The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-30
DENIED THEIR RIGHT
Hoboken's Young Working
Men Not Allowed to
Engage in Health
full Exercise.
SUNDAY BASEBALL PLAYING STOPPED.
Despite the Fact That 1t Interfered
In No Way With Anybody
Saloons Open.

OF Sundays has been prohibited In Hoboken.
The young men of the city who for six days
are confined in workshops, factories and
Offices, must hereafter understand that it is
the command of Mayor Pagan and the police
powers that they must not attempt, under
penalty of arrest and either fine OF imprison-
ment, to play handball in the open lots OF
the city, to play baseball, to run, to jump, or
do any other act that will provo beneficial to
their health. There is one exception, how
ever. If they have sufficient means they
may engage enclosed grounds, such as the
cricket grounds, and there from the rising
to the setting Of the sun, may play, unno-
Tested, cricket, for that's English, you know.
OF course, the Mayor hasn't taken away
all forms of amusement from these young
working boys and men. They may patron
ize the gin mills, and if they indulge in o lit
tie too much and become slightly intoxicat-
ed, a policeman win be furnished to take the
drunk home.
WHERE YOUNG MEN coNGREGATE.
Extending from Eighth to Eleventh streets,
Hoboken, no houses are erected IN either
side of Clinton street. The rear windows of
the Willow avenue houses look out upon a
vacant stretch of land, which extends some
six city blocks to the Hill. To Grand street
the land is what was formerly known as Fox
Hill, and is solid and dry; but from there to
the Hill Is meadows, with the exception OF
some of the streets, which are being filled IN,
with ashes. There is also on Madison street,
near Eleventh, q row of small houses, built
upon filed in ground, the island-like place
being called F~lahertyville. Extending from
about two hundred feet from Eighth street
to within one hundred feet Of Tenth street
is the famous st. George cricket grounds,
-ltzL =, fa,.oDd fn IN width IF nYfan6S
from the westerly line of Clinton street
westerly about a city block and a half.
North of this is an open lot a block long and
fully a block and a half wide.
Here, since the advent of baseball weather,
there has gathered every Sunday some
three or four hundred working boys and
Young men, bent on playing baseball.
AT two O'Clock yesterday fully five n
bred persons were on the lots. Six games
were In progress. 1t seemed almost impossi-
BILE that there could be six diamonds, but
there they were, and every set was having
its W fun without interrupting other
teams. Near Clinton street one OF the play
ers had donned a baseball suit OF white, but
all his companions were in their usual at
tire. A noticeable thing was the fact that
almost every player wore q white shirt:
There was shouting, of course what good
would a game be without shouting and kick
ing1, but there was little if any cursing. The
noise, such as it was, could be heard In the
Willow avenue houses, but SO ~indistinctly that
if a person did not hang his head out OF the
window, he wouldn't know but what the
players were all deaf and dumb.
DRIVEN AWAY BY THE POLICE.
Yet, despite the fact that the young men
were behaving themselves, despite the fact
that they caused no one annoyance, despite
the fact that they were enjoying a healthfui
exercise, a policeman-just II Hoboken
A-I:------ ~ ohacad tho tuhnln
crowd from the lots, and for the rest OF the
afternoon the place was deserted.
During all the afternoon a number of gen
tlemen enjoyed practice in the cricket
ground las they had a perfect right to do)
It may be said the policeman wasn't very
harsh with the young men. He apologized
for disturbing them. A number of the play
ers suggested that he close the saloons, but
he replied he was only "carryin' out de
boss's orders.
Everyone who saw the action of the police
man denounced it as uncalled for and a dis
grace. One prominent resident OF Willow
avenue said the man who ordered the police
man to stop the games ought to be horse
wh a5Jsd = 500 these vo,,ns follows ENJOYING
themselves there was really a delight. They
ran about and jumped and shouted, like the
honest young men they are, and | am sure
the, afternoons sport would nave lone each
and every one of them the world of good. /
ann a taxpayer of this city, and believe
these young men should not be molested. l
don't believe in Sunday baseball for money,
that Is, where there is a park and profes-
sionas and beer sold and all that, but right
here, where our own young men are getting
the benefit of good, healthful exercise, / be
lieve, by Thunder, they should be allowed,
and If the police are to be around, let them
be present to keep order and stop all rowdy-
~ - r. r----f~ f~-- Nf--v. - LIZ a.
Auence over here, SO just tell your editor to
take up the fight for the young men, and
next Sunday / bet they won't be stopped
Other citizens spoke in the same strain.
One we'll known Pagan admirer said:-"I
bet the Mayor doesn't approve of this. If
some one would see him, I am sure he would
allow the boys all the freedom they desire
an1 q ro o~pfif7o1 RI u