How times change. In the Citizen's "Dipping into the Past" section, on June 6, 1907 one Oliver Carpenter almost perished while helping to fix a broken water pipe. He was trapped when the trench he was in collapsed and the water rose. He was dug out by Thomas Campbell and Engineer Martin "who happened to be present." The two of them simply worked together to free Carpenter from being suffocated.

An event like this today would have the press fawning all over Messers Campbell and Martin. They would be heroes ten or twenty times over, be nominated for police citations-no doubt getting their hands pumped by the Mayor and the Chief of Policeand be lauded within an inch of their lives.

In 1907,Mr. Carpenter was in danger. He was helped out of it, doubtless expressed his thanks with several hearty handshakes, and all three men went on with their lives. End of story. How simple. How right.

Geoff. Rytell

Toronto