Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-02-28
An Interesting Debate.

At recent meeting Of the Woman's Club
Of this town the subject discussed was as lol-
lows Resolved, Rockville is lacking in pub
lie spirit Miss Daisy Hege, taking the
affirmative, said
Mrs. President and fellow-members Of the
Rockville WOman's Club:
In choosing me as the opponent OF our
worthy president you have chosen one who
has never heard a first. class thoroughly con-
Quoted debate Nevertheless, | shall try 10
q very simple way to present q few facts
showing why think Rock vile is lacking In
public spirit, and IL II does not conform to
your idea of the way you \think debate
should be cOndu cted you can attribute 1t to
my originality and call it the Daisy Hege
style Of debate.
To my mind the credences of the lack Of
public spirit 10 Rockville are so conclusive
that hardly felt the necessity Of looking the
matter up. Still as | want to be backed by
facts, Fhave had to make some inquiries, for
which thank the several people who were
80 kind as to assist me. With this, q sort
of preamble, shall proceed to my argument
ResOtUed, Rockville 10 lacking 10 public
spirit.
Ia opening the affirmative side OF this
question take occasion to preface my re-
usefu lness OF uneniorced statutes. Law is a
rule Of action for the guidence Of human con-
duct, commanding what is right, aud pro-
hibiting and penalizing what is wrong. II
10 the fundamental principle OF our national
liberty, and IL il the duty OF every citizen TO
obey 1t or be punished for breaking it. five
fail to exercise our prerogative as good citi-
Gems by neglecIing to insist upon prosecution
In cases OF violation OF municipal ordinances
and State statutes, we must acknO Wedge our
disregard OF our duty TO society, OF which
we are constituent parts, and hence our con-
sequent lack OF interest in public welfare
Nov lot me ask Ia what respect do we ~
the mothers, wives and sisters resident in
Rockville neglect to manifest an interest Ia
matters Of public moment2 To begin with,
events which are probably better known TO
you owing 10 their more recent occurrence.
| would call your attention to notice which
hung 10 the post-office for sometime so
Letting subscriptions TO the Mckinley Me-
mortal Fund. What part of monument TO
the great statesman could be erected with the
contributions OF the citizens OF RockVilef
We'll, lAdie,, am ashamed TO tell you that
the amount so far contributed is hfy-iwO
cents, which 10 about four one thousandths
OF one cent for each citizen of the town,
Why the entire sum would not buy q bushel
Of good cement.
Town ordinance number 26 passed June
10, 1888, expressly says, "that no person
shall prOpel or permit 10 remain on the side
walk OF the town any bicycle or vehicle or
sled or sleigh" and still who OF US has not
seen bicycles ridden on the payements time
alter time And how many times during the
past week as we have been walking down the
street have we been told " lookout, lookout !
nd nnIu all aaida in Al m ftma
being Knocked down by a sled or double
decker on the sidewalk, only to step into the
street 10 be nearly run over by sleighs, 10
which were attached horses 10 the midst o {
racing.
10 walking down our main street last Satur.
day from the Woodlawn Hotel 10 the depot
one was struck with the deporable fact that
to every ten pieces Of improved property only
one had the snow removed from the side
walks, while nine did not. Among those Of
the former class was our far Eastern brother,
Charlie HOY, the laundry man, and the prob
abilities are, II may judge from past OBJ
servations, that the snow will have been melt
ed by Old Sol before II occurs to those al ne
delinquents " facilitate walking 10 front OF
their premises Who will not say that this
is very selfish, and what is lack Of public
spirit II II 10 not seRshness3 And who needs
70 be told Of the rank growth Of grass and
weeds IN front Of our premises In summer,
necessitating 10 some places people walking
10 single file Who has not tel, the incOn.
Venience OF the water being cut or 80 early
in the evening, the result Of some VI the peo.
pie wasting II 10 such an extent that 10 order
10 have water 10 the town 10 the morning II
has TO be cut of and we all have to suffer FOL
the selfsbness Of other peOp.e2 II almO,
seems prepOsterous to think that In order u
wash ones lace and hands before going u
bed you must either retire about O'Clock OF
week nights or do without the wash Al
Saturday night seems TO be the generally &C.
knowledge Scrub night, we do have tn
water q little later, but when there is = larg
family II necesstates the first one starting
very early 90 that the last one can have
bath and Just get through before the water !
cut on. During the past summer one OF th
residents OF the town let the water run al
day 10 the kitchen TO cool oG the house.