Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-26
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THE GERMAN SUNDAY.
The Observance of Holidays in the
Fatherland.

Prof Won Schultz, in Contemporary Review.
The observance of Sunday and holt
days in Germany must strike the En-
glishman very strangely. By law, work
is forbidden on these days, ut least such
work as would be disturbing TO others.
Till the year 1873, however, in many
places for instance in the Catholic
province of the Rhine) Sundays and
holidays were the days on which the
largest business was done III the shops.
After the attack upon the life of the
Emperor, the police regulations were
made more strict, and during the prin-
cipal services of the day, from 8 to II
q. m, and 2 to 3 p. M, all shops every
where were ordered to be shut; but
there are not only 4 few states and
towns where the shops were not
allowed to be open at all. The postal
service is limited to shorter hours let
tiers and parcels are not delivered so
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 holt
day-makers. For example, the Rhine
railway runs every Sunday and holiday,
from May 10 to October, three extra
trains in the afternoon; and other lines
do the same. In many places, es-
pecially in Austria. companies choose
Sundays and holidays Tor their great
excursions; extra trains are put OH es-
pecially in the morning; and arrange
ments for dancing for the people, popu-
lar concerts, etc, ale fixed almost eX-
clusively for these days. This is es-
pecially the case in places where the
population is chiefly Catholic. In the
province OF the Rhine, in Batavia and
Austria, the better classes avoid making
excursions on Sundays or holidays, not
because they wish to observe the days
more strictly but because the throng is
so great in fine weather ut 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
still more of the Franconian, and the
way in which the cold BAvarian" en-
Joys himself, must visit some place Of
recreation on Il Sunday or holiday.
The church festivals, which are usually
on Sundays, are opportunities for the
clergy to meet Mt the house of the
parish priest for high feeding and hard
drinking till late hour in the evening;
the people amuse themselves with
dancing, with rope dancers, carousals,
eating, drinking, etc. Quarrels, which
among the genuine Catholic old Bava-
rian often end with mortal blows or
stabs with the knife, form the practical
application of the specially fine sermon
for the saints day. Triumphal arches,
banners, shooting with little mortars,
etc, attest the good Catholicity of the
town. OF work, rs rule, there Is
none, unless there be here and there
poor tailor, seamstress or servant who
is glad to turn to account the Sunday
rest In This respect, however, many
of the public Offices set bad example,
for it is by no means an exceptional
thing for work to be carried on as usual
in the government and municipal
Offices, and this is not only in times of
special pressure. Everywhere the inns
and taverns do most business on sun.
days and holidays, because the people
have most leisure. The further west
and south we get, the more do we find
the above description verified, es-
pecially in the towns; and the places
where the countrymen, after attending
afternoon service, walk quietly out into
the fields to rejoice in the blessing of
heaven, must be sought chiefly in
Westphalia and the north. If, on the
whole. the Protestants are more obser-
want Of Sunday rest than the Catholics,
the reason is without doubt to be found
in the fact-irst, that the Protestant
population belongs for the most part to
the colder and quieter branches Of the
German family; and second. that the
Protestant worship is not at all exciting
to the senses, and is peculiarly somber
as compared with the Catholic ritual.
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