Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-30

There are Indications that the run
ming OF Sunday excursion trains over
the new Queen Anne's railroad, will act
the communities of Lower Delaware by
the ears. These Sunday trains are
decided innovation, and while some
people hail them with pleasure, others
denounce them as DISSERTATION of the
Sabbath that should not be tolerated.
The newspapers are giving duo atten-
tion TO the subject, but only Que, th Q
Milford Chronicle, defends the action
of the railroad authorities, and ths at
titude of the Chronicle brings a sharp
reproof from its neighhor, the Milford
News and Advertiser, in the following
terms;
We are both surprised and indignant
that any paper in rural district like
this should thus advocate the desecra,
tion of the Sabbath. IL the running OF
Sunday trains is anywhere justifi-
able(fl, it is in the densely populated
cities where the laboring classes bava
but little opportunity to get Whit Of
country air except on Sunday. But
even where such extenuatlng reasons
seem to justify the running of Sunday
excursions the tendency is had. We
lind 1t fosters total disregard of the
commandment which says Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy" We
find it gradually celebrating all regard
for the sanctity Of tho day set apart by
our Creator as day OF rest and
steadily. surely transforming it into
one of pleasure, revelry and dissipation.
This, we say, is the tendency where
Sunday excursions prevail and where
there may be found ca some little OK.
cuBe for running them. But in rural
district like this no such excuses can
be rendered, and to advocate the idea
that Sunday trains should no run as
a convenience TO the people,, is to adj
vocate the destruction Of the Christian
observance of Sunday as day OF rest
and Worship. We have no desire to see
the boys and girls of to-day educated
to regard the Sabbath as proper day
for making trip to some pleasure re-
sort. Run Sunday trains for conven-
fence" and you reap the above result.
But the Chronicle with bold face aud
without shame advocates increased
facilities for pleasure and recreation
on the Sabbath" and says there is no
reason why this one day should be more
dull than the othcr six. - 1t brands
the Sabbath, the day of worship. as a
"dull day." 1t would alter the Divine
law SO ae to read six days shalt thou
labor and do all thy work, but remem-
Der the Sabbath day to keep it jolly. y
A faith like this IS after the DEVILS
own heart and helps to more smoothly
pave one of the many avenues through
which his internal regions may be en-
tered.
The force and earnestuess OF this dis
claimer will serve to give an idsa OF
the feeling that prevails-a feeling that
causes surprise in communities where
Sunday excursion trains are Of regular
occurrence each summer. But it must
he borne in miEd that Sunday trainf
have mover been run over the Delaware
railroad or it's branches, with the ex-
ceptiun Of the two daily New York and
Norfolk express trains. ons in each di
rection. These two, however, traverse
Delaware between midnight and sun
rise, so that few people see them ant
they are not considered as Sunday
trains.
1t ia no wonder, therefore, that the re
cent running of Sunday trains on thu
Queen AnEe's road has accustomed suct
hubbub. The interesting question il
whether the spirit of opposition vii
grow and overcome the alleged epil, d
the enjoyment Of the unusual accommo
dation will wear oil tho sharp edge o
objection until the trains como to b
looked upon with complacency, if no
with real pleasure. The experience o
the past fayors the latter, and il nea,
not prove surprising il Sunday sxcur
sion trains in Lower Delaware-no,
looked upon as startling innovation
have come TO stay.