The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-06

DIVORCE WHILE YoJ WAIT.
A Funny Story From Depew aud
Strange Facts From Indiana.
From the New York Press.


From the NetC York Press
When Mr.. Depew was living at one Of the
great houses in London last summer. he
was introduced TO a duchess of mature
years. whom he escorted in to dinner. Be-
fore dessert was reached the duchess ar
rived at one Of the unfailing topics of con-
verSation in English society of late years
Americans and their ways.
The duchess had that insular ignorance on
the subject which is often found in the
highest social circles in Great Britain.
as it really true" she asked Mr.. Depew,
American courts sometimes grant divorces
in half an hours | have been told so BY
people who have been there a I
Now it is we'll known that Dir. Depew can
never resist the temptation to tell good
story, so he replied: Indeed il Is not true
Such stories are told, duchess, not by your
own countrymen who have been in the
United States--I mus admit to their credit
but by Americans who delight In shocking
the English people by outrageous stories
about Americans.
NOW ;" continued Mr. Depew, 81 know
of only one state and one town in my
country where the divorce laws are 50
scaudalously lax as you have just described !;
that is a small town in Indiana. There are
two great American railways which have
very luxurious trains-fast trains, which
we call a limited express One of
these trains passes over the NeR
York Central railway, over which
| have the honor to be presi-
dent, and the other over the Pennsylvania.
Now, this small town, which Is famous for
its improper divorces, Is on the Pennsyl-
vauia. II is customary, believe, one-half
he h.
Pennsylvania railroad reaches the town for
the conductor-or guard, as you call him in
Englend-to announce that the train will
stop half an hour at the next station for
those desiring to obtain divorces, and that
the court house is TO the right of the station
and directly across the street.
TWO HONE YMooNs IN ONE DAY.
$50 many Americans, ], regret &c. say
continued Mr.. Depew graveIy, laval
themselves Of this escape from matrimony
that the Pennsylvania limited express is
never without passengers. Sometimes IL
the divorce has been mutually agreed upon
by husband and wife they travel together in
the greatest luxury and good will imagina-
bic, and where either party intends TO mar
ry again it is, l believe, not unc mmon for
the new bride.elect or bridegroom to ac-
company as third party the two persons
about to obtain their divorce.
THE court is always in session when the
train arrives, so that the petitions may be
filed, cases argued and DEGREES entered vel
within the limit Of half an hour, which the
railroad allows. A clergyman has his Office
next door to the court house, so that one
and sometimes both of the divorced persons
may be united to others seeking con jugal
happiness Immediately after the lale mar
riage has been dissolved. So at the end OF
half an honr the Chicago limited resume,
its flight westward, and the couples who
came to be divorced have taken other part
ners and are already off on theis second
honeymoon" sm
"As proceeded with my story" said Mr..
Depew in relating the incident, THE
duchess forgot her dessert, and as finished
she held up both her hands, which were
glittering with jewels, In horror at thii
authentic record of American divorce
laws. The ladies soon left the table, and
after the gentleman had had Their smoke
and returned to the drawing-room, | was
amused to see the elderly duchess sur.
rounded by score of other ladies, whose
faces reflected the same horror she hac
herself expressed to me as she repeated tC
them my story of the limited express
divorce II