of trust funds which they are bound to disburse according to specified provisions; and in fact, with the exception of a comparatively small amount set aside for public entertainments, private feasts and ceremonies, and the maintenance of their halls, their general incomes are either administered for certain set purposes of trust, or expended in charities. Orphanages, almshouses, prisons, schools, hospitals, technical training colleges and the like, all share in the benefit of these funds. The Drapers gave £10,000 toward the building of the People's Palace, and support a large training school for boys in connection with it. Guy's Hospital was founded by a member of the Worshipful Company of Stationers. A member of the Mercers Company founded St. Paul's School; and the Mercers have recently opened a great technical institute for both sexes. As an example of the trusts which they administer, we may mention that the Apothecaries Company owns a large estate in Chelsea on which a botanical garden was founded in 1672, and given to the Company on condition that they should add to the garden at least fifty varieties of rare plants annually until the number reached two thousand. This they have done, making the most complete collection of medical herbs and simples in the world. It was in this garden that, in 1687, the first attempt was made to grow plants in an artificially heated atmosphere. It will thus be apparent that, though the members of these companies are self-elected, they are by no means unworthy of the public trusts and functions which under royal charters they still exercise.