The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-03
CHAT.

Twas much entertained last evening by
a debate before the Young Mems Socio-
logical and Scientific Circle ON the fol-
lowing subject: "Resolved that it is
better to be alive than not TO be-"
The discussion was exceedingly lively,
and The points on both sides were excep-
tionally well made. Under the rules pre-
scribed for the debate the young men
who :ook the negative side were pro-
hibited from present ng arguments tend
ing to show any advantages possible
from another existence than the only one
about which we know something tang
ible, the committee having the arrange
ments in charge being unanimously OF
the opinion that II the negative side were
permitted this latitude it would be
afforded in the first place a distinct ad-
vantage over the alternatives for free play
of the imagination, and an appeal to the
religious sentiments of the judges.
Moreover the use of such ground for
argument would be likely to lead to COM
plications in that the demonstration of a
comparatively attractive hereafter would
have to be made subject to the condition
as to which place you planned to 60.
Accordingly, the discussion was con-
fined to the simple material facts of liv-
ing with no conjectures as to what is TO
happen after living, end the permitting
of no comparisons between existence on
earth and somewhere else.
The result OF the debate, as decided by
the judges, was evidently made strictly
on the merits OF the arguments advanced
and not on the personal feelings of the
judges In the matter. The whole audi
ence appeared to feel satisfied that there
was no prejudice on the part of the
judges, ana that their decision vas IN
accordance with the merits OF the case 40
presented, regardless of any opinio OF
their own. And i fgreed with them
myself.
The two young rnen who took the
a firmative side divided their cause into
two parts, each taking one The first
speaker devoted himself to considera-
tion OF the general question, "what is
Life, Anyway" While the second
pointed cut the specific enjoyments and
advantages that come from being alive
Adopting much the same system of the
young men who presented the case for
the negative, the first sought to demon
strate that non-existence could work
harm neither TO the universe nor to the
individual, that IL we we're not upon
earth. and never had been, the earth
would not miss us, and we wouldn't miss
IL, that though the earth might be a
rude and uncouth place without any
OF the ornamental and useful a6yant-
ages that II now possesses, thanks
to human existence, yet it would revolve
just the same and fill its allotted place
among the spheres quite as well as it now
does with back fences and sky scrspers
and railroads and parks and telephones
on its surface and human goings-on kick
ing up it's crust. Then his associate pro-
oeeded TO point out all the ills that flesh
Is heir TO, all the trials and troubles that
come with living as opposed to the en-
joyments and advantages catalogued on
behalf OF the Affirmative.
The negative side pointed out that once
you are alive that in itself may naturally
confuse you IN the effort TO demonstrate
that 1; is better not to be alive and the
speakers asked the judges TO try to
imagine themselves as being neither alive
nor not alive. On the other hand the
affirmative side admitted that being long
alive might work prejudice against any
argument in favor Of being alive, and
they also urged upon the judges the de-
irability OF placing themselves in n men
tai state Of nothingnoss. Thus were the
amenities Of fair uebaie preserved. each
side recognizing and allowing for what
might be q weakness inherent in the
position OF the other.
The judges gave their decision I'm favor |
OF the negative side-thst it -is rctter not +!
tc he alive, only seeking to qualify their /
decision with the opinion that the snb-
jcct wouli have been more iavorably |
wor~ei had Il resd. "Rosolved that IL is !
just as well tinstead OF "Detter'i) TO be !
alive ss not to be. "