The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-21
RIVERSIDE.
Tho Holiday Demand for 0ys-
tors Is Unusually Great. days
Begin Christmas 70 Expand

There Is an awful rush for oysters this
year. and although there II a mucn
larger force employed 1t the local houses
than has been the case before In years.
but In spite of this fact the men work
holidays and ofttimss q part OF Sunday
as well as evenings, without being able
TO keep pace with the orders.
Early this season. when II became evf-
dent that this was to Be IN oyster year.
extensive additions were made to the
facilities of the sabin's Point oyster
shops and steam heat was put In. About
40 openers are now kept busy. in addition
10 the necessary force TO attend to the
other departments OF the business, In
cluding keeping the benchas nlled with
oysters and shipping them after they
have been opened
BDGIN TO EXPAND.
Christmas day the days commence 10
grow longer and viii continue 70 do 90
for the next six months, at the end of
which time they will have attained the
maximum length of days In this latitude
and will again commence to decrease
Since last June the days have been
shrinking in the regulation manner ac-
cording TO a custom established so many
years ago that the oldest inhabitant does
not remember when II was not so. During
the last six months the days have grad
ually grown six hours and y minutes
shorter.
SUNDAY SERVICES.
The usual services were held at each Of
the local churches yesterday. At St
Marks the rector. Rev. Herbert A. Re-
mick officiated-
The services at the Congregational
church were conducted by Rev. DR..
Thomas r. Rowe Of Providence. He
preached on the Dawn OF Christianity"
at the morning service and spoke on "A
Momentous Question"
The Christian Endeavor society was
lead by Miss Elizabeth Foss. The topic
was "A Vision Off Worldwide Peace"
THE STORM.
The earth was frozen just enough at
the commencement OF the storm which
reged all day yesterday to prevent the
water from soaking away 40 readily as
II would had conditions been different
and as a consequence many OF the streets
were flooded TO a depth of several incnes.
This was not 20 bad on the main thor
oughfares, where some attention has
been paid TO the drainage of the streets.
but In other sections, to say there was
a food would be putting II mid.
Some of the residents to the eastward
OF Malcom square. II Is stated, had to
use boats. RATS and even sections Of the
neighbor'e fences to navigate the great
lakes beneath the turbulent surfaces Of
which were the streets. II Ia reported
that one man, who started to cross the
street and got beyond his depth would
have surely perished. had not some one
thrown him a bottle of jamaica ginger,
which kept che cramps away until ne
could swim out on the other side
BUSINESS RUSHING.
Business at the local post Office 10 GER
tainly good just now, as IT always 10 just
at this season. but II does seem that the
present activity is somewhat in excess
OF what It has been in former seasons.
or course. much OF this s due to the
growth OF the place, but another man
ner In which the large amount of busi-
ness is accounted for Is by the great
amount OF business prosperity which has
prevailed during the past ~ months.
Everybody has been working and every
body has money to spend.
Mr. PETTIS' FUNERAL.
The funeral of Gideon Pettis. one of
Riversides oldest and best known cdti-
zens was held from his late residence at
81 Washington avenue at IL o'clock this
morning There was a large number of
relatives andS friends in attendance. as
well as a number Of handsome floral
tributes.
Mr.. Pettis was 81 years of age and had
resided here for a great many years. He
was a brother OF Robert Petts, the
| oyster dealer In Providence.