The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-10
sunday iii Germany.
Contemporary Rcview.l

The Observance of Sunday and of holi-
days in Germany must strike the Eng
lishman very strangely. by law, work is
forbidden on these days, at least such
work as would be disturbing to others
TIL the year 1878, however, i'll many
places (for instance in the Catholic Prov
ince of the Rhinc) Sundays and holidays
were the days on which the largest busi-
ness was done i'll the shops. After the
attack upon the life Of the Emperor, the
police regulations were made more strict,
and during the principal services of the
day, from to II a. m. and 2 to p. m.,
all shops everywhere were ordered to be
Shut but there are only few States and
towns where the shops are not allowed to
be open at all.
The postal service is limited to shorter
hours; letters and parcels are not deliv-
cred 50 often as on other days; and there
are similar restrictions on the telegraph
service. On the other hand, the railway
traffic is left quite Free and not only do
the trains run as on other days, but by
almost every line there are also extra
trains for the convenience of the holiday
makers. For example, the Rhine Rail
way runs every Sunday and holiday,
from May 18th to October, three extra
trains in the afternoon; and other lines
do the same.
In many places, especially in Austria,
companies choose Sundays and holidays
| for their great excursions; extra trains
are put On especially in the mornings
and arrangements for dancing for the
people, popular concerts, &c, arc fixed
almost exclusively for these days. This
is especially the case in places where the
population are chiefly Catholic. In the
/ Province Of the Rhine in Bavaria and
Austria, the better classes avoid making
excursions on Sundays or holidays not
because hey wish to observe the days
more strictly, but because the throng is
50 great in fine weather al all the spots of
beauty and wherever refreshments can be
had Any one who wants to see the
| light-hearted nature of the Rhinelander
and sill more of the Franconian, and the
way in which the "old Bavarian" enjoys
UIlIIStll, lllt'9l NlSlt SOilt 'luIN VI lCSlCd
ton on a Sunday or holiday.
The church festivals, which are usually
on Sundays. are opportunities for the
clergy to meet at the house of the parish
priest for high feeding and hard drinking
till late hour in the evening; the people
amuse themselves with dancing, will
rope dancers, carollsals, eating, drinking
etc. Quarrels, which among the genuine
Catholic old Bayarians often end witt
mortal blows or stabs with the knife
form the practical application of the spe
cially fine sermon for the Saints Day
Triumphal arches, banners, shooting witt
little mortars, etc, attest the good Catho
licity of the town. Of work, as a rule
there is none, TN ess there be here anC
there poor tailor, seamstress, or servan
who is glad to turn to account the Sun
day rest. In this respect, however, man,
of the public offices set bad example
for it is by no means an exeeptiona
thing for work to be carried on as usul
in the Government and municipal Offices
and this is not only in times of specia
pressure.
Everywhere the inns and taverns dc
most business on Sundays and holidays
because the people have most leisure
The further west and south we get tho
more do we find the above description
verified, especially in the towns; and the
places where the countrymen, after at