Washington sentinel., 1899-06-10
Dur FOREIGN NEWS
Translated and Selected TyOm leading
hSr0bsGa bGbSYST0r tie SENTINEL.
ENGLAND.
Way SHOULD TRAINS FUN ON THE
SABBATH?
Sunday Magazine.
ENGLAND.

phases of Sunday travelling is seen in
the week end movement of the theatrical
companies on tour through the country
Many special trains are made up on
Sunday for their transit, and in this OF
that terminus may be noted rows oil
engaged" by the sons and daughters
Of Thespis. Now and again the plat.
forms are Uttered with scenery, proper
ties. and dress baskets, or thronged with
actors en- route for Manchester, Edin.
| burgh, or some other northern city.
| The latter remind one OF the Lonundrum.
What is the height of misery?" "a
comedy company on tour on Sunday
Whv they should in these days of quick
travel trail through the land on the
| Sabbath is a mystery known only 10
| themselves and those who equip and
marshal the trains IN which they journey.
The people OF Scotland have always
jealousy guarded the sanctity Of the
Lords Day. On the construction OF
the line eirom Edinburgh to Glasgow il
was decided at a Kirk Session in
Edinburgh to accept no remuneratiol ],
however large, for the passing of the
extended railway through the church
yard, unless absolute security could be
given against railway travelling on the
Sabbath, Even now there is compare
lively little Sunday railway travelling in
Scotland, and twelve years ago, when
the Highland Railway Company at
tempted to send a trainload Of fish from
StrOme Gerry to Inverness on Sunday
the villagers took possession of both
pier and railway station, where they
sang and prayed till midnight. Ten OF
the ringleaders were cast into prison for
Tloting, but they were liberated, on
Parliamentary Intervention, because of
the strong convictions they held against
Sabbath desecration.
One general manager, dissatisfied
with the present hybrid train service,
and noting the desire, chiefly of people
in the great cities, for SUNDAY
jOurneYing, lately vowed that il his
company would permit a full train
service on Sunday, he would see that
it yielded an extra quarter per cent
dividend. and undertake to give everv
railway servant on the system a clear
days holiday in the week. The rash
offer has not Deen accepted. There IS
great deal of movement from town to
country on Sunday on bicycle and by
other conveyance; but the public con.
science is not elastic enough 10 tolerate
a full train service on the Sabbath. The
Chairmen OF the railway companies are
thoroughly aware OF the aversion that
exists among the religious community
TO the utilization OF Sunday as an extra
day for dividend earning. Speaking
some time ago at CreWe, Lord Stal.
bridge, the chairman Of the North
WESTERN said his company, from the
earliest period of its history. had laid
down regulations that only absolutely
necessary trains should be run on
Sunday. He believed one real DAYS
rest in seven was not only physical but
a moral necessity, and he hoped that
England would maintain her position at
the head Of the world as a Sabbath
observing nation. The chairman Of the
Great North of Scotland Railway has
spoken more emphatcally against
Sunday train running. Lord Saltoun
recently complained that no Sunday
trains were run on the system, and urged
that one good Sunday train should be
sent out, as a convenience to passengers
anxious to be IN London on Monday;
but DR.. Furguson said that the Great
North OF Scotland Railway had set apart
one day in seven as a day Of rest TOR its
people, and for his own part as long as
he was chairman OF the company he
would never give his consent to Sunday
trains, and he believed he was supported
Dy the bulk the board.
Nearly every railway, particularly in
the winter, when goods and coal traffic
is the heaviest, is busy with merchan
disc and mineral trains on Sunday, and
IN big cities the strident note OF the
shutters horn sometimes clashes with
the sweeter sound OF cathedral chime or
church bell. Recently a holder OF stock
IN one Of the great railways expressed
regret at the increasing traffic in goods
and minerals on Sunday. It was, he said,
a violation Of Gods commandment, and
an injustice to the men on the line II
they ceased Sunday work they would
not be one penny the poorer, and i'm
msdatelv they set this example their
rivals would follow it. Other share.
holders have spoken in similar strain,
and the men as we'll as section of the
prOprietors are strongly averse from
Sunday work on the line Mr. Hudson,
as President three years ago of the
Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser.
wants, contended that Sunday duty
should be as far as possible discounten-
anced, as detrimental to the moral ele-
walton Of all who we're regularly subject
to it, and also a deprivation OF the pro-
per opportunity to recuperate exhausted
mental and physical energy. No none.
tary consideration, and no other day, he
said, would serve as an adequate recon-
| pense for its loss TO the worker.
In Belgium, Switzerland. Holland,
bavaria Llu9Sla5 ANOIWd1i ana oWeuen
Sunday goods traffic has been either
restricted or suspended; and inasmuch
as it is necessary even in the case oil
perishable articles, Parliament will
shortly be asked to abolish it on the
railways of this country. Whether
Sunday travel by passenger train will
shrink or develop depends entirely on
the conscience OF the people.
ENGLAND, RUSSIA AND CHINA.