Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1884-08-21
MR.. sEEcHER's WILD RIDE.
Ane experiences OF the Plymouth
Pastor on an UasaneA Tricycle..
fPeekskiD Leeterl

The Experiences of the Plymouth
Pastor On An UasaaeA Tricycle..
fPeskzkin Letterl
Mr.. Beecher does not care to taIk
much about his first experience on his
tricycle., but your correspondent was
fortunate enough to be one of a party
who Listened to the story from his own
ups, which were 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 practical
joke. His son, with other gentlemen
l friends, thought that tricycle. would be
a welcome addition to the stable of the
house, and they asked friend in the
vicinity who owned one to call at the
house and infatuate the great divine
with its easy movement and speed. The
friend did as requested, and the con-
spirators dllated on the adaptability of
| the carriage to stout elderly gentlemen
of Mr.. Beecher's build 1t did not take
| much persuasion, as Mr.. Beecher viewed
the machine with delight, and even after
its departure he talked in raptures of
the tricycle., and expressed his determi-
nation OF buying one Young Mr..
Beecher kindly took upon himself the
task of making the purchase.
Young Mr.. Beecher rode the machine
to the brow of the nearest HILL and the
Rev Henry Ward walked behind with
the rest of the party. The hill is a fine
one, and will be easily recalled by all
who have ever been in the Peekskiil by
the large clump of trees at the right of
the road, in which stands monster
oak. Arrived at the summit, the orig
lnal Beecher mounted his balky steed,
and told all to stand back. His son gave
the cycle vigorous push, and off she
went, gathering increased momentum at
every revolution. Mr. Beechers hat
came flying back to the starting point.
he hlmseif was too busy to no.
tice such trifle, having more important
business at that moment in an honest
endeavor to stop in his downward course
His hair streaming out behind, with his
horizontal coat-tails as stiff as a plank:
his eyes protruding in such a manner
that they could have been knocked off
with stick; and his hands grasping the
sides of the carriage; and the plun9ing,
whlZzing 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 approaching meteor with its cloud
of meteoric dust behind. His first i'm
pulse was to throw a log in the way.
If he had carried out that design
Plymouth church would have been called
upon to mourn the untimely fate of its
pastor. AS the tricycle. fastened to
pass the farmer Mr. Tompkins saw what
the trouble was. So did his dog, which
immediately joined in the chase, adding
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 |
sigh he heaved as the machine struck
level ground was plainly heard in the
village. The tricycle. revolved less
wildly and stopped short at the foot of
another hill. Before it was fully stopped
Mr.. Beecher jumped off with surprising
agility. When the sympathizing friends,
all a-tremble, caught up with the tri
cycle, they found Mr.. Beecher almost
drowned in cold perspiration. He
avowed that he would never try it
again, but he has, and now he slides
down that hill with great enjoyment, a
horse dragging the machine home from
the foot of the hill.