Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-15
GRACE CHURCH BROWN SOLD.
The Practical Joke of a Gentleman
from the West.

springfield tl.) Cor. of the n. Y Graphic.]
4propos of your article on Brown,
the sexton of Grace church, let me tell
o. Il story of a mistake made by him
in another instance, very similar to that
in the case of General Banks:
Some years ago Sharon Tyndale, a
cousin of Professor Tyndall of England,
and Il brother of Gen. Tyndale, of Phila-
delphia, assecretary ofstate in Illinois.
Mr.. Tyndale was of a Quaker family, 4
thoroughly well-bred and cultured gen
tleman, who had at one time in his Lille
been quite wealthy and expended liberal
sums in the purchase of books and works
of art. in both of which he was a coll
noisseur. In person and dress he was
tastidiously neat and refined. [ have
known him to wear a white alpaca coat
an entire summer without soiling or
rumpling it. His profession has been
that of civil engineer and architect. He
was best esteemed by the best people
and by those who knew him well, and
his mysterious death by a shot from a
pistol at night in a lonely spot in this
city has been widely lamented, though
never explained. This Mr.. TyndaIe.
while holding his Office. made a visit to
New York for business or pleasure, and
4 wealthy and well-known citizen, a
friend of his, who had one of the best
pews in Grace church, invited him to
attend there, at the same time handing
him his card and saying that on showing
the card to. Brown he would be shown to
the right seat. Mr.. Tyndale hada quaint
humor something like that of Whittier,
the Quaker poet, and determined, hav-
ing heard much of Browns peculiarities
to test his character and get an in
sight for himself. Accordingly, on pre-
senting himself in the vestlbule, instead Of
exhibiting the card which should have
peer his open sesame, he stepped up to
Brown, who vas seating people right
and left, and reyerting to the dia'ect of
the Friends, he simply said to him:
'Can L hear the Word here to-day?"
Brown glanced at his drab coat,
which, though faultlessly fine and neat,
was not of the orthodox color, and look
ing him all over, replied indifferently,
Yes, sir! yes, sir! will give you a seat
presently" and went on attending to
every n else, leaving MI. Tyndale to
his own meditations.
By and by Mr.. Tyndale stepped up to
Brown again and asked, "Can l
hear the word here to-day? ?"
Yes, sir! yes, sir! will attend to
you presently"
Again Mr.. Tyndale waited, until hav-
ing taken the measure of his man, he
presented himself before the critical
sexton. and drew the mystic card from
his vest pocket, remarked, 81 wish you
would show me that gentleman's pew,
if you please" Browns entire manner
instantly changed. With ludicrously
impressive cordlality and Difference he
responded: Eyes, sir! certainly, sir!
step this way, STRIP And thereon he
stalked majestically up the aisle, looking
neither to the right hand nor to the left,
much less behind him, until, arriving at
the distinguished pew, which was in the
central aisle, near the chancel, he threw
open the door, turned with a profound
bow, and in his grandiose style motion
ed Mr. Tyndale in, when-heavens!-
what an expression of horror and dis
gust passed over his face! His bird
had flown, and he was ge~sticulating to
the empty air! Our friend, the secreta-
ry had slipped into the first unoccupied
seat near the door, and from that secure
post of observation was quietly enjoying
the strut, the bow, the sweeping wave
of the hand and arm, and above all, the
final blank look of discontinue.