Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-03-02
Mr.. HOPKINS AND MISS BROWN.
A Thrilling Romance Of COasiing la
New Hampshire.
New York Times.l

New York Times.l
There is much diversity in the opin-
ion as to whether young ladies can
properly indulge in the sport Of coasts
ing, or, as the boys of the last genera
ton used to call it, sliding down hill.
In some communities, the youth Of
both sexes coast in the winter even
ings without scandal, though, for some
inscrutable reason, it is held that the
amusement must not be INDUCED in
by daylight, or even on moonlight
nights. In other communities. coast
ing is regarded by all well-conducted
young ladies as a gross improperly,
and is even publicly preached against
by Talmagian ministers as one of the
sports that kill. This latter opinion
prevails in West Meredith, New
Hamp hire, and the recent tragedy
which occurred in that place is by
some people believed to have
been the direct result of
the local condemnation OF fem
mime coasting. 1t is only fair to
say that quite another Interpretation
may be given to it, and it may be ar
gued that had public sentiment in
West Meredith been in favor OF femi-
nine eOasting, the tragedy would not
have happened. In fact, it is difficult
to say where the responsibility for it
really rests, and there are those who
insist that it was entirely owing tothe
fact that Mr.. Hopkins was to an un-
precedented extent a conscientious
and good young man.
The blameless Mr.. Hopkins was a
model for all the local young men. in
asmuch as he was absolutely without
the faintest trace of an Objectionable
habit. CuriOusly enough, the young
men declined to model themselves upon
him, and the young women, in spite
OF the fact that his respect for women
in the abstract and the concrete, was
simply unparalleled did not look upon
him with favor. Miss Brown was an
exception to this rule, and she s%tolera-
ted MIR. Hopkins to such an extent
that he fell modestly in love with her.
The two were not positively on the
footing Of lovers, since the young
mans respect for her was SO great
that he never ventured to make a for.
NAL proposal, but it was generally In
derstood that he would ultimately
brace himself up to that point.
One evening, or, to be exact, last
Wednesday evening, Miss Brown
asked Mr.. Hopkins to take her to the
top Of Latham's hill and let her slide
down it just once. The proposal
shocked the young mans finer in
stincts, but the young lady persisted,
and finally asked him if he was so
lacking in respect for her as to believe
that she should propose anything that
was not strictly proper. OF course,
after this, there was nothing TO be
said, and Mr.. Hopkins, surreptitious,
ly borrowing Master Charles Rregn's
sled, escorted the rash young lady by
the back road to the top Of Latham
hill.
The hill was a long and steep one.
and, as it was nearly 3 o'clock not a
soul was visible in the clear moon
light. Mr.. Hopkins sat down on the
forward part Of the sled and Miss
Brown kneeled behind him. steadying
herself by placing her hands lightly ON
hlsshoulders. Everything being ready.
Mr.. Hopkins started the sled, and I'M a
few seconds they were flying down the
hill at a speed Of about fifty miles an
Near the bottom of the hill Mr..
perceived a board which had
apparently fallen from a wagon, and
lay directly across tho road. To strike
would be a disaster, and Mr.. Hop
kins turned the sled out of the direct
to avoid it. The result was a
irightful one. The sled struck a stone.
and Miss Brown was shot with fearful
velocity over her conductor head and
landed head downward in a hinge snow
bank.
When the young man came to him.
self and disentangled his head from
wrecked runners of the sled he /
saw an appalling spectacle, From the