The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-12-31
WHAT TO DO SUNDAY.

The Sunday question is much dis
cussed, and ii not unimportant. 1t is
e1ly married people, perhaps, as for
unmarried adults, yet it is practical
question for consideration by all who
are busy at regular occupations
through the week, have Sunday for
leisure, rest recreation-what they
choose.
Rest is al right; this is a pripci
pal if not the chief use of Sunday for
those who have worked six days. But
how rest? Mere idleness is not ne
cessarily rest. To many people a COM
rlete change of activity is more
restful than idleness. And mind as
well as body demands this change. Re-
creation? Yes, Sunday is a proper day
for that, if innocent and not annoying
to other and reasonable peo-
pie, but within these limits
what kind of recreation? This is
worth thinking of. We should all get
the most We can, and the Sundays in
ones life constitute seventh part of
it, and the most important seventh,
considering our time with this end in
view.
One thing should be kept in mind:
no person or class or organization
~,
everybody else to observe Sunday
as they do. Laws for some
measure of Sunday observance are
good. and should be enforced. but
there must be wide latitude of lib
erty as TO how a person shall employ
his weekly day of rest. Certain re-
straints are we'll. not only in Difference
TO large fraction of society which
holds Sunday TO be divinely appoint
ed and set apart Sabbath. but also to
provide legally for an actual rest
for working people once q week. But
there ought to be no attempt at AFFIRM
ative compulsion in the matter of
Sunday observance. All people can
not think and act alike: what a dull
world it would be if they did
In connection with the Sunday
theme, it is often asked why more
people do not go to church. If we
should say. because they do not
want to. this would only be equal to
childs Because" Ard if we said
then. Because they are lot interested
in what is said and done
there, We should have said moth
ing much more satisfactory. But with
out attempting to give the reasons,
we may express the wish that more
people did go to church. and would
become more interested in the things
said and done in the churches. So
ciety would be better off if this were
done. So ore good way to spend lit
tie portion of Sunday. unless pre-
vented by some sufficient cause, is to
go to church. And this applies to
people who are not formal relig-
ionists. On the whole, the churches
are doing a good work in the world,
and deserve encouragement and sup
port. And those who attend them reg
ularly or often get good from them
But aside from religious observance
of the day. there are a multitude of
ways of quietly taking rest and re-
creation. any one of which if not ac-
counted evil by common consent. is
beneficial and makes life better worth
while. A little good reading. a little
friendly visiting. a quiet little trip in
pleasant weather. more kindly and
thoughtful association with the mem
bers of ones family than can be had
on week days: SOBER but net sad con-
sideration of various phases of this
mysterious manifestation called life
and of how to be at once more useful
and happy while il lasts: some limo
cent and not too noisy fun if occasion
arises-these are mere general hints
as TO how the average person may pass
Sunday. ara get something out of II