Photo by Emil P. Albrecht 



THE GUARDIAN OF THE TEMPLE ; LONDON 



The uniformed gentleman is vociferously informing the photographer that he _ is a 

 trespasser upon private property, the grounds of the Temple being open only to barristers 

 and servitors of this inn of court, except upon such occasions as the Temple shall decree. 

 The inns of court are societies for the study of law and possess exclusively the privilege 

 of calling to the bar. There are four — the Inner and Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and 

 Gray's Inn. The Temple was formerly a lodge of the Knights Templar, became Crown 

 property upon dissolution of the order in 1313, and after several changes came into the 

 possession of the Knights of St. John, who leased it in 1346 to the students of common law. 

 From that day the group of buildings between the Thames and Fleet street has been a 

 law school. 



lies between Tower and river, or, better 

 yet, on the stately Tower Bridge, to look 

 back upon the ancient pile. We may well 

 spare the Beefeaters, the picturesquely 

 attired warders, a passing glance ; they 

 and the Lord Mayor preserve for us 

 medieval London. Serious-minded peo- 

 ple derive their title from Buffetier — 

 servers at the King's buffet — but the 

 frivolous incline to the letter of the 

 word ; part of their wage was anciently 



paid in sirloins of beef. They are all old 

 soldiers of meritorious service, these 

 Beefeaters, and are very prominent in 

 city processions and coronation festivi- 

 ties. For this service they receive medals, 

 which they wear proudly. 



"i WAS 'ORRID 'OT" 



Said a friend of mine to a very ancient 

 Beefeater who had served at two corona- 

 tions, "What do you think about when 



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