The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-09-07
HIS SERMON BROUGHT
GIRLS WRATH ON HIN
PREACHER WHO DENOUNCED
"MERMAIDS" MANHANDLED
BY MOB OF BATHERs.
lMMODEST VIOLETS JOIN
Fist and Overripe Tomatoes Used in
Punishment of New Jersey Parson
Who Had Declared Open Season
For Hunting Mermaids.

For Hunting Mermaids.
TITUSVILLE. N. 1.-THE Rev.
Frederick Kopfman, pastor of the
Methodist church at this place, who
was beaten up" at Washington's
Crossing by a mob of bathers, has
a blackened eye as the result of his
experience, but denies that he has
been inundated by the assault upon
him.
The manhandling of the preacher
followed a series of attacks by him
from his pulpit at the Crossing,
known locally as bungaleers, whom
he accused of wearing immodest cos
tunes. A particularly violent attack
of this character was made by him
just before the visit to the beach
which resulted in the mob's assault
upon him.
"As game warden in the state
of New jersey" said the parson in
his sermon yesterday, II make the
announcement that this is the open
season for hunting mermaids.
II am going to conserve the wo-
men of this part of the country"
he continued, shaking his finger at
the bungaleers, and then he went
on and said this:
Defied "MoraI Anarchists"
"Why, a girl has to look like a
banana today before she is consid-
cred in style. Every time / see you
women dressed like that / feel
feel-My God feel like the league
of nationsw
At this point in his sermon Mr..
Kopfman leaned from his pulpit,
jumped to the front pew and, stand
ing there with his foot resting on
the back of the seat, told of
subway Saturday morning at a. m.
"She had nothing on!' shouted
Mr.. Kopfman. Then, pointing to
spot of his leg about six inches from
| his hip he continued:
"She wore something under her
skirt that came to here. 1t looked
like crepe de chine. Her legs were
incased in open-work stockings. |
could see her white flesh. She looked
as if she bathed in milk. / took out
my card case and fountain pen. On
the back of my card l wrote this:
"My God, woman, how far will you
go?"
After September Morns."
mature bushes at the spot where
Washington crossed the Delaware at
some of the bathing costumes worn
there. This is the end of August. If
God gives me strength there will be
no September Morns' at the Gross
ing"
1t was after this sermon, most of
which was delivered while standing
on the front pew, that Mr.. Kopfman
told newspaper men he was going to
the Crossing. He was jocular on the
mile trip from his church to the
watering place on the Delaware, and
seemed genuinely astonished when
he found himself held up.
Get out and make good what
you've saidr' shouted the young
men. lyon have insulted our sisters.
Now, if you're not yellow dog, step
out of the car and face us!'
Beads of sweat trickled down the
minister's face.
"Come on out, you notoriety seek
erp' shouted the crowd.
The minister arose, and, sticking
his head out the side of the automo-
bile. addressed the women:
"Immodest violets and mermaids,"
he said, "there is to be public
hearing on Tuesday on my charges.
I'll see you all them"
Then the riot broke loose.
Duck Him." Girls Order.
"We'lI leave it to the girls" shout
ed the young men. "What'll we do
with him, girls?"
Throw him into the river" cho-
rused the young women.
Some one reached into the car and
struck the clergyman blow under
the right eye. Then some of the men
and women produced several pack
ages of overripe tomatoes.
The first tomato, tossed by gold
en-haired young woman, caught the
minister flush on the face The to-
mato burst with a juicy PUNK,
and its remains dripped down Idr.
Kopfman's face and over his collar
and clothes. Other tomatoes, on
course, followed, and as each Of the
missiles found its mark the crowd
howled in derision.
A broad-shouldered young giant
Ieaped into the automobile and tore
off the parsons collar. He said that
the collar, before the close of the
day. would be nailed to the public
bulletin board at the entrance to
the town, on which, for the last two
weeks, the following inscription, IN
red paint, has met the gaze of pas
sersby:
"Washington's Crossing made IA
NOUS by George Washington, iz-fa-
NOUS by the Rev. Frederick Kopf-
man. the serpent-tongued. cheap no.
toriety seekeri'
The riot came to an end when
Constable Arthur Hughes appeared
with a revolver. which s one of the
young bungaleers said, "dampened
the party"