The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-01
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
CHIcAGo Ian. 2e I881

CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 1884.
One of the largest lines of business in
Chicago is done by the divorce mill. Fif-
teen minutes for divorce, is The cry, and it
is fact that only two months ago divorce
was granted in just thirty minutes from the
moment the first papers were filed in the
court.
A decision by Judge Shepherd just rem.
dered, if sustained, will cut off a very large
percentage of this business, for very many
of the suits are brought by women who have
come here from other points, their husbands
having deserted them. On Saturday Judge
Shepherd had before him three cases Of this
kind, in which, as he stated in ais decision, he
believed the parties had proven that divorces
should be granted if the court had jurisdie-
ton. He held that the residence of the
wife is where the husband is, and even
though she may have been living in Chicago
for over year her legal residence had not
ceased to be where her husband has resided
during that time, and in these cases it ap.
peared from the evidence the husbands had
never lived in Illinois. He therefore decid-
ed that his court had no jurisdiction. An
appeal was tax en- in one of the cases. The
divorce business is fast becoming national
scandal, and while the decision referred to
may work hardship in some cases, if Judge
Shepherd has taken q step that will bring
about uniform system for the whole country
he will have rendered the public great
service 1t strikes me that some penalty
should attach to the granting of divorce ::
for instance, criminal punishment to those
found guilty Of practices emitting the spouse
10 divorce, and prohibition against re.
marriage, at least for the period of one
year.
Matthew Arnold, the great English essay
ist has been with US the last few days. His
lecture was we'll attended. The one thing
he said that seemed TO stand out promi
nently was that the majority are bad,''-
meaning Of course majority of human be-
ings. Whether he speaks truth or not his
remarks crate harshly on the car of an
American audience. In this country where
the majority rules it is unpleasant, at least,
to think it possible that the majority are es-
sentially bad To me the doctrine smacks
strongly Of English aristooracy--by such
arguments do the ruling classes seek to JUS
tify themselves in the control Of affairs.
Business has been fairly active for the last
week. Un Cnange the OullS nave uau Cnelr
own way for some time, but as all things
must end their rule must cease some day,
and it is probable they have already con-
trolled the market as long as they can. The
receipts of stock have been light, due in part
no doubt to the fear of severe weather, as
shippers have no relish for the loss Of stock
by freezing on the road. Prices have, of
course, been well up The packing houses
are running light for want of hogs
There is certainly greater feeling of
confidence in business circles than for some
time past. Aside from the fact that we have
had cessation in the tide Of failures that
seemed to have set in the better feeling has
no doubt been brought about by the severe
weather Of this entire month-seasonab
weather, though it may for the time actually
impede business, nevertheless inspires conf
dence. JULIAN.