Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1896-07-29
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY By THE SEA.
Some Interesting Phases Of
the amusement Question.
The SUNDAY ORDINANCE Still HANGS FIRE.
AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE SITUATION. UN-
DESERVING PEOPLE HIT. THE CITY
WELL GOVERNED. THE GOO-GoOs.
DULL SEASON. THE SHERIFF. PLUM.


the weekly letters OF your correspondent
''Rambler" and l feel Just little bit inclin-
ed to follow in his footsteps and tell
few things not set in display type in
all the daily newspapers. First as to
the Sunday Amusement closing ordina nee
which still hangs fire i'll the Council at
this date Guly 25). Since the close Of
last season tIlere mas, OF course, been
time enough to pass it half dozen times
over, but for some inscrutable there
are persons wicked enough to say unscru-
pulous reasons, it has quietly slumbered
until this Summer only to be gently
walked up and told to go to sleep again
for Jew weeks until the season is over.
The plain English OF the situation is
lust this. The ordinance has passed
a second reading. 1t awaits q third.
Itmay be passed before this letter appears
in print; and then it maynot. Ii it does
it will be three weeks more before it
will become effective. Ii it should be
passed and signed next Monday evening
it could not go into effect until August
18. Then there is but one more Sunday
in August after that date. Do you see
the point? The law would be violated
one Sunday Just to make a "test CASE
you know, and when September comes
nobody cares continental cuss whether
there are any closing laws or not. There
is a beautiful arrangement in all this
to see that nobody is hurt -for this
season at any rate After that the same
little thnnblerigging game can be played
again with its perennial alta chment
OF now you see it and now you DON'T
AS matter OF plain fact this Amuse-
ment Ordinance, with its surprising
provisions, hits a good many people
that DO not des erve to be hit. There
have been some places on the Boardwalk
that richly deserved to be closed up
tighter than an oyster, not only Sundays,
but every other day in the week. These,
however, 1 have noticed, manage to
pull through part or whole OF the seas
on in one shape or another. Ii the ordi-
nance was aimed at them exclusively,
no one would find fault. But there are
many other places which are perfectly
harmless and afford innocent recreation
to the tens OF thousands OF Sunday visi-
tors. Why should they be closed up2
Thereisnorowdyism, ,nodisorder, nothing
offensive to good morals or refinement
Why should they be classed with places
that violate the proprieties2 There is
neither reason or justice in such course.
What then can be the motive for making
fish OF one and fowl OF another? hear
various reasons assigned-some entirely
discreditable and some otherwise. will
not repeat the former, but will assume
that it is in obedience to the so-called
moral sentiment" Personally I do
not believe the Council cares rap about
these gooGy-goodies who affect to believe
that everybody but themselves has been
switched OF the track. Human nature
in Atlantic City, both the domestic and
imported, is about the same as it is else
where not an absolutely perfect article
and subject TO some wear and tear IN
the friction OF every day life. Still our
beloved City-by y-the-Sea is not modern
Sodom and Comorrah as some would
have US believe. 1t is quite true that
some people come here for "a racket
in the fullest meaning OF the tenn, but
the vast ma .ority OF our visitors come
here for health, comfort and innocent
amusement. There are great crowds
here in July and August, and l do not
believe there is a City in the United States
OF the same size, having an equal number
OF strangers in the same length OF time,
that is better policed or protected. In
view OF all the conditions | think our
police department stands well and should
receive the hearty commendation OF
every law-abiding citizen. The same
may be said OF our fire department which
is always alert, prompt and efficient.
But I must return to the subject from
which l cut adriit to say a deserving
word for the policeman and fireman.
was about to speak OF the goody-goody
sort OF people the Il am holier than
thou" breed OF humanity that mumbles
long prayers on Sunday and weighs
me out twelve or thirteen ounces to
the pound all the rest OF the week, and
who rob me every time l step into their
stores by petty swindles SO small am
ashamed to speak OF them. These are
the people who fear that Atlantic City
will be rained upon with fire and brim-
stone, and that a tidal wave will engulph
the Boardwalk on account OF its "cussed-
ness. How inconsistent are these holy
hypocrites themselves who with the
heart OF Satan clothe themselves in the
habilments OF Saints! You never hear
OF them ma king move to close up the
rwnshops or worse places whose names
can be read in big letters foot long
away across the street; but ii there
is a revolving tower or miniature gold
mine in operation, or an organ or an
orchestra grinding out poor music, or
a merry round whirling a lot OF chill
dren who delight in being whirled, or
ii somebody stops moment to see him
self mirrored g hundred times in the
crystal maze, why then these triple-plat-
ed Saints hold up their hands in holy
horror and e1claim, whats are we coming
top Well the present season shows
what some OF them are coming to.
They are coming to find that some people
are not longer willing to pay almost
as much rent for a cottage for twelve
weeks as it would cost to build one.
! They are findirg that in spite OF all the
| padded" dispatches sent to the big city
newspapers that the great crowd has
| not set struck Atlantic City this season
except for day or SO. There are more
! vacant Gotta ges than ever before. There