In Troubadour-Land by Sabine Baring-Gould

Sunday in France -- Improved observance -- The cathedral of Arles -- West front -- Interior -- Tool-marks -- A sermon on peace -- The cloisters -- Old Sacristan and his garden -- Number of desecrated churches in Arles -- Notre Dame de la Majeur -- S. Cesaire -- The isles near Arles -- Cordes -- Montmajeur -- A gipsy camp -- The ruins -- Tower -- The chapel of S. Croix.

I spent the first Sunday after Easter at Arles. It was a bright and joyous spring day. I went to the cathedral at nine o'clock and found a good congregation there, listening to a sermon on the obligation of observing the Sunday. It was dull, and I left. But I may here observe what a great change has taken place in France of late years relative to this observance. I can remember when I was a boy how that every shop was open, and business went on much as on other days. But the Church has made great efforts to obtain a due recognition of the Lord's Day, and all who consider themselves to be good Catholics now shut their shops, and others, who find that there is now very little trade going on upon Sunday, shut their shops also because it is of no use having them open. It is only the polemical infidels who continue to keep their factories in full work and their places of merchandise open to invite purchasers.