The history of the discussion has been both curious and significant. From the beginning the question has seldom been debated upon its merits; the positions taken up on either side have been extreme and often indefensible. On the one side the extreme Sabbatarians contended that the law of Moses was binding on the World's Fair directors and placed the matter beyond discussion; on the other side the extreme Sunday-openers dealt largely in abuse and scantily in argument, and were consistently oblivious of the fact that there was any argument fur closing other than the above. It has been assumed also that that great and terrible god of to-day, "the working-man," was a unit in favour of an open Sunday, and all the efforts of the liberal Press have been avowedly in his behalf against the tyranny ofa church-going aristocracy. It was taken for granted by all parties in discussion that, if the Fair were opened, people would flock to it by the hundred thousand, and excursion trains from every suburb would be crowded to suffocation. "The first Sunday on which the experiment was tried was, it is safe to say, a profound surprise to everyone. In spite of fervid appeals to the working classes to turn out in overwhelming numbers and confound objectors by this witness to the popularity of the movement, only half as many were present on the holiday that followed two days later, and not perceptibly more than on an ordinary pleasant day. Every conceivable reason was urged in explanation of the small attendance, but from that time till now—more than six weeks—lo the w admissions have. increased steadily, the Sunday attendance has lessened with equal steadiness until it has become contemptible. And this in spite of the fact that the closed exhibits on that day are t -st trifle when compared with the vast Exposition that, remains on view, To secure this disappointing result meantime, the directors were forfeiting large sums, from the non-attendance of those whom their course had alienated from their support. Under the circumstances nothing was left them but to reconsider by an all but unanimous vote, their earlier action and fora second time close the gates tothe public on Sunday. It is still possible that a legal injunction may further complicate matters by compelling them to reconsider this reconsideration and admit all and sundry on that day, on the plea that Jackson Park is a public recreation ground and cannot be closed to the people at any time. Such a forcing of their hand would, however, be equally unsatisfactory to all, and confessedly would be a severe injury to the financial prospects of the Fair. The unceadiness of what are called "the nesses" to attend the Exposition has been utterly unlooked-for and surprising phenomenon, The opposite was confidently Predictod and expected by sll concerned. the only possible expluation is that the institution of one day in seven as a rest-day has obtained so strong a hold upon the people of the States that they will not surrender, to any very large extent, this all but universally conceded boon of the working classes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.