Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-06-10
EARLY CLOSING.
Not only theClerks but the Merchant
and Eventually the Public are
Benefited by the Movement.

Benefited by the Movement.
Beginning with Monday evening next
number Of our enterprising merchants
win close their stores during the sum-
mer At 2 o'clock. except Saturday even
ings, during the summer, in order that
their clerks as well As themselves may
have little recreation from the labors
Of the day, before retiring for the night.
and be better fitted for the duties and la
bors of the next day.
In venturing 10 speak upon q subject
that more and more agitates the business
community, we hope 10 throw out
few suggestions that may be of some ad
vantage and of as much interest to the
public In general
The subject of Early Closing" has
two sides. Ike most every other ques
ton; but the manly and interesting ef-
forts on the part of our merchants for
the past few summers give a promise
that will not be fruitless in harmonizing
all now existing differences OF opinion.
Hours of business are according to the
demands of the community The indi-
vidual preference Yields to the general
interest. People are educated TO do that
In given time. which before they thought
was impossible. Banks and markets lose
no customers, though the business in
one and the buying In the other must be
done during special hours.
The time was when sunlight aad bed
time marked the business day. but meth
DDS of living and methods OF trafiicing
have changed since then.
All are not dead yet who can remem-
Der when a mans home and his store
were under the same room. Such ques-
ton as "early closing" was not dreamed
of in those days. Opening hour was at
up getting In the morning and closing
hour was when all were ready for bed,
and the house to be closed.
So, Ii is observed. the question is one
that grows out of our present meth
dds of living. 1t is not question thrust
upon the merchants by the clerks, nor a
question thrust upon the clerks by the
merchants, but a question thrust upon
both merchants and clerks by the separa
ton of stores and homes
What Is the present state of living
Business place here; home way of yon
der It Is limited view of this subject
which regards 'early closing" as only in
the interest of the clerks. II has like
meaning for both merchants and clerks,
and more so if they are married and have
families
Let there be "early closing" so that
he who eats a hurried breakfast in the
morning. bolts down the meal at noon,
feels that evenings he may sit at the Ia
BILE with his gathered family, and eat the
meal in peace. and spend the balence OF
the day in giving added pleasure to his
home.
There are those who have not the cares
of home nor the responsibilities of fam
lilies. Those, who. when evening comes,
can go and come after their own pleas
ure. Shall the stores close for them
Why not Is their life so easy that desk
and counter are perpetual things OF joy
Bookkeeping and storestanding is not
the easiest of all all life's enioyments.
The courteous welcome. the polite atten.
tons, readiness to please, may appear
easy, but there are other elements which
enter into store life, which is harder
than breaking stones on turnpike or
scaling ladder and carrying the bod.
1--WE study to please" is the merchants
motto, and such study Is WEAKNESS to
the flesh. muscle and brain. Let there
be an early closing for the young men
and young women that they may have
season in which TO cultivate the physical
and mental as we'll as social parts OF their
nature.
There is not pure air enough in the
storeroom, nor elastaicity enough in the
yard stick, nor rebound enough in the
scales to develop the varied parts of any
man or woman Give at least the un-
broken evening to them so that they
have chance to rest. An evening for
physical. mental and social culture.
which will enable them to do more and
better work. and more cheerfully In less
time.
We are citizens of common commu-
nifty and are Obliged to consider the eff
feet of our movements upon our fellow
men. Let us therefore all encourage the
"early closing movement