SUNDAY OBSERVANCE FROM A DOMESTIC POINT OF VIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9219, 23 November 1888, Page 3

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE FROM A DOMESTIC POINT OF VIEW.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—ln yesterday's issue appears a letter on the above topic by Mrs. Rattray. This lady strongly deprecates any alteration in Sunday observance. Judging from her statements, the male members of Christian households must be in sad need of improvement, seeing that their women-folk dread that the former would impose upon them additional drudgery and worry if the present restrictions on freedom of action on Sunday were withdrawn—that, in fact, their oppression would be increased if only the men had the chance. But even supposing that some orthodox gentlemen should abuse this privilege of freedom of action, is that a reason why those who would not do —those who would not give their women-folk a jot more to do, Sunday being made a day of rest, but not of gloom,—should be denied it? In Rationalist homes there are no religious restrictions surrounding this day ; yet, so far as I have been able to judge, there is no more labour demanded from their women than in Christian homes. In some of the former there is even less to do than in many of the latter, for the Sunday dinner is not expected to be quite such an " elaborate" affair. lam rash enough to be of opinion that the liberalising of Sunday would be a gain rather than a loss to women, for many of them would be both healthier and happier if after the week's work was over they were encouraged to seek the green fields, the fresh air, and to worship in the beautiful Temple of Nature instead of being confined in draughty or illventilated buildings. Contemplation of the azure sky and the verdant earth gives birth to a better feeling within one than all the stories of Genesis put together. The great need of the time is, to state it briefly, more morality and less myth. Not one day, but every day is holy, and unselfishness should be striven after by all. When these truths are more insisted upon by the teachers of society, and are better realised by the public mind, the drudgery and overwork to which women are subjected, and to which Mrs. Rattray has so pathetically referred, will then be pretty well & thing of the past. —I am, &c., J. G. Cox.