Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-12
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

PRUDENT lNvBsfMRNfs.-Fof rome time
past, we learn, persons a . distance In search
of prudent investments in real estate have been
turning their attention to the Federal uetrop.
oils. The consequence Is the sale t. them Of
no inconsiderable amount of such Washington
property. The late financial crash, In its eject
upon the value Of real estate in the west has
pretty much put stop to investments there
from the east, except on the part of inveterate
spectators, and has thus caused the owners Of
q large amount of capital to look elsewhere for
sife investments destined surely to pay well
in the end. They could not have turned their
attention to quarter wherein their purposes
will be more certainly answered. While
Washington city property is never bought and
sold under the influence Of q Specializing mania
that we ever heard of, we do not know Of
single instance wherein purchaser Of real es.
tate in Washington, at open auction, ever
resold, after the lapse of twelvemonth, with
out realizing fair profit on his investment
This Is remarkable fact, though a singular
one -. 800 :
Many gentlemen Of wealth, in all quarters
OF the country, expend thousands and tens of
thousands of dollars in improving real estate in
Newport, X. l., and other summers ojourning
places, to be occupied by their families but Q
few weeks each summer; and not few such
are beginning to keep house here in the winter,
some Of them in their own property, and others
renting.
They come hither during the sessions Of Con-
gress, as they 60 to Newport during the sum-
mer, for the sake of society and other agreeable
concomitants. We have rarely known any such
temporarily resident family disappointed in
their anticipations Of pleasure and comfort
here The idea that Washington is a very ex-
pensivs city in which to keep house, if one
pieases to study economy, is erroneous; for one
can procure almost everything necessary in
housekeeping here as cheaply as in Boston,
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Rich
mond. If one cares nought for expense, house
keeping and entertaining here may be made to
cost ssheavily as in any American or European
city Only those complain of its expense who
expect to live very EAST for very little money
"A thing to be done nowhere under the sun.
Year by year the inquiries from distance
for houses in Washington suitable for The tenn.
Porary residence of persons of wealth, taste,
and fashion increase, until not few have been
built 10 that especial end by Washington city
capitalists. At this time several are being
constructed, We hear, by such sojourners them
selves. In no single instance has house been
built BY such winter sojourner without prov
Ing valuable investment in a business point
OF view, because nowhere else in the United
States has the value of real estate increased
moro steadily and regularly, nor is there any
other American city wherein its value is more
sure to continue to increase.
We have witnessed the step by step improve
ment of the Frederal Metropolis since it was
comparatively small village, and really be-
lisve that since 1924 no one has purchased and
held property here without realizing larger
profit on the investment than has resulted in
purchasing and holding any first class stock
that ever was bought and sold.
The DIVORCE LAW OF INDIANA, as all know,
has come to be the source of more domestic
inquietude, the Union over, than all tho other
laws relative to the marriage contract on the
statute books Of all the other States. This il.
because it offers direct premiu m a. it were,
Tor separation after dissgreements, against
which husband and wife would guard more
carefully if satisfied that the law everywhere
refused divorce except upon good and sufficient
cause. The extent to which the Indiana law
is resorted to by persons from other States is
not eomprehended generally, hundreds on
hundreds annually rushing thither to get the
Knot united by proceedings. which, in perhaps
nine cases out Of ten, involve perjury on their
part ere they accomplish their ends. The fol-
lowing article on the subject from late num-
Der Of the New York Express explains not
only the Indiana law as it stands, but the
changes In 1t necessary to counterfeit its del
eterious effects on the we'll being of society
throughout the land: .
Ihk DIVORCE Laws AGAIN.-The remon-
sudnces OF the Indiana people against the bane-
iuI operation OF the divorce laws Of that State
as we have heretofore had occasion to show-are
ooth earnest and loud Public sentiment in this
case. we think, has taken proper Erection and
the result Of it will probably be such ameudm ents
OF the law at the next session Of the Legislature
a. a VII better conduce to the promotion OF good
morals ana the better maintenance of the marriage
'rlation. Writers OF legal eminence are giving
me subject especial attention; and, among other
propositions suggested for Legislative considera-
uoh, the following are worthy Of notice:
Require ftrO years. acfnII boaa fde CON
lnso"s residenes I'm tn. county, before Ming the
Petlon, and require that fact tn be proved 10 the
S~.isiacuon OF the Court on the hearing.
~ Require per,onal service Of the summons
Dy copy, unless a AFFIDAVIT shall be made and
61et In the Clerks ONCE by the petitioner that
he has no knowledge Of the residence of the de.
f-ndant, then let notice by publication be given
%: Require personal service Of all notices TO
take dispositions, unless similar afidayit shall
be made, then let notice be given as Is now pro-
vidrd -"
Under the present law In Indiana, a. is well
known, divorces may be had mere applica-
ton, as II were, with a comparatively trininy fee
TO the lawyers who, In these cases NAV be said
to act as brokers between the applicants and the
courts. The statute provides, for example, that
divorces shall be granted for
l. Abandonment for one year.
2. Any other cause for which the court may
deem II proper that divorce should be granted.
These two clauses Of the law most certainly
require modification. Abandonment for one
year" Is no abandonment at all, properly con.
sidered- 1t Is, in fact, but saying to the bad
wife or the unPrincipled husband, ':run away ,or
stay away, voluntarily, or involuntarily, for q
year, and you may marry again whensoever and
whomsoever you will And the records show
that there are every year, hundreds and nd reds
or persons who not slow to acce pt the invita-
ton. fhe fruits Of such Legislation must be
looked for In an increase of free love, prostitu-
ton, licentiousness, etc.
As for the second clause ahove ouotsa ~ .a.x,.