New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-30

I'D on
De~tic,t on sundays has incensed not few
~ states in which there is not so
Il s,,v,-i,al Of the Puritan conscience as
Il - of the wooden nutmeg properly boasts.
i -. she order of the railroad company,
i - The law on the Connecticut statute books
.n.aled TO- any passenger might be ar
FOR nIaving cards a Sunday, however
his game might be. A general law at
i ;DS visits on Connecticut's statutes which
4 &c any form Of sport between dawn and
rs-iab, Of Sunday, except such as court
- 5sride to be more recreation than actual
port. .,..,..., - Connec+icn+
~ baseball on Sunday In essence this Is
/ .r,i,-al Of one Of the old blue laws OF the
; -bjch made Sunday a complete day Of
-, Baseball is played. but only on BACK lots
"a - out-of-the-way places where local vigil
not sufficiently awake 10 stop it, No
-..ssional sports of any kind can be played
/ = he state on Sunday
~ -, other curious laws have come down on
| ,,,is from the old time as 10 Sunday OBJ
- -. some Of which are hardly ever lived
- however. It is Illegal to dig CLAIMS on
| :. sabbath day; no one can take shad Win
:. a, any waters Of the State on that day; II
:, NOT permitted to attend a concert winch Is
- conducted along precisely reverent lines; no
s..,ine Is allowed; no one can hunt on that
80 or sell intoxicating liquors II would sur
lee some excellent people decidedly II ponce
scar should descend on one or me many popu-
- summer afternoon concert parks IN Ihe
r.ete and arrest those who participated III Or
listened TO an out-of-door band concert on
-, oftarnoon. Yet the ancient law on this
oir+ is still on the books. Until lately the pen
- t,r violation Of this law was heavy hne
al hut forgotten In a late revision the me
= Intending any concert not sacred, or dane
- ~ rarticlpating In any diversion was put
- - 81 and there it stands to-day. 1t IS
=. . law that is ever followed UP by public
of7cers. il is merely one Of the ancient regula-
ttons Of the Puritans that is still on the BOOKS
and thar had its beginning in the strict rules
Of the settlers Of the colonies.
1-,tu 1855 the statutes Of this State forbade
even the mildest form of recreation on Sunday,
hut in that year the Congregational churches OF
The State had the law amended by the legis-
lature so that recreation was legalized. Unth
that time il was actually illegal in Connecticut
4 10 ride in private carriage on Sunday, to walk
in the country. TO ride bicycle, If the law was
strictly interpreted. BY the revision the clause
forbiddng sports was not stricken from the law,
but the word recreation" was so inserted as to
N~@"AA
tween a harmless amusement and public enter
tainment It is. therefore, now possible in Con-
necticut TO play golf. tennis, etc, while the line
* still strictly drawn against baseball.
With the exception Of the Sunday regulations
referred to, and several minor laws, such as the
one prohibiting any one not a resident Of the
State 10 fish in certain waters. the statute books
q this State now contain no survivals Of the
so-caued blue laws. in various revisions
these have all been dropped one by one. In
Massachusetts, and the other New-England
States The old fashioned laws have also been
gradually dropped In Massachusetts ole pecul-
lar law passed in 1852 is still on the statutes.
and II is one that would prove awkward to the
fashionably dressed women Of the present day
II any one chose TO insist its enforcement.
This law is said TO be the only really ancient
regulation now in force in New England. 1t is
TO the effect that no garment shall be made
with short sleeves whereby the nakedness of the
arm may be discovered in the wearing thereof"
II this law were TO be enforced, It certainly
could be- the fashionable wearers of such out
iawed costumes would have to bend to the fol-
lowing sub-clause in the old law: Such as al
ready have garments made with short sleeves
shall not hereafter wear the same, unless they
cover their arms to the wrist with linen,
otherwise; and hereafter no person whatsoever
shall make any garment for women, or any of
1 their sex, with sleeves more than half an ell
wide in the widest part thereof. and proportion
Il able for bigger or smaller persons"
1 The present Sunday laws are but weak sur
/ viyal Of the actual regulations in force in the
/ New England colonies in the early days. One
rule that is now actually in force, but never
i referred to. is as follows:
i When any justice Of the peace shall have per-
s gIil of
II drunkenness. profane swearing. cursng or Sab
bath breaking. such knowledge shall be sufi-
cient evidence for such justice 10 render judg-
ment against him, without previous complaint
or warrant
Some Of the other New England States have
stiu on their statutes a number of queer old
blue laws" still unrepealed. in this being be-
hind Connecticut in clearing the law books of
forgotten regulations In Vermont, for in
stance. ii is a crime punishable by a fine of So
70 call on Sunday at a neighbours house lex
oept for social worship and moral instruction or
except on an errand Of mercy or charity" In
hat State the Connecticut law is also unre-
pealed prohibiting attendance. from the setting
q the sun Saturday evening TO midnight Sunday
. a. any dance. or engagement in any game OF
| sport or play, or resort to any tavern, inn or
/ Rouse OF entertainment for amusement or recre-
| alton" The penalty in Vermont is 81 for this
Tine though, as in Connecticut, the law is
aturally long since unheeded.
/ In Rhode Island II is likewise the law that
e one shall do any business on Sunday. engage
any sport or recreation. or allow his servant
family 10 do so. In Maine. as in this State,
Is unlawful TO hunt game or birds on Sunday,
nd in that State the old regulations against
FORK, recreation or sport are also in force
In Massachusetts, until recently, and the laws
lay still be the books, an even greater sur
Fal Of the old blue laws" obtains. Any per
On present at "a game sport, play or public
aversion, except a concert Of sacred music, on
&c evening OF Sunday" unless such diversion is
pecially authorized is liable 10 a fine Of s.