ii RIVERSIDE LETTERS 15 



gardens ; indeed they seem to have a great 

 feeling for wild natural arrangement which 

 would delight Mr. Robinson's heart. 



When any tragic event occurs in a small 

 country town it is felt by everybody in a 

 manner that is unknown to town dwellers. 

 Yesterday there was a sad case of suicide 

 here, and to-day the horror of the thing 

 seems to be reflected in every face you meet ; 

 small crowds of townsfolk are all day long 

 to be seen on the bridge staring at the boat- 

 house in which the poor drowned body has 

 been placed. 



Much as I enjoy living by our river, the 

 number of deaths by drowning that occur 

 every year in our immediate vicinity is rather 

 appalling. A policeman, who is fixed at 

 Benson, told me that he had to attend six 

 or seven inquests on an average every year 

 at that place alone, all cases of accidental or 

 suicidal drowning. 



