The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-05-30
The Late John, Brown.

A London letter says: Nothing more
crRiously marked the exceptional char
aoter of Browns position than the title
Mr." accorded 10 him in his lifetime
as now in the court record of his death.
BE was first q gillie, then footman,
then personal servant, and it is not usual
in this country to address persons IN
that rank of life with quite so much cere-
mony. Many worthy people were puz-
zled to know why a man who rode in
the dickey and held an umbrella, and
stood behind the Queens chair at din
ner and passed the plates, should be
thus distinguished. 1t is enough to an
swer that the Queen so willed it. To
others than the Queen John Brown was
not always an acceptable parsonage
gave himself airs, said many. In these
days it isienough for man to die to be
at once endowed with every virtue and
charm, and no English voice is raised to
mar the beautiful harmony of the
panegyrics upon a man whom the Queen
liked. Butwhile he lived it was posi-
bic TO hear queer stories. There was
one of his holding out his hand to Lord
Beaconsield on the railway platform at
Hughenden, when Her Majesty paid a
visit to her beloved minister. Lord
Beaconsield, they say, did not seem to
notice the profered greeting. This lit
tie anecdote rests on the reputed au-
thority of lady who was present.
Here is another, which know to be
true. A servants ball was given some
years since at Balmoral, guests and
members of the royal household, as the
custom is on such occasions, taking
part Among the dances was some sort
of Fcempetitive Highland reel, wherein
the object of each performer is to dance
down all the rest; to which end it is
permitted to any one to disconcert and
even totally upset rival by an adroit
twist of the hip, the elbow perhaps as
sisting. Now John Brown was a pro-
ficient in this sport, and it was his wont
to carry OFF the palm and outlast all ad-
versaries, to the great contentment of
the Queen, who booked on. But there
chanced upon this OCCASION to be present
certain gentleman sskillful- at this
dancing business, and cunning withal.
He, watching his chance when all but
himself and the faithful John Brown
had Quilted or been driven from the
floor, by sudden but quite lawful
stratagem, overthrow the Queens fa-
vorite, who fell at her feet, and so was
baked of the distinction of victory on
which he and his Sovereign alike had
set their hearts. The victor paid dearly
for his triumph. Before this little in
cident he had been in the high favor of
his royal mistress; used to be sent for
of an evening to the royal apartment,
where talk and music were to be had,
and enjoyed the marks of the Queen s
esteem. But after he had thus pre-
sumed to vanquish her majesty's chosen
personal attendant this unhappy gen
tleman languished in the outer courts OF
the palace, and not for more than two
years afterward was he fully restored to
favor. Other stories of a not less illus
trative character might also tell, but
perhaps this is as much as you are likely
to care for about the worthy Brown.
Left snug sum of money behind him,
say those likely to know. and there are
tradespeople "by special appointment
to her majesty who will regret the
disappearance Of her majesty's specially
appointed servant.