The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15
THE WEEKS TALK
IN NEW YORK CITY
The Old Blue Laws Bob Up
Once More
GAGE IS A THE0S0PHlST
Former Cabinet officer a Disciple of
Nine. Tlnaley, the Purple Moth
er-Thaw Trial in the
Newspapers.
GAGE is A THEOSOPhlST
BY sEwELL HAeeARD.

New York. July 14-It is interesting to
contemplate what would happen if some
of the old Sunday blue laws were enforced
In one of our modern cities. Suppose the
trolley cars and steam railroad trains
were stopped and the fruit stands, Ice
cream parlors and cigar stands were
closed, something akin to war would prob
ably follow. Among the states that have
these old laws on their statute books is
New Jersey and, If threats heard fire.
quently in the last week are carried out,
they Will be enforced. 1t Is a retaliatory
move on the part Of the saloon keepers
and others whose Sunday business has
been destroyed by a new law passed at
the last session of the Legislature. 1t was
enforced for the first time on Sunday last
and Jersey city Hoboken and other New
Jersey cities were like deserted when It
come t. buying alcoholic beverages.
Those who couldn't curb their thirst for
a day had to come over to Coney Island
and other New York resorts for their
liquor. The Jersey rum sellers and hotel
keepers declare that II an attempt Is
made to close them up another Sunday
they will retaliate by having enforced the
old blue laws So tomorrow will be
watched with a great deal of anxiety in
New Jersey. Under the blue laws, which
are known as the vice and immortality
acts, no business of any kind can be
transacted on Sunday Among other
things the law provides:
That no travelling, worldly employment
or business, ordinary or servile labor, or
work either upon land or water works OF
necessity and charity excepted, nor shoot
ing, fishing mot including fishing with a
seine or net, which is hereafter provided
for) sporting, hunting, cunning, dancing
singing, hddling or other music for the
sake of merriment, nor any playing at
football fines, nine-pins, bowls long bull
let's or quoits, nor any other kind of
playing, sports, pastimes or diversions,
shall be done, performed. used or prac-
tised by any person or persons within this
state on the Christian Sabbath, or first
day of the week, commonly called Sunday;
and that person being of the age of four
teen years and upward. offending in the
premises, shall for every such offense
forfeit and pay to the use of the poor or
that township in which such offense shall
he committed the sum of one dollar, and
that no person shall cry, show forth or
expose to sale any wares, merchandise,
fruit, herbs. meat, fish, goods or chattels
upon the first day of the week, commonly
called Sunday. or sell or barter the same
upon pain that every person SO offending
shall forfeit or pay to the use of the poor
of the township where such offense shall
be committed the sum of two dollars.
That 1t shall and may be lawful for any
railroad company In this state to run one
passenger train each way over their roads
on Sunday, for the accommodation of the
citizens of this state.
A strict enforcement of these laws
would mean that persons accustomed To
driving or automobiing on any of the
roads or thoroughfares of the state
would have to forego this pleasure or run
the risk of being imprisoned. No recrea-
tion of any kind could be had.
Only a few months ago a woman was
arrested and fined in Jersey City for being
a common scold. Maryland still has the
old blue laws on her statute books and II
they were enforced one could not buy a
newspaper or even have his shoes shined
In that state on Sunday. These old laws
take one back to the days when they tried
witches, convicted and burned them in
Salem, Mass