Year: 1874

Sunday Amusemsnts for the People.


OF the million of people in New York the
great majority work during six days Of the
week to gain a mere living and on the
seventh day their hungry natures crave thai
food to which the Bible refers when it says
that man cannot live by bread alone. The
churches give spiritual sustenance, but we
think it is conceded, and by none more
readily than the intelligent clergy, that the
formal exercises of worship do not satisfy the
wants of those who have but one day in the
week which is not devoted to labor. The
Sabbath was originally instituted as a day Of
rest; the Church very properly made it also a
day of worship, and now the necessities OF
society compel its observance as a day Of
relaxation. Amusement of some kind must
be provided on Sunday for the people. and it
is incumbent upon those who possess the
power to see that it is not only harmless but
beneficial Experience shows that unless the
torrent is guided into proper channels it will
force its way over every obstacle and make
path for itself.


One of the principal Sunday amusements
in New York is rum drinking. Men and
women who have no other occupation or ex-
citement crowd the taverns and waste their
time and money. In the exhilaration Of
whiskey and gin they find an easy escape from
the monotony of the empty, unattractive
hours. So powerful is this passion tor some
thing to stimulate the mind and body that it
has been found impossible to close the taverns
on Sunday, and the laws on that subject are
dead The attempts to enforce them have in
variably failed; for, right or wrong, the
saloons are sustained by an immense public
sentiment which laughs at legislatures and
courts. In this whole question facts, not
theories, are to be considered. It is useless
to argue about the impropriety of keeping
taverns open on Sunday in face Of the truth
that there is no power great enough to close
them.


What amusement can be substituted on
Sunday for that of getting exhilarated by
drink is one Of our great social problems
The pleasures of the Park and of walks on
the boulevards and the Battery are not
sufficient. People of the highest intellect and
Of extraordinary culture may find in attend
ance upon the Rev. Mr.. Talmage's ministry
the mental entertainment they need; but then
all persons do not possess minds OF such an
eminent order. Average minds require q
palmer pabulum, and even as substitute for
the Hippodrome it is clear that his eloquence
will not answer, although he seems to think
it will. If this be the case with him, clergy
men who are less sensational cannot expect
to supply the want. There is vast world
outside the churches and it must be wisely
dealt with in the interests of order, temper
ance and morality.


The experiment Of opening the theatres and
concert halls on Sunday was repeated last
evening, and of the entertainments given we
present full account. With this we also
print another sermon by Mr.. Talmage, in
which theatres are denounced much in the
way that he might denounce robbery or mur-
der. A number of correspondents also give their
views upon the stage, presenting strong argu-
ments in defence Of its usefulness and good
influence on society. This debate can scarcely
fail to be of benefit as it calls attention to the
great evil we have defned-that of absolute
want in our large cities OF simple and improv-
ing methods Of relaxation and amusement for
the people, for the toilers who have but this
one day in the week that they can
call their own. Of one truth we are firmly
convinced, that every public library in New
York should be open on Sunday. These are
institutions of unqrestionable usefulness; they
advance intelligence and sustain morality;
religion finds in them its strongest ally and
vice one Of its most effective foes.