Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-04
dAurtcsttr 4ailp Spp.
CITY NEWS.

OWUI(GSIHt 11dllU SFB.
CITY NEWS.
Rev. R. B. Stratton will lead the noon prayer
meeting OF the Y. NJ. C. A. to-day.
Mr. Moore announces the commencement of
new term in dancing for this afternoon.
The Women's Suffrage Bazaar committee will
meet this afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, at
Mrs. G. S. Hopkins. No. 10 Harvard street.
At the annual meeting of the Excelsior base
ball club, held last evening, the following
officers were elected for the year 1871 President
]. O'Connell Vice President, J. B. Whalen;
Secretary, P. s. Hagan; Financial Secretary, T.
Hanlon Treasurer, T. F. Egan; Directors, ID. Bo-
land James Madden, John Madden.
At an election of Co. c, 10th regiment last
evening, Major brennan presiding, j. Z. Cali
gan was elected captain, vice j. L. Prouty, re-
signed and discharged; Asa N. Wheeler was
chosen first lieutenant, vice Cagan, promoted;
second lieutenant, II. H. Comings, already in
commission.
Mr. and Mrs. N. Warren Holden, at No. 20
Providence street, celebrated the tenth anniver-
sary of their marriage Monday evening, by CIV
ing large party to their friends and ncighbors.
Among the presents was heavy gold watch.
China tea set and silver ware.
Mr.. Judson Norwood, who for five years past
has conducted a series of winter evening par
ties at Horticultural hall, was presented with an
elegant morocco diary and pockct-book which
contained the sum of fifty dollars. His many
friends took this occasion, at a dancing party in
Lincoln hall, last evening" to express their es.
teen, in view of the fact that he is about to
leave the city to engage in business in Philade-
phia.
A COMPLEMENTARY PREsENT.-Mr. Henry
S. Rice of this city, who has just closed his en-
gagement as organist of the First Congregation.
al church in Shrewsbury, was on Monday eve
ming made the recipient Of a nicely bound libra
ry edition of Walter SCOTS works, and also
stereoscope and views. The presentation was
made at the house of Mr.. L. 7. Rand where
large number of Mr.. Bice'S Shrewsbury friends
met for the purpose. DR.. Brigham spoke in be-
half of those assembled regretting the depart
ure of Mr.. Rice from the dictatorship of the choir
which duty he had performed most acceptaby
for four years Mr.. Rice responded with an ex-
preston of thanks, and the remainder of the
evening was spent in discussing repast and in
singing. Mr.. Rice began his duties last Sab.
bath as organist and director in the choir of the
First Universalist church in this city. This So
ciety are having an organ built for their new
church by Steere & Turner of Westfeld at a
cost of $4SOO.
THE ALARM OF FIRE at about five O'Clock
last evening arose from the ignition of some pc
troleum fluid which A. P. Curtis had justdrawn
from cask in the cellar of the protective union
store. The vapor of the fluid caught fire from
light which stood near, and a small quantity
remaining in measure in Mr. Curtis hand was
ignl-ed. The fame ran up Mr., Curtis arm,
urning it slightly, but, taking off his coat he
eXtingushed it without help, even before the
alarm bells and whistles began to sound. They
rang and blew Justify, however, for ten minutes,
calling out the firemen and apparatus in con-
derable force. The suggestion is offered that a
signal of contradiction or recall should be
agreed upon, to be sounded by the nearest
alarm bell or whistle when the alarm proves
false or trivial, and repeated by others, so that
the excitement may be at once allayed and the
fire companies may be saved the trouble of turn
ing out needlessly, or may return if they have
already started. A fire alarm telegraph, of
course, is a still more efficient remedy for this
Inconvenience as well as others, but to estab-
fish that is a work of time, while the arrange
mcnt suggested can be made any day. Whether
fluid so dangerously combustible as that
which came so near doing serious mischief in
this case, ought to be sold Or stored without ex-
traordinary precautions, or used for Illuminating
purposes at all, is an interesting question.
MR.. AND MRS. BARNEY WILLIAMS, with good
support, appeared at Music hall, last evening,
in two plays, winning merited applause by their
humorous delineatonS of Irish and Yankee
characters Tonight, the new play, by John
Brougham. entitled "The Emerald Ring" will
be brought out. The play has received hearty
commentator from critics, and the rendition by
these distinguished artists has drawn out COM
plmentary letter from the author, The Provi-
dence Press says:
The presentation for the first time in this
city, by Mr.. and Mrs. Barney Williams, of the
new drama, by John Brougham, of the Emerald
Ring, attracted large audience at the opera
house. The distinguished artists were greeted
with much enthusiasm, and the new piece met
with approval. 1t is taking story of genuine
Irish life, and has the interest, fun, good spirit
and quaintness which peculiarly marks dramas
illustrating Erin and her people. In general
the play was remarkably well rendered, and
made what is popularity known as chit" Mr..
and Mrs. Barney Williams as Mike and Maggie
McCarty, never appeared to better advantage.
They were full of yigor, and were constantly
calling forth demonstrations of delight from the
audience. No one can perform Irish characters
as well as Barney Williams, and no one can so
ably assist him as Mrs. Williams; They give
the true lights and shades of Irish character,
and give them, too, with touches of genius
The Emerald Ring must prove one of their best
cards. The supporting company Mr.. Lowell
has brought is well made up, and about the best
he has given us this season.
MEETING OF THE ScHooL BoARp.-The
first meeting OF the school board for the present
year assembled at the rooms of the common
council last evening, Mayor Chaplin presiding.
The present body is constituted as follows, the
new members being designated by star:
Members whose term expires January, 1873.
Edward H Hall, Ann Earle *Geo Thrall, John f
Murray, Samuel Stone ID Goddard, Charles
Ballard, Rufus Woodward.
Members whose term expires January, 1872
Caleb Metcalf, George w Gale, Samuel E Staples,
III Simpson, John c Newton, o o Wheeler Geo
Jaques, p Emory Aldrich.
Members whose term expires January, 1S7l-
Hartley Williams, Edward Earle, John Powers,
+fhomas Griffin, IN McCaferty, &c II MCDOWELL,
Emerson Warner, E B Stoddard.
In beginning his monthly report, the superin-
tendent spoke of the absence of one who had so
many times presided at the meetings of the
board, and, after paying a tribute to his men,
ory, proceeded to lay the following facts before
the board; Since the last meeting, Miss Nellie
E. Armes, of the Worthwhile school, has resigned;
Miss Emma Brown, of the Elm street school
absent on account of sickness in the family. mas
returned, and Mrs. A. f. Clough, who has
taught in the Elm street school, has gone to the
Worthwhile school. The lessons in eiocuton
given to the teachers by Prof. Monroe have been
discontinued on account of other engagements
which prevented the possibility of the professors
attention to them. The superintendent remarked
upon the good influence of these lessons already
noticeable in several instances. 1t was proposed