Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-08-07
BEECHER'S WILD RIDE.
The Experiences OF the Plymouth Pastor on an
Untamed Tricycle..

Peekskll Letter: Members of Ply
mouth church will be surprised to learn
that Henry Ward Beecher is an adept
on the tricycle.. He is the happy owner
of cycle of extra size. on which he ca
vorls down the hills near his residence.
Owing to constitutional heavy facts the
great preacher does not ride up hill, nor
does he move with startling speed on
the level road; but take him going down
hill and Maud s. would 90 into a hys-
ierical fit at the sight of such velocity.
Whenever the neighbors, who live on
Mr.. Beechcr's pet hill. hear a rush and
rattle and see Il yard of hair floating
in the dust. they do not become fright
ened, as formerly. They know that
the Rev. Mr.. Beecher is on his three
wheeled steed bound for the bottom of
the hill. Mr.. Beechcr does not care to
talk much about his first experience on
his tricycle., but your correspondent was
fortunate enough to be one of party
who listened To the story from his own
lips, which We're constantly smiling at
the thought of the figure he cut at the
time. 1t seems that the old gentleman
was the victim of an extremely practi-
cal Joke. His son, with other gentle
men friends, thought that tricycle.
would be a welcome addition to the sta
BILE Of the house, and they asked
friend in the vicinity who owned one to
call at the house and infatuate the great
divine with his easy movement and
speed, and the consprators dilatcd on
the adaptabIlity of the carriage To stout
Al,l arttr 81 II
build, 1t did not take much persua-
sion, as MIR Beecher viewed the ma
chine with delight, and even after its
departure he talked in raptures of the
tricycle., and expressed his determine
ton of buying one. Young Mr. Beech
or kindly took upon himself the task of
making the purchase
The tricycle. was brought forth and it
was a noble one. Mr. Beecher sat on the
seat and filled it with credit To himself.
The cycle groaned mite, as if its pun
ishment was greater than it could bear.
MIR. Beecher bore down on the treadles.
but the machine replied with a grunt
and refused to bulge. All the family
and several Of the neighbors and inyit-
ed guests were present. Half dozen
small boys, unlimited guests, were also
present, and the smoker that greeted
Mr.. Beccher's failure could be easily
traced 20 this course.
Try il again, father said the duti-
fal son.
The sickLest smile ever seen upon the
face Of MIR Beechcr spread over that
cXpanse. He bent forward with all his
might, but the only effect was another
groan from the tricycle. more pronounc.
ed than before Another smoker from
the boys and Il polite hiding Of faces in
pocket Eandkerchiefs were more than
Mr.. Beecher could sit out, and with
little joke about hitching a horse to the
tricycle. he diSmounted
| have never been beaten yet" said
Mr.. Beccher, land | don't intend to
begin at this late day"
Young Mr. Beecher rode the machine
TO the brow of the nearest bill, and the
Rev Henry Ward walked behind with
the rest of the party, The hill is fine
one, and Will be easily recalled by all
who have ever been in Peekskill by the
large clump of trees at the right of the
road in which stands a monster oak
Arrived at the summit, the original
Beecher again mounted his balky steed
and told all to stand back His son
gave the cycle Il vigorous pnsh, and
off she went, gathering Increased NOM
entum at every revolution Mr. Beech
er's hat came flying back to the start
ing point. He himself was too busy to
notice such a TITLE. having more inn
portrait business at that moment in an
honest endeavOr 10 stop IN his down
ward course. His hair streaming out
behind, with MS horizontal coat-trxs as
stiff rs a plank; his eyes pr0truHng in
such 4 manner that they could have
been Knocked off with stick; and his
hands grasping the sides of the carri-
age; and the plunging ,whizzing tricycle.
made picture which the natives who
saw it will never forget There is a
sharp curve in that hill at the red gate
which shuts off the road to the ice pond
Farmer Tompkins stood there and
looked up the hill in wonder at the APP
preaching meteor with its clouds of
meteoric dust behind His first impulse
was to throw n loo in the way. Ii he
had carried out that design Plymouth
church would have been called upon to
to mourn the untimcly fate of its pas
tor. AS the tricycle. FASTENED to pass
the farmer Mr. 1ompkins saw what
the trouble was So did his dog, which
Immediately joined in the chase, add
ing music to the merry go-down.'
Like most hills this particular inclined
plane has bottom and it came none
too quickly for the lightning divine
The sight he heaved as the machine
struck level ground was plainly heard
in the village. The tricycle. revolved
less widely and stopped short at the
foot of another hill Before it was fully
stopped Mr. Beecher jumped off with
surprising agility. When the sympath-
izing friends, all a-tremble, caught up
witt the tricycle., they found Mr. Beech.
cr almost drowned in cold perspira-
ton. He avowed that he would never
try il again. but he has. and now he
slides down that hill with great enjoy
nent. horse dragging the machine
h0nin from the foot at the hill