A Foolish Case
The flowing tail, whip in hand, and motion of the horse suggests the rider is traveling at high speed. Believing he could maneuver through a dense pine forest without trouble, our rider gallops away from a group of friends, ignoring their pleas not to attempt this ride. Witnesses and onlookers are in a state of shock when he strikes the low branch. They rush towards the victim to render aid, but the rider does not survive the initial impact. Weems describes the gruesome physical injuries in such detail, one wonders if this cautionary tale had any influence on whether a 19th century reader drink and 'rode.' While the vehicle may have changed, this story can easily reflect a driver in the 21st century.
