Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-02-06

now admitted even by their oWf
decend ants that their observance Of
the Sabbath was fanatical and served
no good or useful purpose whatever.
This was when man was not allowed
to kiss his wife on Sunday. No man
outside of Bedlam would subscribe to
any such notions in this year of 1913.
Indeed England, which politically
and socially is even at this day under
the heirs OF Puritanism, has discard I'd
these preposterous notions. Slowly as
becomes their national characters, the
Englishman are Iiberalizing the Sun.
day.
In this country we began the mod.
ernization of the Sunday by allowing
art galleries and libraries to open. The
hours were limited at first, out as 1t
became plain the people were greatly
benefited, and as the stars rem aimed
in their old positions in the armament
in spite of the ''horrible dissertation OF
the Sabbath" the hours were extended.
Today no public men of any promin-
ence can be found favoring the return
of the old days, when these institu-
ions were locked tight on the oaly
day on which the average citizen
could visit them.
In many states, especially in the
west, the observance of Sunday is on
the plan of continental Europe. Every
thing, including the saloons and
theatres, is wide open. There are few
Americans who will go quite that
ength. The majority of us still be-
lieve in honoring the character of the
day. In pleading for Sunday enter
tainment consisting of properly Sc
lected motion pictures, preferably good
music and lecture, we recognize the
character of the day. 1t is not in
tended to show any pictures, which
have not a distinct educational and
moral value. Happily there is an
abundance of such pictures and their
regular supply is constantly increas-
ing. Let the doubters send for cata-
logue OF educational pictures, either to
independent of the licensed manufac-
turers or better still let them look at
any issue of the Moving Picture World
and read the list Of weekly rele asses
The zone of the modern Sunday
entertainment of motion pictures has
within the last year constantly
widened. In Mobile, Ala, and other
portions of that state, in Texas, in the
Dakotas. in New York, in New
Jersey, in New England and all
through the middle west, Sunday
exhibitions are common. Wherever
such exhibitions have been allowed
there has been marked decrease in
the police courts dock on Monday
morning. It is common knowledge
that the motion picture hurts the
saloon. Where the descent and pro-
perly restricted Sunday entertainment
is permitted speak.easies and saloons
generally do mighty little business.
The Sunday picture keeps the family
together on Sundays. The moGlOn
picture appeals to the parents and the
children.
Wherever exhibitors of motion pic
lures have won their fight for liberal
Sunday they have scrupulously OBJ
served the character of the day in the
selection of their programs. The
subjects chosen have been of a classic,
religious, scenic, topical, industrial
and generally educational character.
Lectures have often been delivered.
In the state of Oregon the governor
lectured on a picture showing the
famous interstate tour of governors
which has been filmed by a we'll
known picture maker.
Ask the chiefs of police in the
various cities where the motion pic
ture is allowed on Sundays under
proper restrictions. Take the case of
the cltv of New York.
There the courts have held that an
exhibition of proper pictures on Sum
day are legal. The result has been
better order and less drunkenness.
Look at any Of these audiences gather
e in the picture houses on Sunday.
The utmost order prevails. People
often go to church in the morning and
in the afternoon or evening see the
pictures. If the right sort of pictures
are shown the church helps the picture
and vice versa.
The last and greatest arguments of
all is this: Who supports this country!
On whom does our national prosperity
depend? On the the man who works
in the sweat OF. his brow six days out OF
seven In the week. He is entitled to
recreation of q rational kind on the one
day, that remains to him. He gives to