The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-08
PEOPLES FORUM
1.-THE Quiet Hour"
of The Virginian:

Editor of The Virginan:
Sir-As one passes through the streets or
Richmond he will observe the large number or
that occupy positions on streets ira
versed by electric cars and that the majority
of the churches in the city are situated on
street corners.
And vet because they so situated does
NOT mean that they deserve to be CRITICISED since
corner lots are desirable for building
purposes and since il is, in a way. necessary Tor
churches to occupy positions that are to
certain degree conspicuous
AS result. however. of such conspicuous
locations II is only natural to expect that the
noise and confusion that arises therefrom would
he far more pronounced than On more secluded
places.
This is true TO such great extent that at
times scarcely hear the words OF the
preacher Very often when in the midst of some
great theme or inspiring discourse the attention
of his hearers is distracted by the rumble OF
cars or the throbbing of the engine in an auto
mobile or motorcycle, or the rattle OF some other
vehicle And why should this be so? Can't 1t
he go arranged to allow the people who desire
to attend church Sunday morning to take
part in the service In peace and without inter
rupton? What would he the objection 70 a
quiet hour, say from 11;l5 to 1915 in the morn
ing every Sunday? to cause all tranic TO cease
and all cars to stop during that period? We
would lose nothing by 1t and there would be lots
to gain Since we take six days of the week
for commercial interests 1t is only fair TO give
the churches hour out of each day or rest
for quiet worship And in addition to that there
are some people who labor on Sunday merely
because forced to do tt, although lots of them
would attend church II they had the oppor-
tuntty. And why not give them this oppor-
tunity?
May our public sentiment be aroused to such
an extent as to warrant the passage of an
ordinance TO prohibit all traffic during the
aforementioned hour. r. b. =.
Lest We Forget!
Editor Of The Virgnan:
Sir.-Thfs incident was today recfted TO me
by well-known business man of Richmond.
A weary and wan woman with sick BABY
lin her arms came into his store and asked as
sista nee for the child. The mother said the lit
tie one needed nourishing food especially fresh
milk. The merchant escorted the suppliam 10
nearby store and told the proprietor to supply
all her needs and send him the bill. Then the
woman "hedged' and averred that she needed
money for lodgfng--telling a plausible story oil
misfortune The gentleman then accompanied
her to a Christian mission and was arranglns
with the matron for private room for mother
and child when the woman in distress agair
| "sidestepped" saving she must return to heI
husba nd who waiting for her up town
1t developed that worthless. drunken husband
had this and her poor sick little child
on the streets begging money for him to drink
I'M While censuring the woman foI
being such weaklng and the ind-hearFeo
gentleman for being so guliihle, ana renectine
that such fakirs cause deserving cases 70 surfer
Il is well to keep in mind that this municpallt,
licenses the saloon and that the licenses are
granted by our sovereign electorate, we don
license them for the purpose OF making drunk
ards and men must have moral stamina, some
says Now get this short while ago enc
writer met Main street a lifetime acquain
lance who is now financial and practically
physical wreck from the eHeCt or intOxFcadlnS
drink He said Il make no baby plea and dc
not attempt justify my action because OF the
legalzed temptation You do not patronize the
saloons though you pass them every day. Blu
the blunt fact remains, IL the saloons had mo-
been here l would not have come to this emo
and caused much suffering and sorrow tS
my innocent wife and children. There Vt is ir
a NUTSHELL 1t isn't matter Of intention
but of and effect. There Is no justi
hcation in licensing business which results
In the downfall of men and the humiliation
and suffering OF women and children.
/ Once more: Another prominent business mar
OF Richmond interested himself in rescufng
good man who had succumbed To the seductive
influence of the saloon. He would get on period
ical sprees. neglect his business and hts family
The rescuers efforts seemed successful unit
about year after the benefciary's new star
he decided upon vacation for recreation,
whereupon his old booze supper learning OF
! IT. deity shipped him choice package Of
come back" brand and the victim came back
And yet-and yet the people license harmful
business and vainly seek to Justify It on the
pitiful plea OF regulation and revenue!
| And. lest we forget, passive acquiescence ir
this condition is about culpable actively
favoring II
w. NJ. BICKERS.