Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

78 THE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE. who wish to keep holy the Sabbath, be willing to lift their fellow men above the mire of circumstances for a few short hours of recreation? Yes, even if others, who have rested the day previous, or will rest the day after, may have to labor for their comfort? Life in any sphere at the present age is bound to be strenuous. There are those in middle and upper circles of society who long to break away from conventional chains, from nervous strain and business worries. A closed Sabbath means time at home to ponder over the cares and interests of the week. The doors of the Photoplay house open, and the tonic of travel, the science of laughter, bring a rest cure, the benefits of which are more enduring than weeks of medical treatment. I know of a family who, with only forty cents capital, after the Saturday night bills were paid, had fallen into the pit of discouragement, and sought relief and found none until the hour for the Sunday afternoon performance at a Moving Picture hall. Ten minutes after that family had taken their seats in the auditorium they were transported by devious paths and most delightful water ways to Africa. They saw how coffee was dried, packed and shipped to other countries. From Africa they enjoyed a game of polo and mingled in high social life in England. They recrossed the ocean and found themselves in California, where the scent of flowers seemed wafted to their nostrils; they prospected for gold in Colorado; they shouted with laughter over the adventures of a too hospitable young couple who, tired of boarding, sought relief in housekeeping and in entertaining of hordes of relatives; they continued laughing at the havoc cre ated by a small boy, in order to insure the happy marriage of his sister; they went South soon after and thrilled with admiration for the self-sacrifice and fidelity of a faithful slave; then they journeyed to ancient Rome and not only had a glimpse of royal life in the clays of Anthony, but saw, in a vision, sylvan shades and dances of beautiful maidens which charmed the eye and fascinated the beholder; and lastly they returned to the United States to find the climax of their joy in the final annihilation of the unexpected mother-in-law. The amount of money expended was too small to have purchased any article of food or clothing of which the family stood in need, but it procured a fund of happiness and rejuvenation of life in that household which forty dollars could not have bought, and the following Monday morning found i every member of the family better able to face the struggle for existence. Tho the outlay was small, the investment was safe; and the new stock, in the way of hope, laughter, ambition, courage and ideas, brought an ultimate success in life which might never have been, had the closed Sunday law been in effect. I have a large tolerance for the rights of others, and I expect others to have an equal tolerance for mine. If others desire to worship on Sunday, I would be the last to object; but if I do not desire to worship, I think that others should not compel me to do so. I hold that I should not be made to stay in my house on Sunday merely because others desire to worship on that day. I believe that I should be allowed to do anything I please on Sunday, so long as I do not interfere with the rights of others.