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

No" VIC arc ie"uy W eH'rt the inquiry as
to the propriety Of allowing this thing
to proceed without raising in season the
note of disapproval. 1t may indeed be
years before another instance similar to
the one last presented. may be witnessed
in this place. BE that as it may, there
are those in this place who, were it not
for the idea of being counted disturbers
OF the good order of society, would 60 as
far in this unpopular proceeding as any
who have preceded them. But not
withstanding these indications and devel-
opments, there is much reason for the
friends of ancient and well-establishcd
customs to believe that, by a little exer-
ton on their part, they may be able to
retard, if not entirely destroy the pro-
gress of this evil.
There are number Of influences at
work calculated to bring side walks in
this village into decided disrepute. One
is the absolutely forbiding aspect of
many of those already undertaken
Another is that many of the citizens
(and some of them amongst the most
wealthy of the village have actually
placed their dwellings, stores, or other
buildings so near the public roal as to
render it impossible to construct side
walk of convenient width, without in
fringing upon the public highway. And
besides, is it not easy to make it appear
to the mind of any candid man that to
construct them is ungenerous not do
ing by others as We would be done by
How that good citizen, Mr. A, must
feel as he sits at his window, or stands
at his door watching the elastic step and
elegant movement Of the fair ones who
trip along our streets. Now he sees
one just in front of his neighbor BIS res
idencc-Mr. B has fitted a very com.
modious walk on the entire front of his
possessions-and she passes by with a
smile of satisfaction on her countcnance.
Now she is in front of Mr.. A's-he has
done much to ornament his yard and
grounds with beautiful walks, trees,
&C., but has not as yet paid attention to
these outside affairs-there is pond of
water or mud Immediately in front of
his gate she lifts her dress as high as
modesty will allow, and then after
threading back and forth across the
filthy pool-she attempts with a single
leap to pass it, but in spite of all of her
precautionary efforts, that beautiful silk,
and those snow white hose have failed
to pass uncontaminated. AS she halts
to look at her mud-bespotted toilet, she
casts look at Mr.. A which is by no
means agreeable. He shrinks back from
her sight, and feels ap inexpressible sem
sation of mingled shame and condemna-
ton to think that the countenance so
angcl-like when passing the house of his
neighbor, should be SO suddenly changed
into sadness in passing his own. Is this
right : Is this doing by others as we
would that they should do by us What
right has one member Of community to
take step Of this nature, by which he
will with almost absolute certainty win
to himself the favorable consideration of
community, when with almost equal
certainty he will thereby call down its
displeasure on him who does not see fit
to make any outlay in that direction |;
Whether such course Of proceeding
harmonize with the principles Of the
Golden Rule, We leave to the public to
determine.
And again, can it be for moment
imagined that the early settlers of this
village ever supposed that any thing of
this kind would be attempted or needed
in this place We think that the very
construction of the streets furnish the
most conclusive answer. We might re-
fer to the early and settled policy of our
villagers on this subject as furnishing