Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-08-17
Communicated.
Closing the Stores Early.

In all respectable cities stores are
closed at six o clock, Saturday eXcep-
ted. The mere fact that the mos
successful merchants of the country
adopt this rule is in itself sufficient
proof of it, possibility and practical
bilitv. That the storekeePers Of Frost
burg should follow the same rule, we
claim on the following grounds;
|. Business permits H-Were all
the stores to close simultaneously, at
an early hour, not one of them would
have gained penny less at the close
Of the year
The only result would be to Utten-
aty business during the day. If this
be so-and no one will deny It'll"
hours spent in the store-room after
six o'clock is time thrown away for
nothing,
:. TIE merchants need ito re
main in a store from six or seven III
,he morning until nine or ten OF more
in the evening is Il disastrous con-
hnement. Should the storckeeper
be utterly regardless Of his health ?
Should he have no time for recreation
Should he have no leisure hours for
reading and thinking? Has he no
right to become acquainted with his
children? Must his wakeful hours be
occupied exclusively with dry goods
and groceries ? Most assuredIy he
ought to have some time every day
for himself. Twelve hours per day
are more than enough for any one to
be confined behind counter. Since
/ this is SO, let all the merchants insist
on closing their stores early, and it is
our belief that their patrons will most
cheerfully grant them their request.
3. The commnr'ity demands H.-Ev-
ervbody in this town and vicinity can
do his shopping quite as conveniently
before as after six o clock. And how
gladly many a wife and sister would
do this rather than have the husband
and brother leave them until a late
hour. Wives want their husbands,
sisters want their brothers, mothers
want their daughters at home as much
as possible in the evening. At what
other time can an industrious man be
at home? Nothing can be more pain
full than to see multitules lounging
and loafing on store boxes, steps, and
every available elevation, up to an
hour when none should be on the
streets but policemen. We're the
ladies of Frostburg permitted to eX-
ercise their Rights in this case,
there is no doubt but that the stores
would be voted to close precisel y at
six o'clock P NJ, winter and summer,
BY an overwhelming majority. Were
stores to close at that hour, loating
would become less pleasant, and the
universal demand of home circles
would be gratifed
4. Morality and religion demao1d 1t.
AS things now are, it is almost i'm
possible for merchant to attend any
weekly meeting whatever, for his in
tellectual, moral or religious improve
ment And the keeping of late hours
on Saturday night is bad prepare
ton for attending religious services
on Sabbath morning. If we would
| have respectable streets, happy homes
expanding intellects, improving NOR
ais, and religious progress as one
of the means thereto, let us hare
or stores closed carly. Let the mer-
chant and his patrons devote their
evenings, free Of care, to other things
than groceries and dress patterns
Let there be "a season for everything. -
A CITIZEN.
LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE.