[Picture: The Paviors]
When we see a rope, with a wisp of straw tied to it, across the street,
no carriage should attempt to pass, for that is the pavior’s signal that
the road is stopped, by their being at work on the stones. And hard work
it seems to be, to use the heavy rammer.
“Does not each walker know the warning sign,
When wisps of straw depend upon the twine
Cross the close street, that then the pavior’s art
Renews the way, denied to coach or cart?
For thee the sturdy pavior thumps the ground,
Whilst every stroke his labouring lungs resound.”
The stones for paving London are mostly brought from the quarries of
Scotland, by ships; and very few towns or cities in Europe are better
paved than the City of London. Indeed, every year seems to add
improvements, for the health and comfort of the inhabitants.
The country farmer, who has been used to nothing but ploughed fields, and
uneven, rutted lanes, or, at best, to the rough gravel of a cross-country
road, would be surprised to see the streets of London paved as neatly as
Farmer Furrowdale’s kitchen, and the lamps lighted as regularly every
evening, as that in the great hall at the ’squires. And now, by the
introduction of gas, the principal streets are very brilliantly
illuminated, without the aid of tallow, oil, or cotton.