The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-04-17
TIE VANDERBILT DIVORCE.
An Example Of the Most Pernicious Char
ncter Imaginable.

An Example Of the Most Pernicious Char
acter Imaginable.
The method by which the Vanderbilt
divorce was arranged is scandal to our
Jurisprudence. Worse than that, it is
an influence for tho degradation Of
public morals and the breaking down Of
the popular sense Of right and wrong.
Practically Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt
divorced themselves. There was no
hearing before court. The parties
did not appear before the tribunal.
There was no public proof Of infidelity
on either side to serve as n punishment
to the guilty party or as deterrent in
fluence in the case of others. Tho whole
matter was arranged by dickor. The
only function of tho court was to give
legal effect TO tho terms Of tho bargain.
Is it, then, the privilege Of the rich
to annul their marriages at pleasure by
mutual agreement Tho law, rigidly en-
forced against all ordinary citi2ons, pre-
scribes that collusion between husband
and wife shall bo an offectual and per-
omptory bar to divorce. Yet this rich
man and woman have sent their law
yers into court with a collusive agree
ment already made; tho court has sup
pressed the evidence agreed to be pre-
sented by sending the case to reforoo
instead Of hearing II in open session;
the referee has made report In accord
ance with the terms of the dicker; tho
court has affirmed it, ordering tho pa
pers sealed so that there may be no
scandal-which means simply that tho
guilty party shall be spared all social
shame and Inconvenience - and tho
terms Of the collusive agreement havo
been embodied in q decree which au.
thorizes one party to marry again at
pleasure and imposes upon tho other q
prohibition Of marriage which is as in
effeotual as bull against comet
In saying this we do not mean to re-
fleet upon Justice Barrett. He is judge
whose eminent learning and conspicu-
Gus service are properly appreciated by
the community. But in this matter he
is the instrument of vicious system
which prevails, we believe, only in New
York and which certainly does not ob-
tain in most of the other states.
Unless we accept the unclean doctrine
Of free love- marriage and divorce are
not in any sense private matters. The
family relation lies at the very founda-
tion Of society. Divorce equally with
marriage is matter Of public concern
and should be decreed only after pub
lie hearing and public proof Of statutory
cause.
A case Of this kind sets an example of
the most pernicious character imagina-
BILE. 1t means to the majority that there
is one law for the rich and another for
the rest of us. 1t means that if you
have money enough your marriage vows
may count for nothing. 1t means that
your misconduct will be carefully guard
ed against exposure by all the authority
the courts possess. 1t means that while
collusive divorce proceedings are per-
emptorily thrown out of court in tho
case of ordinary persons q Inultimil-
lionaire and his wife may arrange such
a proceeding in full assurance that it
will be ratified by the courts, and that
all tho scandalous details will be secure
ly hidden boneath tho sacred seal of tho
tribunal. New York World.