The Daily Butte Record

The Sunday Law.

Yesterday was the first of the "better observance of the Christian Sabbath" under the new law. The general closing of grog shops, cigar stands, barber shops, clothing stores, etc., created no inconsiderable amount of grumbling and indignant denunciation of the "blue law," as the ungodly characterize the new enactment. Only one saloon keeper dared defy the supposed penalty of the law, and from all reports he was so well patronized that he could afford to pay a handsome fine and yet have a snug profit in his wares left. Webster's dictionary was clumsily thumbed over by infrequent searchers of that work, it being rumored that according to the great lexicographer, 'tavern' was defined favorably to retail buyers and sellers of "lush" draughts. Noah maintains that a tavern is a groggery, and we fearfully incline to the opinion that his definition will be taken as good law. All sorts of expedients were resorted to for future evasions of the Statute, and on Sunday next, we verily believe that all the liquor shops in town will be transformed into ephemeral eating and lodging houses. It is a singular fact, but really, yesterday was by many persons devoted to the exploration of rear premises of shops and stores, and we believe that to day, a better knowledge of the geographical co-relative position of back yards and entrances exists in the minds of our fellow citizens than ever before. We are afraid that three-fourths of this other-law-abiding community are disposed to set the Sunday act at naught. Our people are sadly indisposed to religious observances, "upon compulsion."