The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
BLUE LAWS AT MIDDLETOFN.
Prof. Fisher OF Wesleyan Causes q Stir by
His Action as Mayor.


MIDpLErowN, Conn, May 11.-Middle-
towns new Mayor is Prof. Willard c. Fisher,
who has the chair OF political economy
at Wesleyan University. and is attracting
attention by enforcing the old blue laws
Of the safe. especially in the matter of
Sunday observance.
Farmers who nave been accustomed 10
make weekly trips TO this city now approach
the place with considerable fear and trepida-
ton since one OF their number was arrested
the other day for leaving his horse I'M
hitohed on the main street Of the town.
He had forgotten that an old law provided
a penalty Of $40 for the offence. but Mayor
Fisher had not.
While the Mayor has said that he does
not approve OF all the laws on the Connect
cut statute books, he has taken the stand
that as long as they are thereH ia his duty
10 enforce them, and he proposes to do 30
until the Legislature gets busy and repeals
them. For the first time in years not a
drug store In town was open last Sunday.
and frequent trips were made on foot to
Portland, several miles away. for medicines
| that had been neglected in the Saturday
nights shopping trip.
When taken to task for closing up the
| drug bIOTtb, NlHyOT 1lbilcT u0ulcu Oul-
phatically that he had ordered 80 strict
an Interpretation OF the Jaw. All he de-
manded was that the drug stores SHOULD
stop selling cigars and soda water on Sum
day. and the druggists then decided to go
him one better.
For the first time In five years. according
TO his story, he took a stroll down the main
street here on a recent Sunday evening
- - AZ. -,,-l-- - f.nty
and tobacco stores that were doing bust
ness. According to his Interpretation OF
the law the sale OF fruit and tobacco ia
not a work of mercy or necessity, 30 he
promptly reported the matter to the police,
with instructions to see that the law was
not violated in the future.
When the druggists received notice that
cigar sales would not be allowed in the
future they decided to give the citizens of
Middletown all the quietness that they
wanted. last Saturday night notices were
tackled up on all the drug shops in town
announcing in various ways the fact that
there would be nothing doing in the drug
line in the future on Sundays.
Early Sunday morning c~hurehgoers
stopped to read the following notice on one
of the largest drug stores in town: IF
you want to get In 20 and ask Mayor Fisher.
1 aIOtbOl NV PO'h'N Wv J''S s't $50
on his front door:
Can such thin gs be.
And overcome us like a ummer's cloud,
Without our special wonder?
l., Ye gods, 1t doth amaze
Aman OF such a feeble temper should
SO get the start Of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone,
After posting this quotation the pro-
prietor took a day of on Sunday TO see for
himself just how rigidly the day was being
observed all over the city. AS a result,
the fact that although the drug stores and
all other stores that usually did business
o n Sunday were closed a brass band paraded
the street playing boisterously all day,
while several games OF baseball were played
in various parts Of the city, a direct viola
ton Of the State law. one being conducted
in the cemetery with the bases or the graves
Of former Middletown citizens.
The story Is told Of a small boy who was
approached on Sunday afternoon on Main
street by q stranger in town and asked where
he could get a glass OF soda.
sIdunno,' said the urchin. but / can tell
yez where We can get q schooner OF beer
Livery stable men and garage keepers
have been expecting a visit from the police,
with a notification from Mayor Fisher that
they must cut out their Sunday trade. But
in an announcement made to-day Middle
towns political economist Mayor announced
that they would be safe from his interfer-
ence inasmuch Gas the Supreme Court OF
vehicles for Sunday travel has not been for
hidden in Connecticut since 1883.
News stands are at present also exempt
from the Mayors rulings. In the novel
here he has the backing Of Wesleyan Uni
versity. President Raymond publicly de-
claring himself in favor Of the attitude Of
the professor-Mayor.