, 1879-04-06
DIVORCE MADE EASY.

SO far as the husband was concerned, AM
the wife was scarcely more restrained, ex
cept among the barbarous people, who
bought and sold their women. Even in tht
early Christian period divorce was Away
obtainable under condition of mutual con
sent, and, in the absence of mutual consent
for variety Of causes. Later on, marriag'
assumed the sanchty Of sacrament, and tht
Catholic Church adopted the rule that there
could be no divorce where the marriage was
originally lawful for any cause that should
leave either party at liberty to marry again
Greater freedom in dissolution OF marriage
as well as other matters, was established BY
a precedent for extreme iberaity in this re-
| gard. There have been from that time or
| numerous and curious changes Of public sen.
| t:ment and statutory law in all countries.
| The present latitude for divorce is
very broad in prussia, for instance, while
there is no such thing as abso-
| Lutte divorce recognized by the existing
civil code in France, where it was obtain
able even upon 1nutual consent in the early
part of the present century. On the whole,
however, the tendency of the past two or
three centuries has been in the direction of
greater freedom and facilities for divorce
ment.
Tho United States generally have afforded
easier escapes from the bonds of matrimony
than any other country, and recent e1-
posure in New York shows that the posi-
bilities of divorces ere greater there than
anywhere else, though the law is stricter
than TINT of any other State. Under tho
law Of New York State, adultery is the sole
cause after marriage which is recognized as
sufficient grounds for divorce; and the, State
Courts are, as rule, rigid in the enforce
ment of the Inv and in the construction Of
cases that grow out of previous divorces.
Nevertheless, it has been shown to be pos
sible for person to secure a divorce through
New York lawyer at small cost, though
such person has never actually been
married. A reporter for the New York
World demonstrated this by following
up an advertisement which promised
"a legal divorce within thirty days." with
free consultation, an avoidance Of scandal,
and fee contingent upon furnishing the de-
cree. The reporter was actually single
man, but represented himself as married to
wife living in New Brunswick. He ad-
mitted that he could bring no charges against
the wifely conduct Of his supposititious
spouse, but the lawyer to whom he applied
undertook to procure him a legel releasa
from wife who did not exist for incom-
patibility of temper" The applicant swore
10 no papers, but paid $40 on account, left
the matter in the hands of the attorney, and
in course of time received o decree, in
due form, purnorting to be signed by the
Judge and Clerk of the Circuit Court of
Walworth County, Wis, attasted by seal.
The whole transaction cost only $35, and
required only about two months in time.
inquiry at Elkhorn, Wis.,, subsequently de-
yeloped that certain parties in New York,
Massachusetts,, aud other Eastern States have
been in the habit Of sending out for certified
copies Of alleged DEGREES that had been
rendered there in divorce cases, which
do not appear upon the record, SO that
it appears the practice Of palmiug of these
fraudulent DEGREES has been very general. It
is probably the usual method employed by
the divorce shyssers in Eastern States when
other facilities are closed to them.
In addition to such cases Of actual forgery,
DEGREES of divorce are obtained in certain
States and Territories which are scarcely less
fraudulent. The Utah divorce WAS very
easy aud popular escape for husbands who
wanted to get rid Of their wives, or wives
who wanted to get rid Of thoir husbands;
but it has fallen somewhat into disfavor Of
late, since the Courts in some Of the States
have refused to recognize it. The Legisla-
ture Of Nevada has gone into the divorces
business on its own account, which Is
special accommodation to such San Francis
co people as long for change in marital re-
la.ions. Several of the States, in their
statutes and the practice Of their Courts, are
unselfshly generous in the extension Of ia
cilties to citizens of other States where the
laws are prejudicial to easy divorce without
cause. There is not day passes but there
is some complication, more or less serious,
growing out Of the lax practice in granting
divorces. Mrs. OLIVER, of SIMON CAMERON
notoriety, alleged that she had been married,
but had been divorced, not by any magis-
trate, but by long continued absence from
her husband. She had not been married at
al, except under the construction that long
continued rehabilitation and public recogni-
ton Of marital relations constitutes mar
riage, as the New York Courts hold it does.
4 curious case is reported from Ohio, where
m old lady claims dover from her deceased
husbands estate, which claim is resisted BY
his children under former marriage on the
ground that she was never the legal wife Of
their deceased father. The fact appears to
be that the old Indy was married under the
forms Of law three or four times, though
really never but once. Her first husband was
q thief and outlaw, and is said to be still liv-
ing. When he was sent to the Penitentiary
for the first time, the wife was informed by |
q local Justice OF the Peace that her hus-
bands conviction Of crime was in it. |
self divorcement. Acting upon this theory, |
she married second husband, and had |
children. now grown into men and women, I