Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-04
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
Changing New England.
Tndianapolis NeWS.)

We noted recently that for the first
time since Maine had been State QS2o,
fas1 day had ceased of observance. The
Legislature abolished it and substituted a
Patriots day-April 49, for Concord and
MISUNDERSTANDING the example o.
Massachusetts,, set some years age. Now
Massachusetts is wrestling with the sun
day luesticn-anj thus New England
changes. The land OF steady habits is az
all events changing. We may well hope
and believe that the change is not for the
worse. Put that there is change and that
there will be is certain. Goethe said mat
nothing was fixed but the certainty Of
change. So in Massachusetts now the
question is, What kind of Sunday shall
there bc-that is, so far as law makes
Sunday, or Lords day, as the statutes Of
the State call it? Naturally there is dl-
vision of opinion on the subject. "A COM
mittec appointed by the Legislature 20
revise the laws was unable to agree eX-
cnrt on the proposition that a weekly day
of rest was needed for the preservation
of the health and strength of the com
nurity. There was Il split on the cues
ton Of amusemcnts for the day and also
on how far the law should recognize the
accomplished fact Of custom in the days
| observance.
The majority report (six out Of seven
mnmhers) deals with the general subj"r;
in spirit Of frank recognition OF the
change that has taken place in the char
acter of the day as the basis for legiSla-
ton. 1t recognized that The tendency In
the State was in favor Of sanctioning
such forms of outdoor recreation as do
not disturb the public peace nor tres
pass on public rights, and hence il
favored removing legal barriers ia such
ferns. For instance, we are told that the
members would not sanction cunning nor
any form of field sports but fishing, as
being of a quiet and reflective character
| they would permit. AS to amuscments
there were two reports, three members
favoring sharp restrictions en- the char
acter of entertainments and three favor
| ing local sentiment az the authority to
decide. Conservative opinion is fer such
! n recognition of the changed character
of the day as will remove the present
difference between theory and practice,
making the law conform with custom
| for the most part and so doing away with
much hypocrisy.
There is a strong feeling that every
safeguard should be made to prevent the
encroachment of business and ordinary
occupations. but to concede that the Sun
DAY of today as the people live it is not
u. Sunday OF their ancestors, which Is
described on the statute books, ard that
the restoration of that Sunday is neither
possible nor desirable. There is with this
a sentiment that people that seek enter
tainmcnt on that day should be allowed
by law TO have it provided that such en-
tertainment does not imply a heathenish
defiance of the associations of the day,
and that perhaps TO this end the wiser
way may be licensing or permission by
law, 50 that control may be exercised
over the character of the entertainment.
Whatever shall be the outcome, the pro
cess is interesting and may be rdifying.
At all events. it is a sort Of formal notice
that the old order chanSeth and that
staid New England is recognizing this
fact.