The Evening Star. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1872

Evening Star, Issue 2854, 12 April 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1872

It is evident from the correspondence published yesterday that the Halfholiday Association lias net yet secured the fruits of its victory. This is only the usual course of events. Old customs and associations arc not easily

broken through suddenly. However beneficial they may really be in their tendency, those habits of every-day life in which we have been brought up cling to us in spite of the clearest reasons against them, and time alone can reconcile a population to a change involving to some extent new domestic arrangements. Facility of adaptation to circumstances varies much in individuals, Some are very slow to receive new doctrines, and proportionately tardy in planning their work to suit them. They have not the patience to endure the temporary inconveniences of change, and had rather run in the old groove, however worn out, than submit to the little extra friction of a well-fitting new one. To this clinging to the past must be attributed the opposition of Mr Peterson and others to the Saturda} r half-holiday. It formed no part of their own training; although, if the Secretary of the Association is correct, Mr Peterson was once an advocate for it. We are not curious to ' know whether he was or not. If he were, and thinks he has sound reason to change his views, he will be somewhat difficult to move, and concession on his part will be the more valuable as being in fact a greater sacrifice than made by many others; for men wiH give up many things rather than opinion. The difficulty in his case seems to be the notion that the change does not suit his customers. This really is not a valid reason for his opposition. His customers, in their several relations, do not differ from other people’s customers, nor do we believe that they would willingly be guilty of the unkindness of preventing several hundreds enjoying a half-holiday, in order to have the opportunity of putting off their grocery purchases to Saturday afternoon or night. But this might be the case if others became jealous of Mr Peterson, If every customer of Mr Peterson’s were asked the question, there would be but one answer —“It makes no difference to me when I get my goods, so long as 1 have them when I want them.” As this is the universal feeling amongst consumers, we are quite satisfied perseverance for a very short time would not only reconcile every one to the change, but all would feel satisfied that they had aided in conferring a great boon at no cost to themselves. We would not for a moment imagine that Mr Peterson and those who act with him, are influenced by selfish motives, however mistaken they may be. The public are, as a rule, generous, and ready to resent any attempt to take advantage of the open-hearted good feeling of others. If, therefore, the impression went abroad that opposition to the Saturday half-holiday arose from a desire to catch a few stray customers because other shops in the same trade were closed, instead of being a benefit to those remaining open, it is in strict accordance with human feeling that their trade would suffer. Men would set it down to meanness, and nothing is so damaging to business as such an unenviable reputation. On these grounds we feel satisfied that the best policy for all is to fall in with the movement. The first difficulty has been got over. It remains with the public now to secure it, by religiously abstaining from purchasing after the hour fixed upon. Perseverance for e fortnight or three weeks would establish the custom. One point we would notice. The advisability for the half-holiday is shown by the style of letters we have received written by many of the advocates of the movement. There is too much of the Sheffield Trades’ Association style about them. Threatening letters against those who do not comply with the request of the Association must of necessity produce precisely the opposite effect from that intended. Men will give to reason and fair words what they feel bound to resist when threatened. On this ground, for the sake of the success of the Association, we have not inserted many letters of this character that have been sent for publication. The Saturday half-holiday well used, would afford snch opportunity for mental cultivation as to lead to justcr views of the relation of employer to employed than seem to be general. The Half-holiday Association must remember that the movement is entirely voluntary : that their appeal is to men’s reason and good feeling, and that it is not very courteous to ask a favor, and on being refused, to turn and insult the man who has an undoubted right to independent action. /Esop tells us that the north wind and the sun had a trial of power, and as a test chose to experiment upon a traveljar : the proof of superior influence to be which could cause him to throw off his cloak. The north wind blew its fiercest, coldest blast (this was in Europe), but it only caused him to wrap his cloak more closely round him. The sun then shone with all its fervour, and overpowered by its heat, he soon found the garment too hot for him, and threw it off. Old iEsop taught a lesson useful for all time, summed up by President Edwards, thus: —“ Always

take hold of things by the smooth handle.” We commend the moral to the friends of the Half-holiday movement.