Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-12-13
SUNDAY ADJUSTMENTS.

The war respecting Sunday amuse-
msnt is still proceeding in the East.
The Rev. Talmage. of Brooklyn, Is the
leader on the side Of those who wish to
make Sunday busbear by the rigid OBJ
servance Of idleness and hypocricy. He
bangs away in the Bunhill Field style
and storms at and abuses all those who
desire to make their day Of rest season
Of innocsnt enjoyment and healthful re-
Taxation. As to the project Of opening
the theaters on Sunday, the mere
thought throws him into a spasm OF in
dignation, and he not only denounces
opening the theaters on Sund,y. but de-
c,sres war against theatrical a.nusements
altogether. and declares that "the theater
Is the mother of hsrlots." This style Of
argument is no doubt effectual with the
weak-minded and bigotted, but with the
great mass it has little force. The fact
is that in al. crowded communities by
far the greater portion of their citizens.
if they seek any kind OF relaxation on
Sunday, find nothing better offered to
them than q resort to bar.rooms, saloons.
beer gardens. etc. The clergy say they
can 60 to church. Yes, no doubt they
could 60 to some place of worship, and
there is equally little doubt that it would
be we'll for them to do 80. But on this
subject. we have the authority OF
Gladstone, who said it was hard work to
60 to church and join seriously, dsvoutly
and attentivsly in the celebration OF di.
wins worship. On such subject the e1-
premier ought to be good authority. If
this Is admitted to be bard work by SO
talented. learned and enlightened man
- Gladstone. what must it be to the
jsded, overworked. poorly paid toiler?
Worn out by q weeks hard labor, the
workman regards with i'll concealed dis
gust the mere idea of sitting for two
mortal hours under the constraint Of the
decorum that prevails in the house Of
worship. II the weather is fine, the
artizan or employe looks with yeaIniug
ct the bright sun and blue sky, and
wishes to go out somewhere where he
can see the grass growing and nhale the
fresh breeze that does not bring with it, the
tainted odors Of dirty streets AMI i'll VEN
tilated tenement houses. II the weather
Is bad he wishes not to go out, or if he
does he seeks other shelter than the
church, where The meets persons, man.
ners and treatment that insults his pow
erty and renders its miseries more gall
ing. This may be all wrong; perhaps it
is. We are not going to say it is right,
but We do say that in all towns and cities
having any large number OF inhabitants,
that it would be we'll to keep men from
dissipation and drunkenness by provid.
ing the means of passing their leisure
hours pleasantly and probably. The
first is sine quenon and cannot be dis
pensed with, and the skill OF the philan
thropist should be exercised in seeing
that both are combined. No matte
what it is; anything is better than bar
rooms with their attendant vices. Thi
10 exactly where the zeslots fail. The,
offer the people their choice between
church aud tavern. and though som
few prefer the first. unfortunately. til
great majority seek the latter. That be
ing the case. In spite of such blusterou
bigots as Talmage and his crew, the al
tention Of the philanthropist and the re
former, is being more and more directe
to the problem of providing harmless
and interesting recreation for the work
ing classes on Sunday.