The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-09
The Sunday Law in Philadelphia.

The public Is already acquainted with
the fact that it has been judicially deter.
mined In the enterprsing town OF Philadel-
phia that the laws OF the commonwealth in
which Philadelphia is situated and OF which
it is next to the railroad bridge at Harris
burg. the chief ornament, make it crime for
barber to shave a customer, or for Gus
toner to be shaved by barber, on Sunday.
But the alert surprised, and interested pub
lie has never yet been told who decided this
fine point or how it came to be decided.
At last we have advices announcing that
this tonsorial decision emanates from Mr..
Justice PRNNYPAcKER, and that he delivered
it in the case Of one WALDMAN. a Philadel-
phia barber, fined by q magistrate for
removing the chin whiskers OF a Consho-
hocken street Democrat between the hours
OF midnight on Saturday and noon on Sun
day. The barber appealed from the SEN
tence imposing this fine, his counsel alleging
that the removal Of Sunday beard from
the chin OF Philadelphia was a work Of
absolute necessity. But the sophistries adj
vanced in support Of this proposition
were promptly brushed away by Mr.. JUS
tice PENSYPACKER. ut Is commended on the
part OF the defendant" declared that emil
nent magistrate, "that since there are some
persons whose boards require shaving daily,
and there are some whose occupations
through the week make 1t impossible for
them to get shaved except upon Sunday,
the conduct of defendants business upon
the day in question was work Of necessity.
1t seems to me quite obvious that this argu-
ment is fallacy. II 1t had appeared that the
work which was done. was limited to such
persons, there would be ground for the allie
CATION; but otherwise it would result in the
entire abrogation OF the act OF 1874"
Such a revolutionary proceeding as the
abrogation OF the act OF 1874 could
never be tolerated by the people
OF Philadelphia. 1t would be an An
archst's dream, an iconoclast's vagary,
a disturbers fantastic idea. 1t might stop
of a sudden the flow OF poetry, and in not a
few Of the streets Of Philadelphia it might
stop the grass from growing. AS Mr.. JUS
tice PENNYPAcKER truly says, 1.-The same
process OF reasoning would throw open sub
stantially all the avenues OF business life.
In large community, such as Philadelphia
is, there can always be found some hungry
person to whom the baker may supply
bread. some needy to whom the tailor may
furnish clothing and some weary wanderer
In want OF transportation. II there are per-
sons 30 closely tied to their occupations
during the week, that they cannot find suffl-
cient time to get shaved except upon Sun
days, the same want OF time will prevent
them from seeking the shoemaker, tho
plumber and the iorgeman upon the or
binary days OF labor"
Such a catastrophe certainly ought to be
provided against by the strong arm OF the
Philadelphia courts, Tho spectacle OF
Philadelphia with his house overfiowed,
looking for plumber on Sunday, cannot be
thought edifylng, The fear that some of
the residents OF Philadelphia may go abroad
seeking forgeman on Sunday is one not to
be encouraged; and how hapless would DO
the estate and condition Of Philadelphia
CrIspin aroused from his TeVerles on SUM-