The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-14
s,e,sb.Rid,ng with n Lady.


IFrom the New York Iimes.l
The indignation at present existing in
Saugerties against Mr.. CahoOn Is evidently
the result Of an entire misapprehension oil
the facts In the case OF bis alleged attempt
10 kill Miss Storrs. Ii can be easily shown
that so far from desiring TO iDiure that lady,
bis whole conduct was characterized 10y q
most careful regard for her comfort; and
although in the excitement OF particularly
interesting moment bis forgetfulness led TO
a serious accident, no one knowing the cir
cumstances car impute the slightest blame
10 him.
There has always been wide difference
OF opinion as to the best method Of taking
a young lady to ride. 1t is easy enough TO
Dre sleigh or a small carriage OF the va
rieiy popularity known by an unmusical
and c0leopterous name, and to induce the
lady to enter il. The real difficulty begins
when the quiet country road has been
reached, and II becomes necessary 10 pro-
vide for The lady's safety. AS is well known,
il is next to impossible for young and in
experienced lsdy 10 protect herself from
The danger CT being thrown out OF sleigh
or carriage. Old ladies and spinsters Of 40.
yanced years and clavicles learn TO success
fully avoid This danger without assistance,
but the proneness OF youth and beauty to
fall off The seat is a matter of universal
notoriety. Hence, some assistance must be
given by the humane and thoughtful young
man who holds the reins, and the question
ar.ses, how can this assistance be best
giyeny The rash and ignorant man al
tempts to answer 1t by putting his left arm
around the iady's waist, and thus holding
her firmly in place. Without douct, this
secures her against the danger OF falling;
but il Is oren to serious objections. Ii de-
priyes the driver OF the use Of one of bis
hands, and in case OF nervous horse
this frequently leads TO painful results.
Sometimes small boy is unexpectedly met,
who instantly makes derisive and unpieas-
ant remarks concerning the situation OF the
protecting arm; end there are instances on
record Of the unexpected appearance OF an
erring father. who ought to have been miles
away, but who, suddenly emerging from a
cross-road, has expressed anything but
gratitude for the care extended TO his
daughter. Moreover, this arm business is
a crude ard commonplace expedient, OF
which The most uncultured rustic can avail
himself, and II ought for that very reason
30 be avoided by all the sons Of sweetness
and Light.
An ingenious plan Tss devised by Bos-
ION man some years ago, which met with
much success In phiiosophic circles. The
device consisted in attaching one end OF 4
stout strap to the Iady's bel. and the other
end to the waist of the driver. Unless the
strap was drawn too tight the driver was in
no danger OF abrasion, while in any event
the lady experienced q feeling OF safety,
and the cibes OF innocent small boys were
avoided. The arrangement proved very
Satisfactory TO both sexes, for while the
Bostonian driver felt that be had done his
whole duty without mourning any personal
risk, the philosophic Bo,tonian lady recon-
ci!ed propriety and propirquity. II hap
pened, however, that on one occasion
nervous young man drew his connecting
strap too tight, and was so severely injured
by a pointed elbow that his life was
despaired Of This was in itself OF no par
ticuiar consequence, for he was only
New.Yorker, temporarily resident In Bos-
ton, but the press took occasion to dc.
nource the dangers OF tue strap so forcibly
that II became unpopular, and soon passed
out OF use.
Mr.. Cahoon, 1t is presumed, was familiar
with these various plans, and on the occa-
sion Of his recent moonlight drive with
Miss Storrs he wisely rejected them ALL IL
was chilly night, and Mr.. Cahoou had
provided himself with long wOrsted arti-
Gle, variously known as "muffler,"
or "comiorter." He says that sitter
reaching the outskirts Of Saugerties
the lady mentioned that her neck was
uncomfortsbly cold. Like courteous gen.
tleman, Mr.. Caboon Immediately offered
her bis "mutller," which she s;outly re-
fused on the ground that she could not con-
sent to deprive him OF 1t. In these circum-
stances he made the ingenious and admira-
BILE suggestion that, as II was an exception
ally long mufIler," there was enough OF
it for two. lie theleupon tied one end del
icately around Miss Storrs's throat, and
fastened the other end around bis own
throat, thus connecting the two threats by
about i've feet OF loose and elastic "muf-
ner."
The plan worked beautifully, and the
ride proved remarkably pleasant one.
On his return, Mr.. Cahoon drove the lady
10 her house. where her brother was wait
fsrewells were said in the carriage, and Miss
Storrs lightly jumped 10 the ground. For
the moment, the existence Of the "muflier " |
had been forgotten, and when Mr.. Cahoon |
whipped up bis horse and started on bis !
way 10 the livery-stabIeBe was astonished /
By loud cry from Miss storrs, series of |
emphatic remarks from Der brother. and |
violent pull at his own neck. Before he |
had driven more than two or three rods be |
remembered the "mufller" and compre-
hended the situation. OF course, be Instant
~ stopped the horse, released Miss Storrs, |
who bad been dragged by the side OF the |
carriage, and, leapIDg out, assisted Ia car
ryi0g her ineenatble form inio the ho,,se