FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



that gorgeous procession, and pointed out as my 

 future self a grey-headed septuagenarian finely 

 apparelled keeping step with a legal luminary 

 either a Recorder or a County Court Judge in a 

 full-bottomed wig and a Court suit, with whom I 

 was told off to consort. 



I lived much of my boyhood over again in that 

 short walk, and pondered over it as I sat in the 

 old Cathedral, which had done much to create in 

 me a love for, and some understanding of, the 

 works of the great masters of church music. 



But Father Time waits not for retrospections, 

 and, our thanksgivings and the dean's sermon 

 being ended, we formed up again, two and two, 

 and to the inspiring strains of the Cathedral organ, 

 emerged once more into the brilliant sunlight of 

 Tom Quad. The Cathedral bells did their best 

 to speed the parting guests by their merry pealing, 

 while the city bells in old Carfax tower rang out 

 a joyous welcome to the coming guests as we 

 neared the Town Hall. 



Having reached it, I re-discovered Jordan, 

 who, with his customary forethought, had taken 

 steps to ascertain from personal observation that 

 the position in the luncheon hall, assigned to the 

 Mayor of Bath, was such as befitted the repre- 

 sentative of that ancient and loyal city. As he 

 himself was perfectly satisfied that the powers-that- 

 be had made adequate provision in this respect, 

 I knew that the honour of the city had been fully 

 upheld as it certainly was. My bodyguard, 

 placing himself at my head, having conducted me, 

 fully robed and chained, through the hall to my 

 allotted place, stationed himself behind it with the 



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