Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-08-29
OUR DISASTROUS SUNDAYS.

Mondays papers are always the full
lest of automobile accidents, drown
ings, and all mishaps connected with
excursions. which fixes the fact incon-
testably that Sunday is by large odds
our most widely used day for outings
and for general pleasuring. Those
who own an auto are very likely 10 use
it Sundays, while those who do a livery
business have Sundays as their days
for the simple reason that this is the
one day of pretty general cessation
from work. and those regularly en-
pIoyed on week days use this for their
goings and comings--v isitations, pleas
ure trips. one-day vacations.
We emphasize the fact, without at
tempting to draw right conclusions.
Sunday spending its proper and i'm
proper observance is such a trcmen-
dousy varied question that attempts to
lay down a fixed rule OF allowable con
duet for all classes Is well-nigh impos-
sible. II is tremendous church ques
ton, Hrst of all. and the churches are
not solving it it is almost as large a
civil question. and civil authorities arc
having no better success with its solu-
ton.
One would think that "eight-hour
laws" and various other legal inter
fences in behalf of labor. would be in
the interest of a more quiet observance
of Sunday, but results of this kind, to
the best of our knowledge, are not con
spicuously apparent indeed, it may be
true that the more time given to in
dulgences that are expensive and more
harmful to the physical body, than
ever work itself, and that it is only
the small minority who rightfully inn
prove their rest hours.
The Masonic division Of time, eight
hours for the service of God. and a dis
tressed worthy brother; eight for our
usual vocation, and eight for refresh
menJ ana sleep. are hardly operative
outside OF ritualistie fancy, even in the
one day we call Sunday, and which we
are Divinely Commanded to keep holy.
Evidently. we are very far indeed from
the Masonic division.
While Sunday is not an openly com
mercial day, as a matter of fact it is
perhaps the greatest day for money
spending in the seven. We buy our
automobiles and dne turnouts, and
largely our best clothing, in order that
we may use them on Sunday. In many
ways, we prepare ahead for lavish
Sunday pleasures ana practices; we do
a large amount ofSundsy business. even
though we may affect to be prejud!ced
against Sunday newspapers and Sunday
excursions. and just where the line Of
pure consistency can be drawn-must
largely be a matter for individual set
tlemenat, always through the dictates
of a carefully balanced conscience.
But, to come back to our drst fact
Sunday accidents We have them in
CORY abundance. We must conclude,
then, that our liberty of thought ana
action" are often very expensive indul-
gences. physically and financially. if
not also distinctly detrimental to the
future welfare of our immortal souls,
Perhaps we can see in our bloody sun
days an illustration for thRnkfuiness
that we have only enc day week off
from work. Perhaps il is a picture of
the saying that Satan finds work for
idle hands to do. and lead Us to in
dulge in expressions of real thankful
ness for work that it is our salvation
from ultimate worthlessness and ruin.
The Carroll Record.