Ste. Genevieve Herald Ste. Geneveive, Mo. Saturday, July 14, 1883 TIT FOR TAT The saloon keepers of St. Louis threaten that, if the Sunday law is enforced against them, they will retaliate by enforcing the law against all other violators of it on that day. It may not be generally known - we are morally certain that our Pros. Atty. does not know, because he has most solemnly assured the public that he prosecutes the saloons only from a sense of duty, because his oath compels him to enforce all the laws on the statute book - that there is a law on the statue book which forbids all kinds of labor or business on Sunday. Under it, it is unlawful to sell ice cream, lemonade or any other refreshment; the barbershops, newspapers, clerks' and lawyers' offices, the photograph galleries, the street railways and other railroads, the livery stables, etc. would have to quit business. Even baseball, croquet, lawn tennis or a social game of euchre or draw poker is forbidden. A man can not black his own boots on Sunday, or hitch up his horse or have his servant do it for him without laying himself liable to a fine. Below we give the sections of the law applicable: Section 1578. Every person who shall either labor himself, or compel or permit his apprentice or servant, or any other person under his charge or control, to labor or perform any work other than the household offices of daily necessity, or other work of necessity or charity, or who shall be guilty of hunting game or shooting on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Section 1579. The last section shall not extend to any person who is a member of a religious society, by whom any other but the first day of the week is observed, as a Sabbath, so that he observes Sabbath, nor to prohibit any ferryman from crossing passengers on any day of the week. Section 1580. Every person who shall be convicted of horse-racing, cock-fighting or playing cards or games of any kind, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than $50. Section 1581. Every person who shall expose to sale any goods, wares, or merchandise, or shall keep open any ale or porter house, grocery or tippling shop, or shall sell or retail any fermented or distilled liquor on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, shall, on conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not exceeding $50. Section 1582. The last section shall not be construed to prevent the sale of any drugs or medicines, provisions or articles of immediate necessity. We most respectfully call the attention of the Pros. Atty. to these laws and suggest to him that they are the laws which he takes an oath to enforce, and that he is as much compelled to enforce them as he is to enforce the law against selling a glass of beer on Sunday, and if he does not proceed to put them in force he must stand convicted of being false to his oath of office according to his own showing. What is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. ***** THE SUNDAY CLAUSE IN THE DOWNING BILL There has been a good deal of consternation created by the Sunday clause in the new high license amongst the saloon keepers in St. Louis and other large cities, where the saloons have been accustomed to keep open on Sunday, and regard it as their best day for business. Now there is very little difference between the new and the old law in regard to the keeping open on Sunday. Under the old law the least penalty upon conviction of a dramshop keeper for selling on Sunday was $40; under the new law with substantially the same provisions, the least penalty is $50. The old section 1581, for the selling on Sunday, which has always been so successfully invoked by our Prosecuting Attorney for the purpose of enriching his bank account, still remains on the statute book the same as before. ***** VALUABLE AND DISINTERESTED DOCUMENT AD PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM This is to certify that the Prosecuting Attorney of Ste. Genevieve Co. is personally known to me, and that it gives me great pleasure to publish to the world that he brings "much honesty, faithfulness and energy to the discharge of his duties as Prosecuting Attorney," and that, in fact, he is a gentleman, a scholar, and master of seven different languages - indeed, if he knew a little of law, he would know a little of everything - would to God that Joe. ERNST was half as good a teacher. Given under my hand and seal at Ste. Genevieve, Mo., on the 23 day of June, 1883. (signed) VALLEE HAROLD Editor Fair Play & Pros. Atty.