The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-03-29
CHAPTER XVII.

As have said elsewhere, each state of the
Union makes its own laws The result is
that thing which is legal in one state is not
necessarily legal in the others.
The most curious, and those which differ
most, are the laws upon marriage and di-
vorce.
Ii it is easy to get married in the United
States, it is still more easy to get unmarried.
In the state of New York, for instance, if
you 60 to hotel with woman, and put
down stMr. So and So and wife, ON the regis
ter, the law looks upon you as legally mar
ried to that woman, but the marriage is not
recognized as valid in some other states To
obtain divorce in the state of New York
you must provo infldelity on the part of your
wife; but just across the Hudson, in the
state of New Jersey, it is to be obtained on a
proof of cruelty or incompatibility of char.
acter. If this is not easy enough for you,
take the train to Chicago, where divorce is
to be had for the asking, almost.
The court of divorce in Chicago, called by
the Americans 1.-The divorce MILL" decided
6Sl cases during the year 1887.
This institution is just as fourshing In the
state Of Indiana as in Illinois. The Customers
the capital Of Indiana, the porters cry out,
indianapolis twenty minutes for divorcer'
SO that couples who may have fallen out on
the journey can part company for good.
Does the husband snore or chew; has he q
disagreeable breath, or a clumsy manner of
kissing his wifel Does that lady wear false
hair OF teeth, give her tongue too free play,
or habitually take up the newspaper as soon
as her husband shows signs Of dropping into
sentiments All these offenses are serious ones
before the aforesaid tribunals
Without troubling to go and settle in Utah,
an American may set up harem Of legiti-
mate wives, Each lawful spouse might be a
concubine outside the state she was married
in, but by carefully studying the laws of the
different states Jonathan could, If he pleased,
indulge in polygamy without fear Of being
prosecuted for it.
have read in American papers divorce
cases that were really most comic.
When a will has to be administered mat
ters often become very mixed up, as you may
easily imagine. Who are the legitimate
childrenl
OF course all these confusions make work
for the men of law, who naturally think
American legislation the finest in the world
The city of Chicago alone possesses seven
teen hundred and sixty eight lawyers. all
thriving.
What capital subject for IN opera bouffe
might he got from some of those Chicago di-
vorce casesi What merry quid-pro-quosl
What amusing scenesi Choruses of lawyers
choruses OF lawful wives, with the refrain:
ave are Mrs Jonathan. ira lai"
''DAPPEN VS. DAPPEN."
extracted from Chicago paper the fol-
lowing evidence, full of originality and
humor. The plaintiff is at the bar. being
examined:
"What is your husbands occupationr
asked the counsel
"Habitual drunkenness, sir" said Mira
Dappen.
u refer to your husbands profession"
HE made cigars
GOOD cigarsff
Occasionally
Here counsel drew a cigar from his pocket
''Fhis. your honor. is one Of the defendants
cigars
Mark it Exhibit A, said the judge
"Had Mr. Dappen any other -professionr'
continued the lawyer.
sNot to my knowledge" said Mr.. Dappen's
wife.
"Neyer practiced, as dentistln
mot professionally. ,