The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-07
NOTES BY THF4TRAMP. ag
A Few Pertinent Remarks on Sun
day Observance.

: UntoTard events interrupted our Sab.
bath observations last week aud what we
nave now to say may have passed out of
the minds of many, but nevertheless it
may be well TO recall 1T. The views we
had upon Sabbath observance NAV an.
pear peculiar 20 some people but we do
not think them ours alone. 1t is the
opinion of many of our citizens that the
prohibition enacted with regard to the dc
livery OF ice and ice cream on Sundays
was caused by the con&rucuion OF the
wishes of a.tew people placed upon those
| OF the majority and that because a few
thought that ice wagons by their noise
disturbed their worship and that the de-
livery OF ice cream was unnecessary and
therefore wrong that those others who
think they. Fnow their own wants and
their own minds quite as we'll as they
do, must be deprived of their usual sup
ply of ice and ice cream. This has
been done-but how about the circus
that arrived in Roanoke last week and
spent the Sabbath In unloading its prop
erty? That circus was to stay in town
until Monday night, yet their wagons
were la.uling and rumbling through the
streets the whole of Sunday morning 1T
is true thet some of their things should
have been unloaded as of necessity, but the
few people who are so Jealous as to the
peace OF our citizens should have been
wide enough awake to have prevented
their disturbance CT to have compelled
other arrangements. The services in one
church were seriously disturbed and by
what? An ice wagon delivering a necessity
or cart delivering "luXury' ike ice
cream! Not much. But u circus. A
circus followed by crowds of small boys
and sightseers. A procession of noisy
wagons being taken to place where the
me pey was to be cole cted the next day.
Yet we cannot buy cigar-there is an
ordinance against it. We musAhave
our people make their servants prepare
extra dishes over hot stoves or do it
themselves and we must trust unaccom.
modating ice companies for IL limited
supply of ice on Saturday nights because
some one thinks it wrong 70 have things
we want on Sunday. We believe in Sab
bath observance buS we also believe in
being consistent and not in strainiag Mt
gnats and swallowing camels. After
alj,what advantage is u circus to Il town?
Place together the receipts ami expendi.
lures o. one of them while here and see
how they Will look. Yet they can have
everything, even the Lords day, to crowd
their miserable impositions aud gangs of
takirs and obscenity vendors down our
Threats even while in church, while
public must lack IL few comforts enioyed
wherever man is found in any degree of
civilization. Shall we look for curfew
bell? 1t is as CONSTANT as the voice that
cries out Damned and unclean is the
woman who rides bicycle That has
been told us along with other equally as
refined.critcism OF our almost every 20
ing in and coming out. What next? No
lights on Sunday nights probably-no
tolenhOnpS-nn
no mail-no papers-no fires in churches
yes, and the first thing we know not
even any religion. So be it.
Why so many men stay away from
church is II question much debated by
those who have mems spiritual interests
at heart All sorts of theories are adj.
vanced, most of which narrow down to
one thirg and that is n lack of care OF
the hereafter or II thorough callousness
with regard to their souls. And it is i'm
deed partially true; but ask few men
you meet on Sunday. and note
their replies. 1t will generally be this
I'VE are not interested have heard
all our lives that Noah navigated the ark,
that Daniel escaped from the Lions den.
that David slow the giant Gcliah with n
stone. We are familiar with it all why
should we consider tour duty to go and
near some probably unable man deliver IA
Welgnty discourse upon David's remark.
able skill or Daniels miraculus return
from the den of lions? Our mothers
taught us that AMI IL good deal more If
we could listen 10 men preach who knew
the necessitie; of life in the 10Th cen
tury-men who.could guide us through
the dark places to- tay and not of the
time when Noah lived, we would be too
glad to listen and to learn. We want to
think, not to be amused. We want 10 day
and its problems presented TO us with to.
day and the solution of these problems as
far as they can be solved on earth.'' Is
it not true? Should not the li:ht that is
to guide man wandering in the dark he
far reaching md should not is rays pen
citrate all the. pathways likely to lead one
away .estray! Let it so shine and not upon
the beaten path where those who have
light within themselves are able TO
travel by means of it and their faith.
Beautiful lessons are drawn constantly
from all of the above familiar characters,
but how many are practical? And
should we not have practical religion for
the guidance of "a practical people in
practical age?
One second. hand Knabe piano for 500
OF 81 per month at Hobbie Piano Co. 1t
is Il real bargain