The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-04
AMERICA HOLDS
DIVORCE RECORD.
One Marriage in Every Dozen Ends
.. in Separation-United States
Leads all Other Countries.

any OF the foreign countries tor winch
statistics relating to the subject have
been obtained, not less than one mar
kriage in twelve in this country uln-
nately terminating in divorce. This
tact has been ascertained by the cen
(sus, which has just completed COM
pilation of statistics of marriage and
divorce covering the twenty years
from 1887 to 1906, inclusive. Similar
statistics for the previous twenty
years were gathered some years ago.
The figures show that at the end OF
the forty-year period divorces were
increasing about three times as fast
as the population, increased per 1OO,-
600 Of population from 90 in 1870 to
50 in 1905, there being one divorce
for every 3,4441 persons in the former
year, while the latter there was one
for every 1918 persons.
During the twenty years from 1887
TO 1906 the total number of recorded
marriages was 12,832,04, while the
number of divorces granted during
this period was 945,625. For the pre-
vious twenty years the number of d.
vorces was 328,716. At the begin
ming of the forty-year period divorces
occurred at the rate Of 10000 year,
while at the end Of the period the an
nual number was about $4,000.
A more significant divorce rate is
that which is based, not on total po-
pulation, but on the total married
population, since it is only married
people who can become divorced.
These statistics show that in 1870 the
divorce rate per 100000 married po-
pulation was 81, while in 1900 it was
200. This shows that divorce is at
present two and half times as COM
mon,. compared with the married po-
pulation, as it was forty years ago.
Only two States in the Union, ac-
cording to the statistics, show de-
crease in the divorce rate between the
years 1880 and 1000. These are Utah
and Connecticut. In the former the
rate dropped per 100000 Of popula-
ton from ia in 1880 to go in 1900,
while in the first decade of the period
they increased only about two and
two-thirds as fast. In the six years
from 1900 to 1906, population increas-
ed 10. per cent and divorces 29.3 per
cent.
Six cases were discovered in Utah
in which the husband obtained d.
vorce from his wife on the ground Of
neglect to provide"
Two-thirds Of the total number of
divorces granted in the twenty years
covered by the investigation were
granted to the wife. Desertion is
shown to be the most common cause
Eof divorce, 38.9 per cent Of the total
being for this cause, almost half of
the cases in which the divorce was
Agranted to the husband being for this
cause, while about one-third Of these
granted to the wife for the same
cause. Of divorces granted to hus-
bands 28.8 per cent were for adultery,
while only 10 per cent of those grant
ed to wives were for this cause. More
than one-fourth Of the divorces u
wives were for cruelty, and about 10
5e~ cent Of those to husbands.
Drunkenness was the ground for
aivorce in about five per cent Of the
Eases in which the wife brought suit,
md in about one per cent Of those in
Fhich the husband brought suit.
Only fifteen per cent Of the dlvor-
es were returned as contested. Ali
lony was demanded in l8 per cent
{ the divorces granted to the wife
nd granted to 12.7 per cent. The
roportion Of husbands who asked for
imony was 2.8 per cent and 2 per
ent obtsined it.
The average duration Of marriages
1rminated by divorce is about ten
ears, sixty per cent of them being
ss than ten years. The number OF
bars from marriage to separation
As ascertained in the cases Of 7,77O,-
g divorced couples. Of these 49,
30, or 1913 per cent, separated in
,e first year of married life, and l4.2
er cent in the second year. The sur
Using fact was revealed that 81 per
mt Of the total number separated
I'd became divorced after more than
zenty-five years Of married life.
Children were reported IN 1913 per
ut of the total number Of divorced
- .l:1J,o,, ba;no 1o,oSoOt IN AZ