, 1884-02-13

lowing days being also lost as working
days.
With regard to the question how far
the 25th Of July and the 2jth Of
October have been recognized as
general holidays for the whole island,
the following remarks are made.
These days are mentioned in the Royal
Rescript of oath December 1906 as
already existing Days Of Prayer on
which the Danish clergy were to
preach in the towns, and the way in
which they are spoken of in the
ReScript seems to Shew that they had
already been observed for a long time,
but in s 3 of the Regulations of 3rd
February 1866 concerning the treat
ment Of the slaves, where the holidays
are named upon which no work may
be done without special permission OF
the Authorities, these days are not
mentioned, while on the other hand
Ascension Day is mentioned.
In the Royal Resolution of the list of
May 1910 it is ordered that all
the days which were holidays for the
Danish evangelical congregations in
the colonies should be extended to he
holidays also fer the slaves; but in the
Rescript Of the 18th Of February 1913
this rule is cancelled.
In a communication from the General
Government in st. Croix dated 10th
July 1919 it is laid down shat the
difference which has hitherto existed
between the holidays for he towns and
for the country should entirely cease,
and that every holiday authorized by
Danish law should also be regarded as
such here in the Colonies, except the
General Fast Day, in place Of which
should be put the days to be observed
before and after the hurricane season
namely the Goth OF July and the 10Th
of OCtOber.'
In the Ordinance of 9th September
1858 concerning the Country Schools
in the Danish West India Islands the
holidays are named in 5 3 without men
ton being made Of the above named
3 DAYS; but as Sunday is also omitted
from mention, no definite conclusion
can be drawn from the literal wording
OF the section, but can be drawn ON the
other hand, from the practical inter
probation which has been put upon it,
namely that Sundays were fee days
as a matter Of course while the other
days here under discussion We're not.
From this it would appear that the
Injunction Of the General Government
on 10th July 1S49 was not successfully
carried through. This is further
evident from a discussion which took
place in the Colonial Councils 3ri
ordinary meeting, LIST September 1873,
concerning the said two days, wherein
it is stated that they were regarded as
working days in the country, hit that
the lab0urerS were not forced to work
on these days. To this may, further,
be added, that the Holiday Ordinance
for Denmark of 18th April 1876 eu8ctS
in : l that on State Church holidays
all indoor and outdoor occupations
which might disturb the quiet of the
holiday were forbidden, but it is
expressly added that "thp foregoing
Regulations shall not, however, be q
hindrance to the taking of field work
in hand when Divine Service is not
disturbed thereby.n
On the whole it must no doubt be
admitted that special consideration is
always taken, as well in the Danish
West Indies as in Denmark, not to
disturb the important work of the field
by rules as to the holding of holidays,
and it would be unfortunate il the new
School Ordinance, if even indirectly,
should put aside this consideration
more than necessary.
In order, however, to avoid that the
provision Of the School Ordinance
concerning free days should expressly
enjOin attendance at school on such
a day as Ascension Day, which might
cause that parents who wished to
attend Church on that day could not
take their children with them, even if