Daily camera., 1897-12-04
SHE WAS A METHODIST,
"Aa Lady in Pew Reserved for Presi-
Nent of the Colonial Dunes

tot long ago several societies of pa
triotic women held a meeting over in
,'ioohlyh. VI course, being in Brook
lyn' the meeting was in a church That
goes without saying. The committee
on arrangements had visited the edi-
nee IN advance and had selected GER
tam conspicuous pews to be occupied
ry the presidents of the various soci-
etles. AT the risk of causing a twinge
Of jealousy the committee ordered the
ushers to reserve the most command
ing pew for the use of the president of
TIE Colonial Danes. No lesser light
must be allowed to beam from that par
ticular pew.
lhe day of the meeting came, but for
some reason or other the illustrious
president of the Colonial Danes did
not. One after another the less favored
presidents arrived and were seated.
Inc house gradually filled. Ever so
many women made for the reserved
pew, but they We're caught en- route, a
magic sentence was whispered to them,
ana, with respectful OH" they re-
tired ipto the shadows under the bal
cony. The 'ushers faithfully shunted
various persons of high and low de-
gree off into other seats. The house
was full. In the rush of the last few
momenss the members of the commit
tee were unmindful Of the door A SOL
ltary usher guarded the entrance.
At this interesting juncture little
old lady entered. She wore rusty
black dress, an old-fashioned bonnet,
and ill-fitting gloves. She had gener-
al air of decayed gentility. but she had
also quick eye. In one hasty survey
through her steel-bowed spectacles she
had located the fine empty pew in the
front of the church and in the twink
ling of an eye she had started down the
aisle. The usher tried to intercept her
but in vain. Another one came to the
rescue.
May we show you a seat, madam?
That'pew is for the president of the
Colonial Dames.'
She waved them aside and proceeded
on her way. A third usher made the
same remark to the old lady, but she
vouchsafed no further notice of it, and
the puzzled ushers concluded that the
new arrival must know what she was
about; that she was, in short, the ex-
pected president herself. Without fur
ther molestation, therefore, the little
old lady installed herself in solitary
grandeur in the conspicuous pew.
Of course everybody knew for whom
that pew had been waiting. and there
was much craning of neclls and many
whispered comments when at last it
was occupied. Those who did not per-
sonally know the high and mighty p. of
the C. D. wondered not little over the
rusty old lady, but they finally con-
cluded that it must have been by
means of her family tree that the new
conner had attained her exalted posi-
ton. In the meantime those who knew
that the old lady was not the one they
had waited for, held whispered con-
sultation and concluded that the real
president was not coming, and that
they might as well proceed to business.
The prediction proved correct. The ex-
pected president did not arrive.
The old lady sat through the meeting
with an apparently somnolent enjoy
ment. She dozed fitfully; occasionally
she manifested some wonder and puz-
zled curiosity, but, on the whole, she
took it calmly. When the affair was
over she shook out her rusty gown,
picked up her shopping bag and pre-
pared to depart, but she was intercept
ed before she was fairly in the aisle.
"You are the president of the
Colonial Dames?" said one of the pa
triotic women, by way of opening the
conversation.
whats that?" said the old lady, put
ting her hand to her ear. I'm little
lard of hearing" she explained apollo
getlcally.
The patriotic woman repeated her
question.
you are the president of the Colonial
Danes, l say?" she said.
ZIP" said the old lady, still some
what UNCERTAIN. "Oh, no. I'm Meth
~,diSf IN Y Sun