Smyrna times., 1898-07-20
A GOOD MOVEMENT.
Expressions of Approval and Satisfaction in
the Early Store ClOsing.-Push
II Along.

Another week has been added to the
EdFLy Store Closing Increment and
from all sides there comes to us ex-
pressions of approval and satisfaction
that the Town of Smyrna has fallen
into line with the progressive com
munities of the country on the subject
of shorter hours for business men.
Fourteen hours is long enough, in all
conscience, for any man to sit down or
walk about among drug bottles, or
cloth shelves, or sugar barrels, or tin
pans. These things do indeed make a
mans food and clothing, and therefore
are, not by any means, to be despised
But they do not elevate the character,
nor fill the mind with healthy thought,
nor enlarge the heart. Man cannot
live by bread alone, as some of our
Smyrna merchants have been trying
to do. He needs something more,
closer intercourse with his family-a
wider knowledge of books more fire.
quent cOmpanionship with other men.
These influences make one broader,
stronger, and better. For the first
time in the history of Smyrna, the
merchants here, have offered them the
incalculable privilege and opportunity
of reaching after these better things,
through the early closing of their bus
mess. We think they will not be slow
in recognizing this ''tide i'll in the af-
fairs of men" as, verify, golden op-
portunity-and we predict far reach
ing and genuine reform in the social,
political and religious circles of our
town as a result of this movement, now
in such successful operation. Upon
diligent inquiry we learn that all the
merchants are delighted with the
''early closing" A few who received
the proposition, at first, rather coldly,
are now enthusiastic over the results
and say they never could go back to
the old slavery of Is to 90 hours.
After nearly three weeks of honest
trial, all the BHg-G-OOO arguments
against the movement have been pune
tured by the sharp thOrns of reason
and practice. The merchants say they
have not lost cent by the shorter
hours, nor a single customer. Their
trade has not been driven to
Dover, nor MiddletOwn, nor Clayton.
! The clerks have not plunged into that
wild and inexpressible dissipation,
! which some ''Sauls among the PrOph-
cts" predicted they would do if let out
upon the streets at o'clock Mondays,
| Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Some of the merchants have not closed
their front doors and opened back en-.
frances as these "Sauls" shrewdly and
darkly prOphesied. On the contrary
tho closing has been an honest one
The dissipation in the town has, we
have been assured, lessened instead OF
increased. The merchants have no
found that it has offended anyone tC
decline to sell after the "curfew
rings or to lock in the customers wait
ing at the counter at the moment OF
closing. The people have been quite
good natured about it, much to theil
credit.
There are two or three of our citizens
attempting, like night-wOrms, to un
dermine this splendid achievement o
| common sense and wisdom. They are
working slyly and darkly, creating
''Out of whole cloth" reports, of sale
that are missed, of dissatisfied mer
chants ready to break the compact anC
open their stores after the Curfev
, rings. They will not succeed in dOins
more than splashing themselves will
the mud of an evil intention. Poison
: Gus serpents cannot climb trees, bu
crawl on the earth. We know this 81
look for them in the dirt. Let no
these crafty minded citizens imagin
) themselves safely bushed waiting t.
sting a united Smyrna Our peopl
know what they want. They want tn
stores closed at the hours now agree
upon. Our merchants know what the
can afford. They can afford to clos
at the hours now in operation. An
Z they are going to do just this thing
in spite of the kissing that break
the stiffness of the night.
-, So let the good work go on. Let tn
merchants try to be very punctual i
locking their store doors when ''Ou
! stalwart officer" ceases to ring the bel
Let the people, town and country, d
their shopping early and we have n
fear but that the ''early closin
l movement" will soon become one {
J the permanent improvements of th
i; little city on Smyrna River.