The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-21
AN ANINTERESTING DEBATE
Held In Alfredlan Hall, Wanskuck,
Last Night.
Changes In Number Of Fire Alarm Boxes.
Some North End Notes.

The first debate under the auspices of
the Central Literary League was held In
Alfredian Hall, wanskuc last evening.
The contestants were from the Webster
Debating Society ana the Young Mems
Literary Club of Wsnskuck. Very few
Wanskuck people ATTENDED the very en-
joyable feast, ana more's the pity, but
the WeDsters came In pondercus num-
bers and they brought good fig ghters with
them. The local disputants deserved
better treatment from their neightcr
and though the result of the debate was
drawn battle vet some who wore in at
tendance thought the local speakers
would have won the closely contested de-
hate had they not got q little bit dis
couraged 10y some things that weIo una
voidabie so far as the speakers were con-
ce7ed. The Wanskuck champions roo. had
To step in at a late time and take the
place Of two selected champions who
showed the white feather.
Phe question discussed was "which
rendered the'grester service to mankind,
Columbus or NewtonY' 1t was pretty
and instructive one, and ut the same time
one that with the good arguments put
forth made the judges task hard one.
John j. Mckernan was the presiding
officer and he performed his duties in q
graceful manner. The disputants for the
Wanskuck Society were Thomas j.
ONeiil ana John l. Devlin and for the
wehsters Patri ok Curran and John Co.'S
grove. Mr.. O'Neili opened ana closed the
debate. The local society championed
Columbus. and the visitors, Newton. The
visitors In force OF attack were stronger
and they desc;ibed in clear and fervid
terms the great beueft of Newton's In bors
TO MANKIND. This orstory had the charm
OF earnestncss about 1t and Ii was very
evident that -the uphodsrs OF the scien-
tist sd not only we'll studied the story
of the one they cnampioned but had
found out how to part these facts in
pleasing way. The Wsnskuck cham pions
had the story Of Columbus well IN hand,
they psrried some Of the strongesi points
made by their opponenta and in reply to
the fret spsaker ON the thsr side Mr.. Dew
lin made q good argument aud Mr.
O'Neili, good close. Still the wanskuck
In argument to win for an affirmative
aud tue decision of some who were not
judges was that the w ebsters had the
best Of the debate.
The judges were ID. ID. Donovan, James
Fogsrity and William o'Connor. They
were away long time and Mr., Donovan
finally reported that hs would not under
take to settle the dispute az to which
sidp had made tho best arg uments rs the
other judges were divided In opioicn. He
praised the disputants for their good
work.
During tho evening there were readings
by NJ. j. Dsgnap, Miss Annie Oates,
John Cosgrove and others. aud also q
piano solo by Miss Lena Kenny.
FIRE ALARM BOXES.
There have been some changes in the
numbers of fire alarm boxes in this vicin.
ity recently and It looks as IL the changes
were In the right direction. The num-
ber of the box at the corner OF West River
aud McKenna streets has been changed
from 80 to 304 and this will make 1t easier |
Tor he depai tment and citizens to sscer
tain where fire is 60 ali the boxes OF
three figures beginning with 80 are now
IN the same neia borhood. 1t Is proposed |
10 do the same thing In regard to other |
boxes SO as TO get mum bers nesr In de- |
nomination together.
SUDDEN DEATH OF CHILD.
Frank Munroe, an infant, was taken |
suddenly sick at o'clock Yesterday |
morning at his parents home, 7e2 Charles |
atreet. DIR. Gates was summoned but the
little one died just before he arrived. |
Medical Examiner Pslmor was notified |
aud after hearing the story OF the cbild's
parents directed them TO arrange for the
funeral.
NORTH END NOTES
Mrs. Rose Miller, who occupies q tene.
ment In a house owned by Peter Doyle
on Capitol Hin, left q skirt drying beside
a fire Saturday afternoon, Tn, skirt soon
caught FIRE ana the flames spread TO the
manttlpiece and charrcd the wood come
what. The damage was slight and no
alarm was given.
Horses with unsharpened shoes found
Chalkstone avenue hill a hard one to
climb this morn ing and one fell about
four times.
Services In honor Of Christmas were
nold by the Sunday school of Jefferson
Stree, Baptist Church yesterday.
Sight Inventor Dead.