The record-union., 1891-03-10
ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW.
The Sunday Law From an Observer!
Standpoint.

Standpoint.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: I have read with
interest all the communications, includ-
ing the sermons bearing upon the Sunday
law question, as they have appeared in
your columns, hoping to improve my
power of discrimination in such matters
by looking from different standpoints.
As result / feel moved to ask space to
present the matter in yet another aspect.
AS our revered Lincoln used to say: IT
reminds me of a little story''-which is
perhaps quite as pertinent to the subject
as searching the almanac and criminal
calendar-the results or so-called "etfccts"
thus obtained being traceable las every
one knows) to several or quite other
causes, proving the method entirely
fallacious.
In the moral realm one need not apollo
gize tor an inference drawn by analogy.
A lesson in parable has high sanction
as the method of great teacher pro-
fessedly held in the highest esteem by
our churches and clergy, but who never
resorted ESQ far as we know to mislead-
ing statistics.
There was once busy, bustling house
wife possessed of many estimable quail
tiles, and generally considered kind
hearted and benevolent. She was Justly
faculty." which was excellent in many
respects. Her mince pies and CONNECTIONS
were distributed indiscriminately in the
'neighborhood, and nourishing broths
and other delicacies from her table were
scattered far and near among the sick OF
her acquaintance-frequen accom-
panied by bits of advice, often timely and
acceptable, but not anerring-and just
here lay snare. OfAeourse, the recipi-
ents of her favors were overwhelmed,
and loudly sounded her praises every
where, even in the presence of the good
lady herself, often speaking of the obli-
cation under which she had placed them.
Thus by degrees she came to have ex-
aggerated conceptions Of the Importance
of her position and the value OF her
counsel. 1t became exceedingly pleasant
to feel that she had especial claims to con-
sideration and she redoubled her energies
to strengthen these claims, and worse
yet, to press still more urgently her
opinions, intruding into domestic and
business relations till she was really
meddlesome. To urge her now arrogant
claims she fell to rehearsing in all ears
her many ministrations, carefully
enumerating the pies and soups (Which,
when the ''eye is SINGLE" need not like
unquiet ghosts forever haunt the
chambers of memory, and bewailing the
inherent depravity she imagined pre-
vailed on all sides, and finally grew
censorious and abusive of people who, in
their way, were as useful and interested
for others welfare as herself.
Does anyone-even the clergy-fail to
see how this proceeding vulgarized even
her beneticent acts? How her glory had
departed? Or, must l painfully relate
tina. this admirable woman, in some re-
spects, became sort of scourge in the
neighborhood whose officious attentions
were unwelcome? More dreaded than
her displeasure, and self-respecting peo-
pie withdrew out of their reach.
To parade ones own share in common
humanitarian service and persistently
ignore the many agencies of human
melioration, often mot sounding truin-
pet. but active in our midst, can never
really advance either an individual or a
moral issue, and to ask upon such
grounds the surrender of our moral free
possess, is to ask us to 'sell our birth
right for a miserable 'mess of pottage.n y
TO infringe upon the liberty of volun-
tary choice can, in our fast enliehteninp
age and civilizing land, only bring degra-
dation and disgrace upon all parties to the
transaction. Pardon, Mr.. Editor. the use
of familiar simile in expressing the hope
that, Notwithstanding the precaution
taken Ito keep the animal quiet of plac-
ing two at the head and one at the tail of
the loud-voiced quadruped, that our law
makers may discern through the lions
skin the protruding ears" and wisely
anticipate the inharmonious tones, which
with the next movement of the restless
tail, will assail our ears. OBSERVER,
Sacramento March Z 1891