The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-27
A Bishops Wife.

A correspondent of the Chicago Times,
in a letter from Ocean Grove, wherein he
discusses some peculiarities of the Meth
odist people, tells this interesting little
story: 81 never see Bishop Simpson but
l recall an incident concerning his wife.
Mrs. Simpson is very elegant in appear
ance and dress, accomplished and styl-
ish, as we'll as religious. A number of
years ago there was reunion of the four
Methodist conferences of Illinois, in
Bloomington. 1t CHANGED that Presby-
terian banker who lived near the Meth
odist Church offered to maintain the
Bishop at his elegant home. 1t was nee
essary for the transaction of business
that the Bishops lodging should be near
the place of meeting, and, no Methodists
living very near the church, the banker
threw open his doors. The hostess had
very sneering way of speaking of Meth
odists. She thought them llliterate,
plain people, and the higher their place
in the church the more holy and conse-
quently ignorant they were. She ex-
pected to meet woman in a wellworn
bombazine, linen collar, pinned by a
common brass pin, hair twisted in d pig
tail on the back of the head, scoop bon
net and cotton gloves. The hostess was
a kind-hearted little creature She did
not wish to overawe her plain guests.
Being busy when they arrived, she sent a
servant to show them to their room.
When the d;---e+, simply aorved to meet
their guests oldfashioned way, was
ready, she twisted up her hair in a tight
off hnr Mi = g.,
cred tycoon-rep wrapper and white
apron, and thus appareled took her stand
in the parlor. A rustling of silk was
heard, and a tall, stately woman in black
silk, ruffied to the waist after the fashion
of that time, with expensive laces and
jewelry, with hair done in the latest
style, swept down the stairs and into the
parlor. While the hostess was faltering
Good-day, Sister Simpson, the Bishops
wife was making her hostess an elabo-
rate bow, but was unable to conceal her
surprise at the strange dining dress of
the lady of the house. / was simply
overwhelmed said the lady, telling me
about it afterward. L concluded a
Methodist Bishops wife was somebody.
| knew she thought had not half sense
| couldn't talk to her. Everything l said
| said wrong. In the evening put on a
silk as fine as hers, and got out my dia-
monds and my best china, but l felt
mean and little. | never recovered my
self-possession while she was there. She
was the most splendid talker ever heard.
She was visited by the rich people of
different denominations. She charmed
everybody, while l sat like ninny in the
corner. The Methodists of these days
are up with the times. Now that the
Bishops wives wear silks and diamonds,
have been in Europe, and can play, sing,
paint, speak in ever so many different
languages, know about art and litera-
ture, you can't give them boiled dinner,
nor receive them in a slouchy morning
wrapper without feeling belittled."
Mrs. Simpson is not woman de-
voted to fashion or frivolity. Her good
deeds are unnumbered except by the re-
cording angel of our lives; her benevo-
lence is constant, her pety sincere. She
uses the good and beautiful things God
gives; her tastes are refined, her mind
cultured"