New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-28
TIE LAW or SUNDAY READING.

The decision rendered twenty odd years ago in
Jhc Couiie's case has contributed to maintain q
va.me impression among sincere and estimable
persons that Sunday labor for furnishing the people
with fresh reading that day is really contrary to
the civil law and is done only by liberation. Bat
the Legislature interposcd TO annul that decision,
aud expressed the OF the people to be that
is necessary work. and that no legal objection can
be taken TO the contracts or dealings of a news
paper ON the ground of publication on a Sunday.
There Is little doubt that similar support
would be given 10 the quict opening Of
public Libraries. THIS ground very near
~ reached by a decision in Philadelphia.
years ago, where the complaint was that
tie Mercantile Library was not kept open; and the
conri explained that this was something which the
law neither commands nor forbids The question is
conldcd TO the sound judgment of the conservaiOrs
Of the institution. who trusted to do the pub
lie interest requires The objection miscomprehends
the principle on which, in modern times. the day is
protected The civil law has long dsavowed I'M
putting any religious obligation, or enforcing or die
taiing the faith worship of the people. 1t seeks
TO protect the FIRST day simply as popular rest
day TO keep il free from cxcitements anxieties and
burdensOme weekday toll, and free for repose,
study, worship, innocent and quiet recreation; in a
word Tor whatever means of recuperation the order
IL. aw-abiding citizen finds preferable Reading is
not the least valuable of these means; and the law
does not conine the reader to books he can buy and
own. nor command him to gather news, like mamma,
a double portion on Saturday. Wherever and rs
fast as Sunday reading becomes one Of the general
wants and needs OF the people. the law recognizes
whatever minimum of labor of Librarians OF printers
may be involved IN supplying it. as necessary
work. For the judicial principle for dscountenanc
ing Unnecessary work this: The great general purpose
is to guarantee a rest-day for the But
wants OF life and purposes of labor are recognized
rs superior to the need of abstinence from work
Minds will differ to what these are. but all will
assent that there are some. They are such as pro-
yidng not only wholesome but enjoyable foods,
giving facilities for worship and for religious in
struction: the supply of medicines, of medical at
tendance and of nursing the sick; the prompt and
reverent burial of the dead; police supervision ;
transportation Of mails prosecution of voyages
and of processes of manufacture which cannot be
begun and completed In six days Among these has
come TO be regarded By general consent in the larger
cities the furnishing of innocent, healthful, fresh
reading for the unoccupied hours of the day. Since
the urls permits the labor Of cooks, Of sextons of
druggists, of policemen. of seamen, on Sunday. he
must also. in reading community permit the small
measure of service needed for supplying facilities
for reading Necessity, in all questions of Sabbath
observance. is relative. If the general object of
work is Just fable, whatever must needs be done 10
attain it is necessary"
Not long ago. while one Of the st. Louis papers
maintained Sunday edition, business house
ordered an advertisement inserted i'll it every Sun
day for year. Later the proprietors stopped the
Sunday paper and transferred the advertisement
10 the Saturday Issue. When they sued for the bill
the advertisers first objected that the contract was
VOID because it involved Sunday work. But the
Judges said It did not involve Sunday work 1t was
mostly and could be altogether performed over
night The advertisers then complained that Il had
not been performed that they had agreed to pay
for a Sunday advertisement and had been put of
with Saturday one. This defence the judges sus-
tanned; thus holding that the paper not only
might be. but between these parties ought to have
BEEN published on Sunday. The San Francisco
Chronicle was, a while ago at least. published on
Sunday morning and omitted on Monday. Mean
time the city authorities had occasion to advertise
for proposals for street improvement, and the law
required the advertise to be published in two
"daily papers," They gave 1t to The Chronicle for
one. and a taxpayer contested the assessment ;
for, said he The Chronicle Is not a daily paper-it
skips Monday. The court held that the Sunday
issue full compliance with the law. The pro-
prietors might publish on Sunday Instead of Mon
day. If they pleased.