The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
SHE9 OH, SHE WAS 4 METRODLsE
Tho Old Lady in the Pew Reserved for the
President or the Colonial Danes.

Tho Old Lady in the Pew Reserved for the
President or the Colonial Danes.
Not long ago several societies Of patriotic
women held a meeting over in brooklyn. Or
course, being in Brooklyn. the meeting was In .
church. That goes without saying. The COM
mittec on arrangements had visited the edifco
in advance and had selected certain conspicuous
pews to be occupied by the Presidents OF tho
various societies. At the risk OF causing .
twinge of jealousy the committee ordered the
ushers to reserve the most commanding Dew for
the use of the President Of the Colonial Danes.
No lesser light must be allowed to beam from
that particular pew.
The 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.
Tho house gradually filled. Ever SO many
women made for the reserved pew, but they
were caught en- route, a magic sentence was
whispered to them. and, with a respectful
'Oh!' they retired into the shadows under tho
balcony. The ushers faithfully shunted various
persons OF high and Of low degree off into other
seats. The house was full. In the rush of the
last few moments the members of the COM
mittee were unmin iful of the door. A solitary
usher guarded the entrance.
At this interesting %juncture a little old lady
entered. She wore a rusty black dress, an old
lhSulOncu DOuueL, ana Dl-uttlnR XIOVeS. sue
had a general air Of decayed g~entility. but she
through her steel-bowed spectaclcs she had
located the hno empty pew in the front of the
stat ed down the aisle. The usher tried to in
tercept her, but in vain. Another one anne TO
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 youchsafed no further mo-
tice of II, and the puzzled ushers concluded that
the new arrival must know what she was about;
fore. the little old lady installed herself in soil
tary grandeur in the conspicuous pew.
empty pew had been waiting. and there was
much craning OF necks and many whispered
when at last it was occupied, Those
mighty Il. of the c. D.. wondered not a little over
the rusty old lady. but they finally concluded
tree that. the newcomer had attained her ex-
allied position. In the meantime those who knew
that the old lady was not the one they had
concluded that the real President was not COM
ing, and that they might as we'll proceed to
business. The prediction proved correct. Tho
expected President did not arrive. $50
The old lady sat through the meeting with an
apparently somnolent enjoyment. She doEed
der and puzzled curiosity. but. on the whole. she
took 1t calmly. When the affair was over sho
sShooS sN oHt r her rusty ., gown ;piefHS led up her shopping
copied before she was fairly ia the aisle.
You arc the President Of the Colonial
way Of opening the conversation.
ha "W h tina. ?. sid the old lazy, putting heg
You are the President OF the Colonial
"Ir'said the old lady. still somewhat unos.-
tain. "Oh. no! I'm a Methodist"