The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-09-23

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and buildings is filed with gravel, and
the surface covered with plank, brick,
or fiat stones. This may suffice for
description of these walks. 1t is design
ed chiefly for the benefit of the young,
and others whose knowledge of other
places has not brought them in contact
with these things.
1t will, no doubt, be asked, what oc-
casion there is for anxiety in reference
to these innovations in Westerly' That
nothing bearing the slightest resemblance
to that above described, has yet made
its appearance in our midst, nor is it
known that any citizen, even in his most
wild and reckless flights of imagination,
has ever conceived the idea of construct.
ing anything like the one complained of.
But let the inquirer pause for a mo-
ment and we will site his mind to a few
things which we can but regard W tn
suspicion. The experienced mariner
sees in the movements of distant and
scarcely distinguishable clouds, the pre-
sage of the approaching gale, while as
yet his sails may swing lazily in the
reigning calm. The wise statesman
can discern, even in the midst ofnational
glory and prosperity, that influences are
secretly operating which must, uni SIS
speedily and effectually checked, change
that glory into shame, and that prosper
ity into recoverable ruin. SO in this
case, there may be influences at work,
which, if they do not meet with the pop
ular disapprobation, may, in the process
of time become here, what they have
become in almost every village and town
in our land, uncomfortable except by
municipal regulation.
And the first thing which we call at
tention to, is the fact that rumber of
efforts have actually been made in this ru-
lage ,eithin te~ gears past to construct
these ,oaiks on the sides Of our streets
If evidence is wanting by any one, of
the truth Of this assertion, We have
only to invite them to an hours
walk through the principal streets.
Well, as we pass down Main Street VIC
are Immediately furnished with evidence
of the kind sought for. Immediately in
front of that beautiful block, so justly
the pride of the place, we find the
curbing stones, also the stone posts, with
the fixtures for hitching as above de-
scribed. Nor will it invalidatc this tes-
timony to assert that the curbing and
posts are net of sufficient distance from
the side of the building to admit of two
passing abreast inside, without eminent
danger of either breaking their necks by
being precipi,atcd headlong over the
projecting door-steps, or breaking an
arm or lower limb, by testing the
restrictive force of huge stone post.
!, Still farther down are other evidences
in the form of elevations, curbing anG
posts, which extend nearly to what
might be considered the middle of the
street, but which on account OF their
peculiar construction, but few are found
so ingenious as to be able to decide
what particular idea prevailed in the
mind of their projectors unless it was to
defend the premises against intrusion
from runaway horses. On West Broad
Street as we'll as Broad Street, similar
things are to be witnessed. High Stree,
bcers testimony to this assertion here
may be found sidewalks in almost every
J variety of construction, or stage of pro
grcss. On one side may be seen the
: well-hewn post set just far enough from
! the fence to forbid interrenii0n," and
crowd the passer by from the scanty
: margin into the very carriage path itself.
On the opposite side is one constructed
} on plan somewhat improved. Hegs
, the posts are set at sufficient distance
from the fence so that single man, OF
one who is not leading a wife or sister,