The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-14
CHAT AND CHAFF.

'"i' Literary Association the otner
evening on the topic: Resolved. that
IL Is easier TO be good than to be great"
Ihe discussion was most interesting
as you may readily imagine and much
Information as well as argument was
| forthcoming TO illustrate the two sides
OF the question.
There were really, so to say, three
sides at one point OF the debate since
IN the five minutes open discussion.
which followed upon the scheduled ef-
forts OF the selected debaters, one men,
Der advanced the idea that IL was just
as easy TO be good AS to be great and
just as easy to be great as 10 be good
\ providedNyou We're built right.
otherwise he claimed il was hard 10
be either.
This created a mild sensation and
cries of mo. no" were heard. After
which ice cream and cake were served
while the judges retired TO consider
which side should be credited with vic
tory.
The judges approached their decision
by rapid stages for fear the ice cream
and cake would give out il they pom
dered too long.
The decision of the judges was 10
the effect that the merits OF the deba-
ters We're so equally matched that they
could not decide whether il was easier
to be good than great or easier to be
great than good. But In their opinion
il was easier to slop over than TO be
either.
The decision was received with ap-
plause by the partsans of both sides.
The subject selected for the next
meeting is as follows: Resolved, that
il is more of an undertaking for a lion
TO behave ike a mosquito than for a
mesquite TO initiate lion"
Speaking of debates il seems to me
il is going altogether too far when
school children are stirred up over the
South African war to the degree that
prompted those Philadelphia school
boys to send a message of sympathy TO
President Kruger by a district messen-
ger boy. an undertaking that has fur
nished something of sensational story
for the newspapers.
Some very able minds may always be
found at a difference on questions
which concern other folks business
and for children to se stirred up over
a fracas like the South African war is
neither educational nor stimulating In
any healthy way. There is plenty 10
learn and TO discuss about that will
contribute 10 the development OF the
youthful mind without going so far
afield. ~"
Some OF the subjects selected for
school debates that L have heard OF
recently are insufferable anyhow. II
II we children of larger growth are
too easily disposed to take things very
seriously and chew the rag on the curb
stone to almost the fighting point what
is TO be expected OF children when they
are called upon to interest themselves
and debate subjects which arouse the
passions of their elders 10 the storm
signal point?
i heard the other day OF school
room full of boys and girls who We're
set 10 debating the relative rights OF
the case in this same South African
war which has stirred up the Phiadel-
phia school children to such an absurd
degree.
The teacher selected the boys for the
two sides OF the debate.
or course the school room was in
sympathy with the Beers by n largo
majority as an American school room
and most of the American people would
naturally be expected to be. SO when
the children voted that the argument
on behalf OF the Beers had won, proba-
bly, the merits of the argument had lit
tie to do with the decision one way or
the other. Party spirit ran high in that
school room.
And when at recess the Boer majority
got hold of the authorized supporters of
the British cause in the debate they
Just rubbed the earth with those un-
fortunate youngsters and played
bumpers with them against the school,
yard fence.
Talking OF controversy not unnat-
urally suggests Or. f.. Benz. Andrews,
WHOM bfONH oniNtfSity OuNt Ndiitu
and then didn't want, whom the Chi
| cago school folk once wanted and then
| didn't want and whom the University
| OF Nebraska now wants and perhaps
Will continue TO want for some time to
come, maybe forever
For there is something about Prexy
| Andrews that compels people 10 take "a
| lively fancy TO hm.
He seems to be always sure Of anoth-
or job no matter how frequently ne
| may kick himself out OF an old one.
Prexy has an ideally combative dis
| position and il Is usually i'm action.
He created n rumpus at Brown Uni
| versity. but he did good deal for the
| old college for all that.
| have no doubt that the Chicago pub
| lie schools are the better for his super
| intoniency for all the friction that his
| coming occasioncd and his stayinc has