The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-09-28
ADIvORCE PARADISE.
The Frequency of Matrimonial Sun
behring's IN Switzerland.

behring's IN Switzerland.
Our Geneva correspondent writes:
'"rhe bureau statistics at Berne has just
published its analysis of the marriages,
births. and divorces of 1881, and the
present report, like its predecessors,
contains much interesting information
on the subjects in question. The mar
riages registered in the confederation in
1881 were 1925, figures which show
hardly any increase on those of the year
before. Compared with other countries,
the proportion of marriages to the popu-
lation is very low in Switzerland. OF
twelve European states, only two
Sweden and Scotland,-sho smaller
proportion. The average for the con-
federation in 1881 was IA per 1000 in
habitants. The rate varies greatly in diff
ferent cantons. In Appenzell-ausser-
Rhoden, for instance, it was 8.2 per con,
in Geneva 10. in Tessin and the Valais
Sc, and in Nidwalden 5.4 per 1000. In
1880 and 1881 there were married in
Switzerland 40 men out Of 1000 of mar
from the facts that, while the age of pu-
other it is put at Is, and that.
1880, there are 100000 more
women in the country than men. In
the ten years between 1870 and 1880
marriages increased in greater ratio
than the population, the increase being
most marked in the cantons of Lucerne,
Tug, Obwaiden, Nidwalden. Basic and
Geneva. This augmentation is ascribcd
to the removal by the constitution of
1874 to the hindrances to marriage which
before that prevailed in several of the
older cantons. The returns for 1881
show, relatively, a decided falling of.
On the other hand, births have not in
creased in proportion to marriages.. In
1880 the average number ofchildren I'M
der 16 was only two per family. The
mean age at which the greater number
ofmen marry is 80; that at which women
marry 25 to 26. The general average is
81 years for men and 81 1-2 years for
women. The number of divorces in
1881 was greater than that of any previ-
GUS year on record-1,l71 suits we're
were granted, and 946 DEGREES for disco
luton of matrimony granted. In 1880
the. figures were ,O69 and 356 respect
lively: In some of the older cantons-
Uri, Oowalden, Nidwalden, and Appen-
-inner-Rhoden-no divorces wera
either asked for or pronounced. In
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., the Protest.
ant half of the canton, the proportion of
divorces to marriages in 1881 was 1918
per 100, the highest in the confedera-
ton. In Thurgan the proportion was 9.22,
in Geneva 8.79, Zurich 1858, Lucerne, i. 4S,
the Falais O.l8 percent, the purely Cath
olic cantons being always much less given
to divorce than the Protestant:and mixed
cantops. Altogether, Switzerland is
still the most divorced of European
countries. In only one city-Berlin-
are divorces relatively so frequent; but
as country Switzerland is at the top of
the tree, even Saxony, where divorces
are by no means few, tagging far be-
hind the confederation. AS touching
the religion Of divorced persons the re-
port gives these particulars: Husband
and wife, Catholic, or per cent. (of mar
riages in 1881; husband and wife, Pro-
testant, 3.2 per cent; husband Protest.
ant, wife Catholic, 4.5 per cent. It will
thus be seen that difference of religion
is one OF the most frequent causes of di-
vorce. Protestant and Catholic divorces
to TO- etne1 are 10, ony ,oa at the rate
"AA'0 Anot AAoSoos LuO OhItAS5 " nHACIA
are of different faiths gave proportion
Of 10 divorces per cent. Divorces in
Switzerland, it may be we'll to mention,
are much less frequent among the easy
classes than among small traders and
working folks. In good society divorces,
asgivingrise to scandal, are not regarded
fayorably, and people who apply to the
tribunals for release from their matri-
monial bonds run the risk of being cut
by their acquaintances. But among the
masses these scruples are unknown. It
is quite common thing--at any rate. in
this part OF the country--for tiover and
his lass to buckle to- on the understand.
ing that if they should not like each
other-or married life-at the end of a
twelvemonth, they shall join in an ap.
plication for divorce on the ground of
'irreconcileable incompatibility of tenn
per- and as the courts accept a joint ap-
pIication as sufficient proof of the al
legged incompatibility, the young couple
can always obtain at pleasure a loosening
of their bonds" london Times.