Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-12-05
Our New York Letter.

New YORK. Nov. 80, 1874.
Editor Of Opinion
In accordance with their threats,
the longshoremen struck last Mon
day, against the reduction Of wages.
These laborers are men employed by
the stevedores along our docks, and
it is their business to stow cargoes,
the former doing the work under
the latters supervision. This strike
has created rather more interest
than those of ordinary unskilled la.
Dor organizations. In view of the
serious damage likely to result from
careless or incompetent stowage, the
Importance Of proper training and
care is evident.
Next to fire, the marine most
breads a shifting of his cargo at
sea, and to this cause can probably
be laid goodly proportion of those
mysterious voyages whose end we
never know.
You see then, if this branch of
labor does not properly come under
the head of "skilled," it is a near
approach to it, and the longshore-
men have been confident of success,
although it looks as though their
occupation was gone. More than a
week has passed, and the new hands
employed by the stevedores, have
reasonably performed the work Of
the strikers, and contrary to expec-
tations, the delay IN appointed sail.
ings has been but slight. All the
Saturday steamers left as advertis-
ed, the inspectors expressing them
selves we'll satisfied with the man
ner in which the new laborers un.
der careful instruction, had accom-
plished their work.
Thus far there has been but little
violence attempted to prevent new
comers from working, any demon
stration Of the kind having been
prevented by the effective measures
of the police authorities.
SUNDAY OPERA.
How's this Mr.. Strakosch, opera
on Sunday9 We can't allow you to
come the French and German over
US in this way. Would you harden
the National conscience of the only
country on earth that keeps the
Sabbath day, SO that it could sit un'
der your form of Sunday amuse-
ment without a twingef What is
that you say, "The law can't reach
me 2" Then let us make some which
can, and put the screws down on
you hard.
We give you six days in tho
week, and now you have sprung the
the seventh upon us. We more
than half suspected this from the
class of music performed at your
evening concerts, but we were not
prepared to find you seconded by
the authorities, who have passively
allowed you to open your doors and
perform in costume for three consec-
utive Sunday evenings. After we
had made some progress in abolish
ing widespread prejudice against
the stage, which at one time was
scarcely recognized as means OF
instruction and profit, you must
needs take a step which will increase
the bitterness of the controv ersy,
aud reopen the question to all un-
just attacks, which enemies of the
theatre indulge in so freely. They
will take down their argument alive
spades and dig up all the old, fossil
testimony, which was hurled at the
stage decades ago.
All honor to Miss Annie Louise
Cary, the finest contralto in Ameri-
ca, for refusing to sing on Sunday
evening in opera. We have always
admired your glorious voice, and
now we shall appreciate this evil
dence of your loyalty to the princi.
pies of your native New England.
No, Mr.. Strakosck. We believe in
the legitimate theatre, we believe in
the opera, but we also believe in
keeping the Sabbath day. and if you
succeed in establishing Sunday ope'
ra in New York, it will be against
the will Of the people, and because