Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-27
Sunday Closing Inv.

OMAHA, oct. 24.-To the Editor of The
Bee: Anent the Sunday closing law, once
more brought to the fore by the late deci-
sion Of the supreme court.
Meny people have an idea that this is a
religious law, but it has no foundation in
religion, further than this: Long ago
civilized people recognized as a sociological
proposition that some period of relaxation,
II not absolutely necessary, was at least
highly beneficial TO mankind, and they
commenced to pass laws on the subject,
Inasmuch as Sunday, and Saturday, We're
week erds, and also observed by a ma
jority of the people either from religious
motives or as matters of convenience il
would have been unnatural to have selected
airy other days. Now all civilized countries
have these regulations In some form.
Under former decisions of our supreme
court base ball is barred under the sport
ing clause, Highballs are tabooed by tho
slocumb law. Rioting, quarreliug, hunting
ard fishing are especially prohibited. We
can do our hunting and fishing some other
day of the week. and rioting and quarrel
ing can be pulled off Saturday night. Now
by its last decision running cigar stores
and barber shops are designated as COM
mon labor. We are no longer confronted
by a theory, but by a condition, and here
are some of the things that might and un-
doubleday will happen as the law now
stands:
First street cars may be stopped. We
won't miss them much, for as we can
neither work ror play we won't need to
go anywhere. Newsboys will not be hurt
| much, for there will be no papers to sell
Sunday papers, mostly prepared Saturday
night, and Monday papers, mostly pre-
pared Sunday night, will be shut off.
Janltors' work will be suspended and the
few people who live IN walking distance
of the churches can carry their own warm
ing pans, and the services will be rather
duh, for there will be no wind for tho
organ. The sweet chimes OF Trinity ca
thedral may ring out as usual on Sunday,
providing the machinery Is fixed Saturday
I night so II will go off automatically. W.
cannot drive out, for livery stables will
be closed, except for funerals where the
chief ingredient is a pauper, buried by
charity, or so dead that it is necessary
to bury him on Sunday. Travellers I'M
fortunately caught in Omaha on sunday
will have 10 carry their own luggag
between the hotels and depots, and We
will have to watch our children, for n
our little girls. with aughing eyes and
romping curls, rosy cheeks and teeth like
pearls, should chase the festive butterfly
across the daisy-spangled sward they
might be lit on by some OF Sheriff
{ Brailey's or Chief Donohue's minions and
patroled to jail to answer the charge Of
sporting" Judge Crawford might feel
leniently disposed and make it 81 and
costs, OF they might be taken to the De-
tention home and Judge Estelle OF the
Juvenile court could either send them TO
Geneva or parole them to some law-ab,d-
ing family who would see that they were
properly raised. A few of us more adroit
ana hardened sinners might enjoy a quiet
game of penochle IN the cellar by keeping
a trusty sentry on the front porch and
another in the alley to give timely warn
ing Of the approach Of anything that may
be a sleuth in plain clothes. We couldn't
blame the officers, either, because under
the sackett law they could be impeached
Tor failure TO enforce the law.
Yes, We are pretty well fixed for Law.
but we really ought to have one more.
We should have a law providing for the
punishment OF all citizens who fail and
neglect to proceed agsins! the officers for