Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-06-16
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Southern Europe Versus New England

southern Europe versus NEW En9laHu'
Mr.. Editor: The strangers seeking
employment and homes in this fair
country OF ours from across the water
have come in these later years largely
from southern Europe. where the in
stitutions and conditions are very diff
ferent from ours. Their conditions at
home grew out of their institutions,
and were such that it was great re-
lief for them TO make the change.
Some of them are making the mistake
Of trying to impose upon us the condi-
tons they left by destroying the very
institutions that produce the conditions
that makes a home on this side OF the
dater desirable.
A letter from Connecticut man
spending a few months in travel in the
countries from which much of our
alien population comes has recently
been placed in my hands, from which
quote, The writer is George w. Hull
of Bristol, now in Italy with his bride.
Il have come to realize that the large
alien population Of our state, with their
differing ideals as to the observance of
the day, is one of the large problems
to be considered in connection with the
question l have therefore been inter-
ested in the question as one finds 1t on
the continent, especially in the coun-
Tries FlSlIcQ. udIHClY. IdICG, Italy ana
Greece. In the first named country one
finds the issue of special interest, due
to the manifest and absolute failure Of
their policy, and the efforts at reforma-
ton of the present period. The abso-
lutte failure of the French people, as a
nation, to provide for rest day. as
well as the attendant evils that have
come from such q policy, are too well
known as to scarcely need comment.
The interesting feature to the observ-
ing tourist is the recent legislation on
this question. To the average French
man this legislation seems quite strin-
gent and without doubt 1t Is a great
Improvement on past conditions. With
out going into details. the main feature
of the new French law is this: Every
person, ii matters not what may be the
nature OF their occupation, shall have
one day every week as a rest day. AS
to what day this shall be, the law says
absolutely nothing. But the natural
consequences are that in all trades and
lines OF business, except those which
can do their largest and best paying
business on Sunday. this is made the
rest day. Consequently under its pro-
vision thousands of working people
have the opportunity for the first time
Of spending Sunday as a day Of rest
and worship. Even in the hotels,
where a part of the force must be on
duty Sunday, the employees take turns
as to rest day, a part of the force be-
ing off duty every Sunday and the
others taking a weekday for rest.
While fully believe that this day
should be at the service of man for his
highest good, physically, mentally and
spiritually, there can be no honest
doubt that large part-of the enter,
tainment which is offered to the French
people is the absolute antithisis OF
every one Of those necessary virtues In
human life And one does not have
to be prudish to soon arrive at this
conclusion. Until the French people
make some radical changes in this re-
spect the Sunday question will still be
far from satisfactorily settled.
ITALY and Greece are of practical
interest, due to the immigration we
receive from them, and the misunder-
standing that often arises between
these people and our authorities In the
enforcement Of Sunday laws. One does
not need to be in Italy long to under
stand the reason. The provision and
fruit stores Of this land fail to observe
Sunday in the slightest. And 1t is this
class that gives us the largest amount
of trouble. Sunday seems to be an
especially favorite day with the push
cart dealers, who are out in force,
Justify crying their wares Squares
where places OF worship are located
seems to be favorite locations for these
dealers to the great annoyance at least
Of American worshippers This lack of
Sunday observance spreads to the other
trades. 1t has been no uncommon
sight to see shops for iron and wood
work doing business on Sunday as on
other days. Most of the other lines of
business close for O. part of the day.
As for the theaters, Sunday is the rush
dav OF the week. and the same may be
said of sports in general. I can claim
to know the Italians fairly we'll and
to know them is to admire them. But
II we allow the Italian in our state to
dwarf his higher nature by the failure
to insist on Sunday observance in his
business we are doing him great in
justice. One Of the first best gifts our
state can bestow on our italian friends
Is to firmly turn them to higher ideals
on this question.
Athens has convinced me that Sunday
here is wide open. Every line of bust
ness seems to be open without excep-
ton and conditions worse than in italy
prevail
1t is a well known fact that many of
the people coming to US from these
countries are engaged in the fruit,
confectionery and tobacco business
here. They insist upon doing business
as they have been accustomed to see
1T done at home. where Sunday is SO
much like other days. They are clam
orous in their demands and some of
our politicians have heard the noise
they are making and are seeking to
crafty their demands by modifying
our legislation on the Sunday question.
IT is very important to any people that
they cherish high ideals. The displace-
ment of the New England ideals relat-
ing to Sunday by substituting those of
southern Europe Is very serious cues
ton for our legislators to consider. / /
am sure we shall make great mistake
II we make the change.
The present law is sufficiently elias
tic and should be retained. The for
eign element makes more noise but has