The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
INDIANA LEAP YEAR CLUBS.
H0OsIER YOUNG WOMEN ARE
SIZING UP THE BACHELORS. =
uarriaEeable Young Men Listed with
Their virtues and Faults-System' IL
Ia Hoped, VIII Lead TO Fewer Divorces.

Tbeir virtues and Faults-System. 1t
Il Hoped, VIII Lead TO Fewer Divorces.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 1O.-An organization,
-h;ch had it's origin in the fact that many
,norriapes in Indiana are followed by ap-
Meals to the divorce courts, but which was
reallv started in q spirit Of fun, bids fair
now to extend to all parts OF the State. ana
a. the end it may prove corrective for the
divorce evil.
several weeks ago some OF the young
ron,en OF Milan, Ripley county, organized
a leap year club. 1t was designed to
furnish information to its members regard
inc manageable young men and bachelors,
and the members proceeded to list the men
of the immediate vicinity, each name being
followed by a short sketch Of the owners
personal characteristics.
This was followed by similar organiza-
tions at Versailles. Osgood, Moores Hill,
Tdllsboro Batesville and other towns In
Ripley and Dearborn counties. Then the
members OF these different organizations
cot together and concluded to act In con-
cert.
Typewritten lists Of the young men aud
their traits were exchanged by the members
of the clubs of the different towns. When
these lists were compared by committees
appointed by the clubs 1t was found that
every young man In the two counties was
listed and in addition all the travelling men
who visit the county and who we're known
TO the young women Of any Of the clubs,
Certain terse designations for the records
we're agreed upon and each OF the young
mon was listed by number in the type
written sheets and this number corre-
sponded to another number in record book
where fuller description was kept.
II. for instance, No. on the typewriter
sheets was followed by the words, not
desirable" a reference to the book gave in
detail the reasons why he was 80 character
azed. If No. was followed by the sentence,
"A hard worker, but stingy,' the record
Rave examples Of acts from which the con-
olusion was reached.
One man was characterized as rich, but
,r,yspepticr; another as too fond OF other
spirlsr; another as good looking, but knows
IT.: another as needs wife with strong
will; and 80 on throughout the list.
The story Of the object for which the
clubs had been formed got out, OF course,
ssnd hundreds Of letters have been received
gby members asking for fuller details. In
iseveral other counties similar clubs are
snow being formed. and 1t Is quite possible
Ahat they win soon exist in nearly all the
bounties OF the State.
The organizers have been complimented
sfrom puipits by ministers who have felt
That the Indiana divorce record 10 dis
Euraoe to the State, and Judges and In
Muential citizens have given the clubs their
unqualified Endorsement 1t Is said that
In Dearborn and Ripley counties the in
Sdsenoe Of the organization " already be-
coming apparent on come OF tho YOUNG
men, for they have found marked dif-
ference between the actions Of some OF
the girls toward them since the clubs were
organized.
This Is specially true Of the young men
who being under more or less OF cloud
Mt home, had found no trouble In entering
the society OF girls in other towns In the
county where they were not 80 well known.
The latest reports on the subject OF d.
.~orce, compiled from all the counties OF
Indiana by the State statistician, show
that there Is one divorce for each seven
marriages. These figures have led people
to commend the course taken by the young
women OF Ripley and Dearborn counties.
and they are urging similar action In other
localities.
1t is not improbable that the organiza-
ton. begun in a spirit Of fun, but now work.
Ding earnestly for the good Of its members.
will be extended-to all parts OF the State
and will prove corrective OF a growing