The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-11
GOTHAM GOSSIP OF GIL SORTS.
Nc Sport on Sunday---Improving
Police Discipline Hearst
Boom CoiIapses---T Theat-
rical Notes.

Boom C0iiapSeS--- neat
ricaI Notes.
New York, May 7.-Visitors from
Europe, who pay their first visit to
New York and admire its cosmopoli-
| tan character without reserve, are
usually surprised and disappointed
when they see the city in it's Sunday
state. However much it may resem-
BILE the great European centers of pop
ulation during the week, on Sundays
it assumes character quite different
from that of any large European city
and becomes, in the eyes of the for
Eeign visitors, an overgrown and over
populated village. Play houses and
concert halls, saloons and many res
taurants are closed and although the
visitor under the. competent guidance
of native friend, SOON becomes
convinced that there are many ways
in which the Sunday closing laws can
be circumvented, he never feels free
and comfortable in one of those places
which he has entered through the
back door. It seems that even. the
New Workers feel not perfectly at
ease under the feeling that, from a
moral standpoint they are v;olators
of the law. The visitors frequently
give expression to their surprise and
ask, how it is possible that such
condition is tolerated in city the
population of which consists to great
extent of foreign born citizens and an
enormous number Of foreigners who
are not citizens. If one considers
that undoubtedly one half of New
York's population is opposed to Sun
day restrictions and a considerable
part of the other half would willingly
acquiesce in the abolition or limitation
of the restraint, it is indeed remark
Hablethat New York still has its puri-
tanical Sabbath. Every year efforts
are made to mitigate the rigor of the
Sunday laws, but the ministers and
the church members are watchful and
oppose these efforts with such vigor
that they usually LEAD to no tangible
result.
Just before the beginning of the
baseball season an effort was made to
except baseball from the amusements
prohibited by the Sunday laws. The
move had been expected, however,
aud the ministers of the various
churches, irrespective of their denom-
inatio1 combined their efforts to de-
feat The attempt. There was not
church in Manhattan OF Brooklyn
where the ministers did not thunder
against the threatened descration of
t be Sabbath and so terrifying was
the picture of the consequences of len
iency in that respect, which the minis
ters drew in their sermons, that cold
chills chased one another down the
backs Of the listeners. That settled it.
In every church petitions against
Sunday baseball were signed by men,
women and children and during the
next few days the Mayors mail was
quite voluminous. The result is,
that Sunday baseball remains tabood
in Greater New York as heretofore
and with it every open indulgence in
the various Sunday amusements which
give to European Sundays SO distinct
and cheerful character.
New Workers who, on their occa-
sional visits to other large cities of
this country, had the opcrtunity to
compare the trimness and military
neatness of the police force, especially
in Western cities, with the slonchiness
of our metropolitan police force, were
pleasantly surprised, when they read
Of the latest reform move of Commis-
sioner McAdoo. After this the officers
will not be permitted to wear old and
tagged uniforms or slouchy helmets.
They will be fitted out with good
uniforms and will be compelled to pay
more attention to their personal ap-
pearance. They will also be expected
TO display a more military bearing and
greater energy in their movements.
The latter result, it is expected, will
be obtained by drilling and gymna-
sium work. The command of the COM
missioner does not hit the ordinary
officers only, but also the lieutenapts,
inspectors, etc., who recently contri-
buted considerably to the demoraliza-
tion OF the force by their own laxness
and slonchiness. They will no longer
he permitted to appear before the com
missioner in an informal mixture of
Uniform and citizens clothes. Those
who have seen our police force know
that there is considerable room for
improvement in that direction.
There is great rejoicing, especially
among the women of New York over
the repeal Of the "near side" ordi-
nance, one of the most absurd and
foolish ordinances ever passed by any
city council. It will be remembered
that, to please few crackbrained
kickers, who bad the cranky notion
ttlat street car accidents and col
lisiors could be prevented in this city
IL the cars were compelled to stop for
passengers at the NEAR" side of the
crossings. AS the front doors of the
closed winter cars were kept closed,
the passengers who wished to get on
trolley car we're compelled to walk
through the mud and slush of the
street. That change was particularly
unpleasant for women, whose dresses
and shoes are not suitable for wadlng