Ye Olden Blue Laws

A review from The Medical Pickwick, Vol. 7: TO understand why the writers of the Constitution used the expression, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," it is essential to appreciate their traditions and forensic background. This is well exhibited in a study of the old laws of Colonial days. To realize the reversion to type manifest in the efforts at restrictive legislation, one needs but read the excellent compilation of the early history of the kill-joy movement designed to regulate, direct, supervise and control personal and social relationships of the early Colonists, save those of great influence, considerable wealth, or members of the ministry. Early social and economic reforms were designed to restore the prestige of the church which had been weakened because of the low standards of the early ministerial group. The ministers sought to legislate morality and spirituality for their human flocks with a degree of failure that finally eventuated in the recognition that social living was beyond the control of clerical dictation. After reading of the early struggles of the Colonists one is less filled with admiration for the days of the Puritans or the Pilgrims, nor is there much desire to emulate the standards of the early settlers of Connecticut or Virginia. The joyous days of compulsory church attendance; the ministerial domination that extended from death for unbelievers to press censorship; the constant unsuccessful struggle to banish tobacco; the development of the spy system to facilitate the punishment of errant adults and children; the grotesque attempts to control personal attire and the use of finery; the vigorous but useless endeavor to subjugate youthful sports fail to arouse any enthusiasm for ye ancient days. There is a wealth of suggestion, however, that present day tendencies to inaugurate a new era, if successful, might bring about a return to the primitive intolerance, narrow-mindedness, and bigotry which characterized Colonial existence. The diatribes against Sunday pleasures, the enjoyment of the theatre, sports, plays, and recreations of childhood, the efforts at the dogmatic censorship of match-making and wooing are finding weak imitations in our day and generation under the guise of religious elevation. This compilation of early blue laws is peculiarly timely and merits thoughtful consideration by those who are interested in human happiness. One has the feeling, after reading the book, that the Sabbatarians might well be termed "Sabbaterriers" who are growling, barking, and snapping at human institutions because man is taking too much pleasure in existence, when he should feel more like a dog. Present day interest lies in the fact, as Mr. Myers points out, that there is a marked parallelism between some of the programs for instituting a new set of Blue Laws and many of the old laws whose effect was blighted and thwarted by common sense public opinion.