Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-20
WITH A VENGEANCE.
Connecticut Blue Laws Enforced
In vlCksburg.
Newspaper StOppedand Nearly
Everything Else.
vicksburg Commercial, 18th.

Inc anu III WHICH Vue Duuuhy
law was enforced in this city yesterday
would have made the hearts Of the
old %covenanters and authors OF the
blue Laws of Connecticut thrill
with the ecstacy of a delight only
known to such a compound of jealousy
and envy as your Puritan, in spite Of
certain sterling qualities, really was,
loving to mai sport but with a redeem
ing and quite human taste for the
waters Of Geneva or Holland, for as
one of their descendants sings of Miles
Standish and his companions:
''They poured the fiery Hollands out, those
men
Who fought and prayed,
And drank as twere their mothers milk and
Not a man afraid"
Like the statutes against gaming,
swearing and certain other vices, pub
lie opinion has to q great extent inter-
ferred with the execution of a law that
does not always work justice. There
we're some amusing features Of the
Sabbatarian raids which we're also in
structive to the victim and pleasanter
to the police as we'll as less dangerous
than doing their Office on subjects
more important to the public veal.
The guardians of the public veal,
armed with plenary powers, full pan
oplied and equipped with virtuous
municipal and judicial authority, sal
lied forth as the midnight bell an
nounced the coming of the Sabbath
day, to do or die in the execution Of
the law. They first descended into
the cavernous depths of the Herald's
press room and tackled the pressman,
perched upon an old dry goods box,
begrimmed and inky, as heated the
sheets into the ravenous jaws Of the
devouring steam press. He was told
to get down from thar" and stop his
racket, as the law against working on
Sunday must and shall be observed"
He came down, and the usual rur-
chasers of the Sunday Herald were
not only deprived of their matutinal
cocktail, but Of the great conscien-
tious" literary feast which they were
wont to long for as the heart panteth
after the water brook"
Next, a movement was made in
force AGAINST the gay and festive hack
men, who in the wee sma' hours
ayaut the twal" were waiting for
expectant customers. The "cabbies'
we're ordered to their quarters with
the strict injunction not to appear
upon the streets again until after the
expiration of t%wenty-four hours. Sc
rious inconvenience to the travelling
public followed as a natural result Of
this unexpected action of the author
tiles, working absolute hardship and
injury in more than one instance, as
passengers-among them several ladies
arriving by train and steamboats,,
we're forced to walk to the hotels and
places Of destination, and to do with
out the use of their baggage until
means Of transportation could be pro
cured to day. Thus the transfer of
passengers from boats to the evening
urain, or from the morning train to
the boats was absolutely. impossible
to those who desire to take their
baggage with them. One notable
instance is sufficient to demonstrate
the utter absurdity and positive wrong
in attempting the enforcement
Of laws passed for times a1d genera
tions long numbered with the things
that we're. A sick lady arrived by
a steamer during the hottest portion
of the day. 1t being impossible to
procure a hack, wagon OF vehicle of
any kind, she had to be borne up the
hill in chair carried by her friends
But that the bearers of the chair were
not arrested for performing that par.
ticular act OF manual labor may be
regarded as a lasting monument of
municipal mercy. Several strangers,
visiting the city and stopping at the
hotels were DESTROYS OF taking passage
on the steamer Springer yesterday
morning, but we're compelled TO remain
over until to-day on account Of having
no means Of getting their baggage to
the boat. The mail wagon was also
stopped by the police; also, milk
wagons, and sellers of newspapers.
Barber shops and every other employ.
ment was most summaril closed.
A member Of the Board of Alder.
men and a reporter OF the Commercial
called on Attorney General Catchings
at his residence early yesterday morn
ing, to get his views regarding the
stOppage of the delivery Office, Mayor
Birchett having stated that the opin-
ion of the Attorney General would be
satisfactory to him. Mr.. Catchings
stated that he could not give an Off
cial opinion at that time, but his pri-
vate opinion was that the Mayor and
police force were a set Of fools and
their actions were ridiculous.