Jack and Jill Coast Down a Hill

Back in the 1890s coasting on bicycles became a popular phenomenon. Riders would find a hill, what ever hill might be locally available, and as the name suggests, they would coast down. Keep in mind that these were fixed gear bikes, no freewheels at that time, so the pedals were turning the entire time. As a result special pegs were added to bikes, usually the fork, so that riders could take their feet off the pedals and put them up out of the way.

Not particularly funny by today's standards, I am guessing this little ditty is what passed for late nineteenth century coasting humor:

"Jack and Jill coast down a hill -
says Jack: "Wouldst evermore coast thus with me through life?"
Says she with downcast eyes: "Oh, shore!" (Detroit Journal, 1898)