The Washington times., 1914-05-24
OPEN SUNDAY TALK.
UNUSUALLY SANE
& Note of Calm DeIiberation Has
Taken Excitement From the
Situation in Washington.
By GARDNER MACK.

Tho open Sunday agitation in Wash
inGton has suddenly become unusually
sane for that form of agitation.
Into what promised TO be a heated
discussion with partisans sharply align
ed FOR or against. there has been in
io"Ied a note of calm, deliberation that
has taken the excitement from the
situation The majority OF the thea
Jrica! managers of the city have coolly
declined to put on Sunday shows. The
fight that was being developed, the
heat that was displayed. was not di-
rcCted against the theatrical people OF
Washington. in the first place. 1t was
directed largely against the idea of a
sunday such as is pictured in the towns
given over TO industrial enterprises,
where the Sabbath is the only day of
Iecreation of the majority of the citi-
zcns In such places the men work
hard. terribly hard, during the week.
Nnd when Sunday comes they take
their play hard-just as hard as they
worked.
Population Is Sane.
Washington could never have Sun
day like that under the most liberal
laws. There is no population to make
II possible The people of the District
are mustly of calm, deliberate type,
who take their pleasure quietly and
scdately Under no stretch of the i'm
agination could a SUNDAY such as would
be observed in mining or manufsc-
turing town with the lid of be possible
here. But that is the idea that most
Sabbatarians have of an open Sun
day. And il would have been the idea
that would have be4n fought had the
thing not happened that has happened.
II is probable there is 10 sentiment
in the District against the production
OF grand opera Sunday evenings. II
laws were drafted py the people it is
highly probable an entertainment Of
this sort would be exempted. There
fore. the fact that grand opera will
Ue produced under the profession OF
the decision of Justice Gould hardly
enters into the consideration of the
subject.
And in announcing their decision
that they would not depart from their |
regular policy in spite of the new
conditions the theatrical managers |
were not compelled to give the matter !
very much consideration. 1t is a we'll |
known fact in the show business that |
more than three-fourths of the better |
class of rroductions-the kinds that |
come to the theatcrS in this city-dO |
not give shows on Sunday even when |
they are booked in cities where sun |
daN slows are permitted. The man |
ayers of companies that are mace up |
Of actors and actresses of the first |
rank understand that their employees |
are only human, and demand at least |
one d2y Cf rest during the week. And |
they get that day of rest. Exactly |
the So me theory works out in the !
company cannot give an adequate in |
depreciation of play If il is kept at |
u seven nights 4 week. No manager |
would ask a company 10 do such a |
thing-no self respecting manager.
Sunday Shows Scarce.
Therefore, the facts are that in all
orobab bility there would not be an aver
aEe of one theatrical performance a
month on Sunday at a regular theater
q Washington. even if there wasn't a
atnE 10 the subject of Sunday observ-
noes.
There is no business so sensitive to
b"blic sentiment as the theatrical busi-
i'ss There is no business so quickly
and Eitaly affected by popular Whim
and fancy. It is a very dangerous thing,
n"Feiore, for manager to do anything
hat will in any degree elienate the
-""d will OF any part Of the public And
IS very much to the managers credit
% have the support of the entire popu-
aton-eSpeclaly of that portion OF IL !
" hich is usually rated as supporting
"nserEat regulation of all forms of
amusement
therefore. the announcement of the
managers that they DO not intend TO
Ike advantage Of the permission JUS
d." Gould has given them TO open their
1ouses if they desire is a perfectly nat
rai thing for them to do And it is the ,
s.nd Of thing that was 10 be expected
y them-after the situation here is
aretUlIy anaIyzed.
To have sO-Called 'contInentsT.
>Bnday. il is necessary 10 have CON
mental population. And the popula-
ion Of Washington consists of-Wash-
nEtonians'