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STREETS AND LIGHTING upon the sidewalks, and even on ladies' dresses; and, as only can be expected, from the filthy mouths of the spitters filthy words, lewd remarks, and coarse insinuations are poured forth so that any self-respecting woman can only pass under the protection of an escort or perforce take the middle of the street where the mud would be preferable to the reeking pavement. On Sunday evenings, particularly where there are no street lights, and when churchgoers are going to or from church, these hoodlums and smart alecks - mainly youths of fifteen to twenty - should be made to understand that the sidewalks are for walk- ing upon and not for loafing. The board sidewalks of the period were often dangerous. Their surface wore unevenvly and the harder knots protruded like irregular rows of small knobs. On these, people often slipped and stumbled ~I and twisted their ankles. They tripped, too, on loose spikes that stuck up an inch or so above the boards. And often their feet broke through a rotten board. Thus at night, many pedestrians carried a lantern and stepped high and warily. And the women usually walked along holding the bottom of their long skirts three inches or so above the walk, to keep them free not only of dust and tobacco juice, but also of nails and splinters. Sometimes there were even greater dangers. Along the east side of Grand River Street, the majority of merchants had trap doors in the wooden sidewalks so that coal and other goods could be delivered - through the cellar windows. Occasionally one of these doors would be improperaly fastened, and then a pedestrian would suddenly disappear from view. In 1869, for instance, Miss Margaret Smilie dropped out of sight. Later, after reappearing, she was awarded $15.oo00 by the council for "damage sustained to her clothing and per- son by falling through a trap door in front of C. Birley's Store." In 1871, George Lee was smiliarly awarded $200.00 for damages to his muscles, bones and dignity when he tumbled through an opening in the street and down a sort of coal-shute to a cellar below. The chances of falling into a hole or bumping against an obstruc- tion were much greater at night. As early as 1855 the council had to order Wm. McGuffin to fill in a large and dangerous excavation he had made in the village square, Lower Town, when digging out gravel to make a foundation. And in 1870 it had to decree that "all boxes, barrels and goods be removed from off sidewalks, par- ticularly after dark." But since its orders were not always obeyed, accidents were fre- quent. On February 18, i88o, for example, the Brant Review, after complaining about the practice of making excavations close to the sidewalk without any thought for the public safety reported that: On Wednesday evening of last week a town lady, out late, return- ing home along Mechanic Street, attempted to cross the road, missed her way, and walked into a cellar on Mrs. Spottiswood's property, sustaining severe injuries. This part of the town is extremely dangerous on dark nights as on either corner of River ! !111