New-York tribune., 1903-07-05

city, what sort OF coney is drawn for you by
the law DOCKS. What manner OF place is it that
the Solons who draw the laws and write the
destinies Of the city have outlined for you.
Here Is the law under which the side show
and the merry y-go-round, the shoot the chutes''
ana the song and dance proprietors of ConCy
nVe' This is the Coney you must expect to meet
Ii you believe in the literal and complete en-
forcement of the law. The law runs thus;
Inc performance of any tragedy, comedy.
opera, ballet, farce, negro minstrelsy, negro or
other dancing, wrestling boxing with or with
out gloves sparring contest, trial of strength
or any part or parts therein, or any circus
equestrian dramatic performance or eXer-
else Of juggiers. acrobats. club performance or
rope dancers the first day of the week is
forbidden"
In addition, the law provides fine Of $500 for
any offender against this law. What is this
Coney that you are about to visit then? But
after all, to-day, last Sunday, the peanut
man. the merry -go-round. the gentle strains
Of music, the hundred and one joys of Coney
win be the same. But It ought to count in the
Judgment of this city by it's inhabitants, this
fact of law since it shows what Sunday might
be made at Coney. Rockaway or elsewhere II
the law were enforced.
What the Gothamite may not do would chal-
lenge alike his wonder and his belief Here are
the Ten Commandments of the Sabbath as de-
clared by the Penal Code: Thou shalt not fish,
shoot play baseball shave, work (saye in case
of charity or necessity hold any show from
cakewalk to a Shakespearian recital, sell (save
a few special articles), indulge in any public
sport, from horserace to a game of golf, pa
rade Except at funeraD, disturb a religious
meeting, either from within from without
Nor is it of minor interest, the realization Of
wha" the thrifty citizen might be called upon
tO Otrih to no OF he
of fines if the law were enforced. Here is the
legal answer to the natural inquiry How much
does it cost me to break the Sunday law?"
Sabbath breaking is mlsdemeanOr, punish
able by fine of not less than $5 and not more
than $40, by Imprisonment In county jail
not exceeding five days. by both; but for a
second or other offence where the party shall
have been previously convicted. it shall be pun
ishable by fine of not less than SO and not
more than $50 and by Imprisonment in a
county jail not less than five nor more than
twenty days. Here, then is the fate Of the
Sabbath breaker Consider how inadequate
would be the facilities of the hospitable Lud
low Street Jail, how many five bones would
be reluctantly contributed by the countless
John Smiths" who stand within the danger of
this penalty!
It might be interesting to the churchgOers.
the more devout portion of the community, TO
know that they might also get into trouble with
Sunday laws. The man who will sing out of
tune at church, and he is legion, stands open
to legal prosecution.
"A person who wilfully disturbs interrupts
disquets any assemblage of people met for
ligious worship is guilty of msdemeanor."
Tucked away IN the musty corners of the
Penal Code is the following citation of case
that must have unhappy suggestions for the
less tunefuI of the churchgoers:
The defendant was a strict member of the
Methodist Church and a of exemplary de-
pertinent but he sang in such a way as 10
disturb the congregation. THE effect was to
make one part of the congregation laugh and
the other mad The irreligious and irreverent
enjoyed it as fun, while the serious and devout
Continued thirteenth pnge.