The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-12-12
END OF A DIVORCE STATE.
North Dakota Made S2,5OO,OoO a Year
Mending Broken Hearts.

Mending Broken Hearts.
There will be NO more ninety-day d.
vorces in North Dakota after July 1.
North Dakota will have but a few ad-
vantages over other states when the
law takes effect, for there are several
places where divorce laws are ptiable
after one years residence, says the
Denver Post. The amended law has
been discussed for years by the
church and temperance" people, who
have argued that the divorce-while-
you-wait law was calculated to give
wrong impression OF the common
wealth. They have now obtained a
new law just as they obtained prohi-
bition, but, like the latter law, the
door is left open for easy access and
exit The North Dakotans are moth
ing If not thrifty. Easy divorce brings
about S2,500.0OO into the state every
year, while it only exports contented
and heart-whole residents" The
wheat farmers of the legislature had
their eyes on the money end Of the
question and threw out the years resi-
dence as sop to the moral enthu-
slasts In this way they had the back
ing OF the banks, lawyers, hotel men
and business men generally, all of
whom appreciate that the divorce
money furnishes business that cannot
be had from any other source. There
is no state where the judges are so
sympathetic toward litigants in the u.-
vorce mills. The courts define cruelty
as any action on the part of the bus-
oand or wife that causes the other
mental suffering. Over nine-tenths OF
the Dakota divorces have been granted
on charges Of cruelty and desertiou.
the former charge predominating. This
new law will be convenient in one
way, for there must be desertion of n
year. and while obtaining a residence
the charge can now be secured In
north Dakota no place amounts to
anything unless it has its divorce
colony. or these the largest is Fargo
with Manden at her heels. The col
ony at the latter place was only
started few years ago, but II has a
record due TO couple of hustling New
York attorneys, who send their clients
out sorrowful and bring them bact
HAPPY Mandan, being the newest
colony furnishes an interesting bit of
life to the observer. There are about
l'oOo citizens and colony OF leo "re,,i-
DENTS and ''would-be residents - 7.
was IN 1896 that Mandan began its ca
reer as a divorce center, and the hooks
Oh the court house show a boomtown
business. From 1889 TO 1896 but civ
pages were used in recording all the
cases heard by the court. From 1898
10 1879 eighty pages have been necas-
sary to enter the causes. and over 5oo
divorces have been granted. Tho noss-
'ioh OF the clerk of the court has ha-
oonie gold mine; the stenographer
ana others who receive fees roll in
wealth. While the Judge has an air ~
prosperity and contentment lie -
.ne coiony is not attractive. but the
enforced stay to obtain a Residence T.
iooAed upon as something bitter loot
must be taken with the sweat 49,
comes at the end. During the day the
principal diversion is a game called
trouble. To play this It Is necossa -.
10 JOIN colony; the moro nl,,,
h Each one must tell his or
ner troubles to every one else ana
t the,e ni.st De no secret. In this game
'He'e are more women than men.