Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-11-26
QUICK DIVORCES.

How They May be Secured In Japan.
Speaking Of divorces" said Lieut..
Butt of the revenue cutter johnson,
"the most peculiarone ever saw was
in. a little island off the coast of Japan
when I was in the Unit ID States Navy.
1t was about twenty-five years ago,
just at the close of the war. Twas
third officer of United States ship
on the Pacific station then, and we,
having damaged some of,our upper
rigging and sprung plank or two in a
heavy blow, had put into the harbor
OF this little island of unpronounce-
able name for needed but not very
difficult repairs.
[. The ship surgeon and myself, being
'off duty went ashore, with the double
purpose of stretching our legs and
sending off to the wardroom mess
any delicacies in the way offresh meat,
fowls or fruit, which we might happen
to run across. With us went Jap
anese sailor whom we had shipped.
being short-handed, at port on the
coast oftthe Mikados insular realm,
I'VE walked about the poor little vii
1age which was the principal seaport
OF the island, and were regarded by
the natives with an innocent, awesome
and wondering expression which be-
tokened their very rare acquaintance
with white men. AS we were strolling
along the main streets, if street it
might be called, after having with
Sorakichi's aid induced a very brown
and wrinkled Japanese to take some
rabbits, pigeons and fruit off to the
ship, we came to building, aerial in
architecture, as are all Japanese
structures, but much more preten-
tious than any we had yet seen.
Dat ISIS a.temple, where maxi wor-
ship explanatorily spoke Sorakichi.
We had two hours to spare, and en-
tered. AS we did so young man and
a young woman came in by another
entrance. Both wore blue scarf
across the left shoulder and knotted
under the right arm.
Been marry, split now, quit, tired
OF it, said Sorakichi, and an inquiry
developed the fact that the youngs-
tiers, neither OF whom could have been
over 20, sought divorce.
Blue malachi show said Sorakichi.
and we stood aside and watched the
pair. They went together before the
most hldeous idol it has ever been my
fortune to see, both undid their blue
scarfs, bowed three times to the
ground, and turning, left the temple
by opposite doors.
"All good now explained our inter
prefer; get marry some more; yes, to-
day, mebbe.'
Further inquiry ELECTED the fact that
this was the regular ceremony OF di-
vorce among the lower Japanese in
certain provinces. Queer, wasn't it,"
-Chica0o Times
SUED HIM AND WENT HIS BAIL.
A Wlfe's Devotion Overcomes
Her Resentment at Her Husband s
Cruelty.
The Magistrates ofthis city, especial
ly those who mete out justice to the
criminals in the southern sections,
have many queer cases to deal with,
says the Philadelphia Times, but one
which was heard before Magistrate
Fulmer presents many peculiar feat
ures, and deserves to be placed on
record as one OF the most novel in
the criminal history OF this city.
The casein question was that OF Har-
ry Rodgers, who was given q hearing on
the charge OF assault and battery, pre-.
ferred by his wife. Mrs. Rodgers testi-
fed against her husband, claiming
that he had brutally beaten her with
out any provocation. Magistrate Full
mer, after hearing the evidence, decid-
ed to hold Rodgers in $500 bail for
his appearance in court.
Up to this point the hearing was by
no means unusual and was similar to
those which are every day presenting
themselves to the attention OF the
lllaSlSUEaCe. AS is uSuai III SUCH cdSSS
Rodgers was askedif he had any one
who would 60 bail for him. He was
about to answer that he knew of no
one who would be kind enough to per-
form such an office when suddenly, to
the surprise ofall present, Mrs. Rodgers
who had sworn against her husband
and on whose testimony he was put
under bail, stepped up to the magis-
trates desk and offered to go his bail
for his appearance.
This, OF course, greatly puzzled the
Magistrate, but as the womansatisfied
him OF the fact that she was a proper
ty-owner he was obliged to accept
her as security. The bail was entered,
and husband and wife left the Office
together and no doubt will settle
the matter between themselves in
such way that it will not require the
efforts of the court to adjust it.