Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-24
DIVORCE BY CLIMATE.
A Case Of Separation Of a Loving
Couple by Doctors Decree.
THE HUSBAND SENT TO COLORADO
While the Wife Was Ordered to tho Heavy
Air of the Seacoast.
A LAWYER TALKS ABOUT TIE CASE
rcoRRtspoNpENcE OF THE DISPATCH

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsFATCH.1
NEW YORK, July 23.-While there are
quite as many divorce cases on the court
calendars of this city as usual, new and
novel decision has made itself prominent
with the wealthier New Yorkers By it
separations are obtained without the aid Of
law, and the contracting parties, whether
willing or not, are compelled to submit or
suffer the sentence of death.
This may seem rather obscure, but 1t is
easily explained. In the first place, the act
is performed in an indirect way, and the
decision granted without being sought after;
although 1t might be admitted that while
perhaps the majority of defendants" and
''complainants" become broken-hearted
others are inwardly ready to explode with
joy.
The scenes of these novel trials are laid
in the private Offices of our prominent ply
sicians and surgeons No day is set nor
jurymen required. A couple enter the
medical court room and ask examination by
its Judge. They are placed in the chair sim
ultaneously and examined without witnesses.
The 'judge" discovers that one has heart
failure and the other lung disease, and
when asked what shall be done with them,
divorced by climate" is the decision, as
the climate that suits one would kill the
other.
They Must Separate or Die.
Thus husband and wife are promptly noti-
fed that they must separate or receive the
penalty of death at any unexpected moment.
In many cases the act is not enforced and
sure enough death comes promptly as
penalty. But others will separate, one
seaside. Of course the law has as yet failed
to recognize this novel divorce, although
on such grounds decision may be obtained
in the Supreme Court that will hold. But
many become desperate at the idea of life
long separation, and as result many
tragic climax follows. In fact matrimony
in not always failure.
DR. Henry Attshul, the specialist in dis
eases of the heart and lungs at Bellevue
Hospital, and who has large practice
among the upper tendon of New York citi-
zens, has acted as Judge" in many of these
cases. There is remarkable case recorded
upon his diary. Edward Fl. Allen, a young,
wealthy and highly-esteemed citizen of
Waterbury, Conn.,, is prominent victim
of the medical divorce law. 1t separated
him from loving wife and broke both of
their hearts, although at times things ap-
peared to be working out so as to per-
manently restore their happiness Inherit
ing large fortune from his parents, he
took thorough course at Yale College at
New Haven, and graduated with high
honors
Forced to Go to Colorado.
His physique was not naturally robust,
which prevented him from indulging to
any great extent in athletic sports and ex-
ercises. No attention was paid at that
time to what later proved to be the seeds of
pulmonary disease developing in his frame.
Leaving college young Allen went into no
profession or business. There was no
cause requiring him to. His means rem
dered it unnecessary, and he had the tastes
of man of elegant leisure, and the habits |
of scholar as we'll as man of the world. His |
time was spent reading and writing. He |
was also natural musician and related by |
birth to some of the most distinguished |
families in Connecticut he soon took |
prominent position in New Haven society,
where he settled down to live with o |
wealthy elderly maiden aunt
Mr.. Aliens attentions to one of the bellies
Of New Haven society were suddenly inter-
rupted by the announcement on high
medical authority that he would have to 60
West for his health. He came to this city
It the time and consulted DR.. Attshul, say
ng he was not feeling strong, and this was
he result. Something of social sensation
vas the result of the announcement Could
here be any other reason than his health
or this apparently abrupt resolve to leave
he associations of lifetime? Surely not
reasons; that much was certain
The young woman to whom he had begun
o show attentions which might, it was sup
,osed, result in a marriage, was in every
Yay lovely and worthy.
Year in Rarifi I'd Atmosph.r..
A month later he bid farewell to all his
riends never expecting to return, his case
aving become so serious He went to Col
rado, travelled through the mountains dur
ne, the summer and in the autumn settled
own to a residence at Colorado Springs.
'he permanent colony of invalids Thereon
ather of persons who would have been in.
Aids had they resided anywhere else
oon found him an agreeable addition to
heir ranks He and Robert Bigley a
oung Englishman, whose brother had
anch up in North Park, established an iEti-
macy and made long shooting and fishing
into the mountains.
Mr.. Aliens health seemed thoroughly re-
tored. The disease processes In his lungs .
eemed permanently arrested. A lively
had been kept up with his
riends in New Haven, and in November it
7as decided that he had been sufficiently
estored to health to warrant his return
last. When he got back everybody was
urprised at his robust appearance and con-
him on his complete restoration |
D health. Allen foolishly re-entered with
ew zest on the social pleasures and dissi-
ations of which he had grown so fond be-
,re his departure, but had been deprived
for nearly year.,
Welded a Now Haven Belle.
His courtship of Miss Garrison was re-
ewed. She was the daughter of one of
lew Haven's oldest merchants and a
girl. They were married last
december, 1891, and set up house of their
VII, beautifully furnished, a nest in which
lie most fastidious turtle doves would find {
D difficulty in cooling. As a married
,uple and lavish entertainers their acces- '
on to society was highly priced.
But the curse was working. By April '
e continued dampness and denseness of
le atmosphere of New Haven, city
hich suffered with the whole North At
ntic coast from the unusual atmospheric Y
'nditions, had again set in action the pro- q
sses of disease in Nh. Aliens lungs 1t -
inter in New England, when the doctors Il
sued the first of their dread DEGREES: /
Break up your establishment, sell your S
rniture or ship it to Colorado Springs and !
d goodby to the home OF your childhood c
ID manhood Death will speedily ensue If a