THE LONDON STREETS. 67 



a considerable variation in the level of the road. I 

 have often thought if softer stone were mixed with 

 the granite, whether this might not produce the 

 desired effect. 



For the streets of a town there is no doubt that 

 wood-paving is superior to macadam ; it is pleasanter 

 to drive over, it is easier to scavenge, the passage of 

 vehicles occasions but little noise, and it is only the 

 question of cost that should prevent its general 

 adoption. A great part of London is now paved 

 with wood, and whatever science can suggest or 

 wealth procure, London should have, since is she not 

 one of the greatest cities in the world, if not the 

 greatest ? And yet the London pavements are dis- 

 graceful, and her streets are abominably scavenged. 



In wet winter weather, even in the neighbourhood 

 of Charing Cross, you may see the paving or flag- 

 stones sunk one below the other, creating great pools 

 of water like stagnant lakes, into which the un- 

 suspecting traveller flounders. In Trafalgar Square, 

 on the asphalte pavement around the fountains, there 

 are huge ponds sufficiently deep and wide to drown 

 a litter of puppies ; and then the streets, they swim 

 in mud that rises over one's insteps. 



And in dry summer weather, in every gutter there 

 is the refuse of the preceding day, dirty paper, stravv", 

 and a thousand and one abominations which should 

 have been conveyed away by the scavenger's cart. 

 Then in hot, dusty weather, a water-cart is rarely 

 seen, the streets smell, the dust covers one, and gets 

 into one's eyes, and up one's nose, and penetrates 

 even into one's house, and general complaints are 

 uttered as to the dirt of London, when, if matters 

 were only managed properly, Londoners might rejoice 



F 2 



