The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-04

tween the tive countries.
SABBATH RAILROAD TRAvELLING.-We see that
a correspondence has been taking place be-
tween a committee of persons who have as
sumed special charge over Sabbath observances
and the presidents of the various lines of rail-
road throughout the country as to the proprie.
ty of railroad travelling on the Sabbath
From the replies received by this very pious
committee they have published some extracts,
tending to show that Sunday trains are not pro-
ftabie, and that, through some unexplained
cause, they are as a general thing very badly
managed.
AS to the bad management, that difficulty, it
appears to us, would be very easily obvated
for all the days of the week as well as Sunday,
If the proper class of men happened to be
chosen to fill the responsible positions of presi-
dents, superintendent and directors of rail
road lines. That is matter altogether Incl
dent to the choice of officers made. We do not
see why an efficient superintendent could not
institute such system as would allow Sunday ex-
cursion trains at least to be run from each of the
great cities of the land for certain distance
fifty or one hundred miles into the country. 1t is
not necessary, we should suppose, that the en-
ployes of the line should be thus kept at work
seven days In the week, or that the locomotives
and cars should be allowed no day of rest. A
generous Christian heart might have easily
suggested to it the idea of giving to the men
to whose lot it should happen to be employed
kruo ofh ho1:I ;vrx
week-with which arrangement they would not
be likely to grumble-and we presume that on
every well arranged line there are enough of
superfiuous locomotives and cars to preclude
any great difficulty on that head.
In these remarks we mean to be understood as
speaking only of Sunday excursion trains As
to the running of through business trains that
is totally different question, which we do not
propose to discuss. But we do believe and af-
firm that the running of Sunday pleasure excur
sion trains, instead of being violation Of any
Christian principle, would be one Of the most be-
nefcent and salutary changes that could be eff
fected-and we also believe that instead of pro-
ducing pecuniary loss to the line or lines car
rying out the plan, it would aid in saving from
bankruptcy several of those having their start
ing points in this city. Such is the experience
of all the European lines connecting with
the great seats Of population. The weary
and overtasked mechanics, and their fami-
lies, pent up during the week in small,
illventilated apartments, situated in the mar
rowest and most squalid streets of large
city are thus enabled, one day out of the
seven, to visit the forests and lakes, and noun
tains and meadows, and places of historic in
terest throughout the country, and are the bet
ter, in mind and body, for the recreation. Who
would be SO narrow minded or so despotic, as
to attempt to deprive the toiling millions of
European cities of such o source of health and
enjoyment? None but straight-laced Pharisees,
who thank God that they are not as other men.
And why should not the same facilities of Sab
bath recreation be held out to the hundreds of
thousands of poor people In New York and
Boston, and Philadelphia and Baltimores
There is no reason, except that the presidents
Of railroads are too narrow minded and gene
rally too incompetent for their positions, and
that cant prevails here to a more considerable
extent Than 1t does on the Continent of Europe
Let the Hudson River Railroad, for instance,
throw of the sham pretence Of extreme godli-
ness, and run half dozen excursion trains every
summer Sunday as far up the line as West Point,
stopping at all the intermediate stations, putting
the fare at the lowest possible figure, and tens
Of thousands will gladly avail themselves, and
with benefit to body and soul, of the chance of
communing with nature in its most grand and
charming aspects. Let the Erie and the Long
Island Railroad do the same, and we will ven
ture the prediction that the effect will be ten
times more beneficial to the poor classes Of this
city-who are now entirely confined to suburban
retreats accessible by water-than the circula-
ton Of million Of the tracts of the Sabbath
Committee on Railroads and the Sabbath.