Old Time Streets
In the beginning of the Twelfth Century, men began to think that pestilences were not visitations of Providence, but the result of uncleanliness and filth. Consequent upon that belief, the ill-smelling streets of Paris were paved. At once dysenteries and spotted fever diminished; a sanitary condition approaching that of the Moorish cities of Spain, which had been paved for centuries, was attained.
In that now beautiful metropolis it was forbidden to keep swine, an ordinance resented by the monks of the Abbey of St. Anthony, who demanded that the pigs of that saint should go where they chose; the government was obliged to compromise the matter by requiring that bells should be fastened to the animals’ necks.
King Philip, the son of Louis the Fat, had been killed by his horse stumbling over a sow. Prohibitions were published against throwing slops out of the windows. Paving was followed by attempts at the construction of drains and sewers. Then followed the lighting of the public thoroughfares. At first, houses facing the streets were compelled to have candles or lamps in their windows; then the system of having public lamps was tried, but this was not brought to perfection until the present century, when lighting by gas was invented. Contemporaneously with public lamps were improved organizations for night-watchmen and police, and thus traveling by night lost its last remaining terrors.
Listing and selling your home is often terrifying—realtors, lawyers and others a sort of pestilence—unless the realtor knows how to pave and light the way through anxiety, mistrust, and worry. Call Michael, you’ll love working with Coldwell Banker and him: 203-258-0737.
