Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-08
SUNDAY ADJUSTMENTS.
The OId.faahiened Puritan New Eng.
lana Sabbath Dtsappertng Rap.
foIy.

The Old.fnahioned Puritan New KnG.
lana SABBATH Disappertng Rap.
foIy.
Not very many years ago it would
have been regarded as terribly sinful to
attend a lecture. dance or dramatic en-
tertainment in any city Of the United
States except New Orleans, where for
years the theaters aud other places Of
amusement have been kept open aud are
largely attended on Sunday nights. The
influx of foreign population frOm Ger
many, Italy, Frauee aud other lands, has
had a perceptible effect in uprooting the
New England Puritan plan Of keeping
holy the Sabbath day. The blue laws Of
Connecticut arc no longer 10 force and
the most religious citizen can now kiss
his wife on Sunday with IMMUNITY, and
with immunity from arrest and punish.
ment.
How to keep the Sabbath, is question
that has given rise to considerable'con-
troversy even among Christians, and also
what amount of pleasure, rest and enjoy
ment is compatible with a Christian OBJ
servance Of the Sabbath. The number
of people who are strict Christians, who
attend church and observe the rules and
regulations, are unfortunately far in the
minority-those who DO not do these
things being terribly in the majority in
this country, aud it looks as ifthe MAORI
~ were going torule in this Is well as in
other respects, at least 80 far as they
themselves are concerned. Legitimate
and variety theaters, and other places Of
amusement, are open every Sunday night
at New Orleans, San Francisco, St.
Louis, St. Joseph and Kansas City, Mis-.
s.uri, and even in Memphis 10 this favor
is it coming at last. We have had here
this season a musical performance called
a sacred concert, given by Csllender's
colered Georgia Minstrels at the Theater,
and it drew a large crowd of people. II
was called y sacred concert, but it was
the same performance that was given
during the week, and Aunt Jemima
was sung and danced in the most sp-
proved style.
Last Sunday we had Mrs. Woodruff,
who lectured at the theaier on a social
topic never before discussed in this city
in the presence of az audience composed
Of ladies aud gentlemen. It was any.
thing bat a religious topic, although, as
q sanitary measure, it was entitled to
considerable attention and respect. Our
German lellow-ciiizans celebrate the
Sabbath here much as they did in their
native land. They 20 to church gener-
ally, take their wives aud daughters to
the beer gardens and enjoy themselves,
and at night visit a musical and dramatic
entertainment at either the Cochran or
Turner Hall. These Sunday evening en-
ertainments are largely attended by our
German lellow.citizens OF both sexes,
who enjoy themselves immensely. Strict
Christians deplore all this and say: ut
is wrong; it should be prohibited by law"
but the divine law that bears upon this
subject is not in force in this land of lib.
erty, aud nothing can suppress such
systems Of amusement on the Sabbath,
except a statute law enacted by our
Legislature, but as the legislators are
elected by the people, and are Of the PEG.
pie, a majority Of whom are not strict
Christians, the attempt to enact such q
law would probably be defeated.
We have no doubt that before long we
will hsvetheaters aud lecture-rOoms open
every Sunday Right 10 Memphis, as in
New 0rleanR where moral dramatic ex.
hibitions, sacred operas, strains Of which
are now heard every Sunday issuing from
the throats of the prima donnas of our
church choirs, will cease to be a novelty
or cause any comment. Even our The.
ater Comique (varieties) will open up for
Sunday night amusements, and will pre-
sent such plays a Ten Nights in a Bar.
Room, which we believe was written by
clergyman, and contains an excellent
moral. What this new era will bring
about remains to be seen, but one thing
is certain, that the aggregate amount Of
wickedness in the world is no greater,
probably not as great as it was hundreds
Of years ago.
IT'S TRTJR STTC pITV