The herald., 1896-04-27
THE NEW "SAWBATn" In SCOTLAND
Street Cars Run and Huseums Open In Spite
of " arnings

Street Cars Run and nuseums Open In Spite
Of " arnings
For some time past it has been painfully
evident to the student of men and things
north OF the Tweed that Scotland is degen-
erating-that she is slowly but surely fall
ing from her high estate. During the
past few years many and wonderful
changes have occurred in the northern
kingdom, but perhaps the most note
noteworthy Of these is the extraordinary
servance of the first day of the week. When
the magistrates of Glasgow few years
ago authorized the running of tramway
cars on Sunday. it was predicted
that q terrible judgment would fall upon
that city on account of its wickedness, and
cations of the Sabbatarian Cassandras that
no other town in Scotland has followed in
the wake of Glasgow, When the Edin-
burgh Botanic gardens were thrown open
on Sundays another wall went forth; but,
alas! Notwithstanding threats of ''judg-
ments'' the public throng there. And, in
spite Of the shrieks and denunciations of
the Sabbath Observance society, steamers
laden with passengers ply in the Firth of
Forth every Sunday during the season;
coaches convey pleasure seekers from the
town to the country and cyclists ''scorch"
along the roads of Scotland in all dlrec-
tions.
Quite lately the battle of Sunday golf
was fought and ended in a victory for the
Sunday golfer; and on every hand there
are signs that the old-fashioned Scottish
''Sawbath" has departed, never to return.''
nished by the plea of a deputation which
waited upon the lord provost of Edinburgh
this week. The members of the deputa-
ton were for the most part eminent minis
ters and office bearers of the Free Church
of Scotland, who in time past were con-
ciG vpr Soh htnit nrso ~,
indeed. are members of the Sabbath Oh.
servance society. Yet this deputa-
ton interviewed the lord provost
in the interests of those who used to be
considered Sabbath breakers. There was
time. not very long age, when the heinous
sin OF vaging or stravaiRing Il. Q. walking)
on the Sunday was punishable by i'm
prisonment in the stocks; but it was in the
interests of stravaigers that the present
day Sabbattarians solicited the Lord Pro-
vost to prevent golf playing on the Braid
@ bsy d as abacrs
Sunday golf, but simply contended that
the hills should be left safe and quiet for
those who do not play golf, but who enjoy
a ramble on Sunday. OF a verify Scotland
is sdegenerating
OF course, there are still some stalwarts
who, faithful to the traditions of their fore
fathers, uphold the good old Scottish "Saw
bath" as day upon which no man shall
be seen to smile. few of these were
gathered together in Aberdeen the other
day, and endeavored to console themselves
by predicting, as they have many times
before done, the judgments which fall upon
the present sinful generation of Scotsmen.
The secretary of the Sabbath Alliance of
Scotland, the Rev. j. M. Shiach, buoyed up
himself and his hearers with the hope that
the opening of museums aud picture galle-
ries may be unsuccessful, but he was hor-
ror stricken to note that the Prince of
Wales had yacht at the race at Hyeres
on Sunday last week. and he made the awe
inspiring prediction that "if the heir ex-
Pected to sit on the throne and to outrage
divine institutions in this way it was more
likely, looking forward to the future, that
the throne would sit on him than that he
would sit on the throne" What was
meant by this threat was not quite clear to
the audience, but, looking upon it as some-
lining very terrible, they applauded hearth
~. Another clergyman denounced as un-
christian certain .'at homes' which he had
heerd had been given by ''elders'' on Sat
urday night. People, he said, should be
preparing for the "Lord's day." An ex-
farmer. who followed the reverend gentle
men, denounced the sale of milk on Sum
Day. and told how thirty years ago he was
asked 70 bring milk to town on Sunday and
nad refused. He would rather have ''put
the milk down the burn.n All his GUS
tomere agreed TO take their milk on the
Saturday evenings. 'except one rich lady,