davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
DIVORCE COMMISSION
HOPELESSLY DIVIDED
Royal Body of Great Britain Presents Two Reports
One of Which Praises System in United States
and Other Scoring II as Undesirable.

/ year. It has now reached a figure which
in proportion to the population Is con
siderabiy more than double that of the
number Of divorces in any other country
OF the world except in Japan, wher,
one in every six marriages is dis.
solved. So marked has been the decay
OF home life in modern times that q
National League for the Protection OF
the Family was formed about thirty
years ago.
England Would Be as Bad.
After making all allowance for differ
ences of national temperament, climate,
and circumstances between England and
the United States, we are bound to rec.
ognize that the two countries have toe
much in common to make 1t probable
that II we, in England. adopt what are
substantially the American grounds for
divorce, we shah escape the grave dis
asters which have admittedly followed
their adoption in the United States.
The unwisdom of neglecting so con-
lspicuous an object lesson Is emphasized
by the fact which apparently Is admit
ted on all hands that now that the pres
ent American divorce law has had time
to break root and bear its inevitable
fruit. no more legislative restrictions,
even IL tractable, will stem the tide of
divorce"
Such are the awful conditions which
are held up to the horror OF English
men by the churchmen who vainly op-
posed the majority report In favor of
greater freedom for divorce in Great
Britain
There Is every evidence. however. that
these pious gentlemen are pointing the
finger of scorn toward America in vain.
If the recommendations of the majority
Of the commission are adopted and en-
bodied in the law, as apparently they
will be. divorce will become just as easy
in Great Britain as 1t is now in America
and in all probability it will become Just
as common.
The principal reason for the small num-
Der Of persons seeking divorce in Eng
land in the past has been the great cost
of legal proceedings, making it impos-
sible for poor people to obtain divorce.
One result OF the English marriage and
divorce restrictions is that in large sec
tions of London and many manufacture
ing towns in England hundreds of thou
sands Of people live together as man and
wife without any marriage ceremony be-
ing performed. While English church,
men are holding up their hands in horror
at American divorce statistics, it would
be we'll for them to consult the statistics
regarding illegitimate birth and unsanc-
uhed marriages in their own dioceses.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
FLASHES FROM Old WORLD
CROWN PRINCESS
TO HELP NEEDY
Plans Unique Tea to Raise Funds
for Germany's "Gentle
Poor"
sp,ci.l ~. % N. washingtOa Hsrlld.

Special Cabs to Ths Washington Herald
Berlin, Nov. ls.-with the end OF NO
vember comes the time when the Spirit
Of the approaching Christmas begins 70
move the hearts of the Germans toward
charity, and charity feasts are the order
of the day Thanks TO the generosity
which is one Of the main characteristics
of the BerlIner, few Of the very poor In
this city lack food. warmth. and COM
fort during the Christmas holidays, but
there is a large class OF gentle paupers
who are ashamed to admit their poverty
and who suffer great priyations in ST.
Ience because their condition is known
to only very few.
1t Is this class Of poor people which the
popular Crown Princess Cecile proposes
to take under her special protection this
year. and with that purpose in view she
has organized a unique charity tea
which is TO take place next week. The
proceeds of this function are TO be de-
voted to the amelIoration Of needy mem
bers Of the German aristocracy and
others who come under the head OF the
gentle poor"
This class is inordinately large. II In
cludes members OF the best families in
Teuton noble nomenclature, and the mil
itary cast is strongly represented.
Hundreds upon hundreds of ''vons' who
have either not been able or inclined to
keep march with the progress Of events
in the highly commercialiZed Father
land are said to be on the brink Of destl-
tuition and dependent upon such benefac-
tons as the crown princess has just
taken in hand. Her imperial highness
has hit upon a novel way of insuring
the financial success OF the undertaking.
She has asked some $50 leading society
ladies to assist her by presiding over in
dividual tea tables, for which they must
furnish everything-porcelain, glassware
linen, decorations. and servants-and
they must, in addition, guarantee a min
imum profit OF 100 marks apiece.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
RED TAPE COSTS
ENGLISH $4,000
Ancient Comedy of Rights Between
Government Departments
Proves Costly.
spccial cIbls to ms washiaEton Herald.

London. Nov. I6.-One OF those quaint
official comedies with which civil serv-
ants are wont 10 enIiven the tedium of
their duties has just come to an end after
a run OF fifty years
During that time 1t has involved about
10000 letters and an equal number Of
postage stamps. and has led to one de-
partment paying another some $1,000 in
excess postage.
When q coroners inquest Is concluded
It is the duty Of that official to send a
certificate notifying the registrar OF the
jury's verdict.
As a government department writing
to ourselves about a matter Of State"
said the registrar-generars department.
we shall not pay for the postage of
these certificates"
The post-ofice. on the other hand, took
refuge in It's famous and ImpregrabIe
formula, I'VE have no regulations gov
erning this matter"
You, postman." 1t said, will treat q
coroner's letter just as you would treat
chemists letter, and charge double pos
tage for 1t II 1t bears no stamp"
Accordingly. registrars OF births, mar
riages, and deaths have long been in the
habit OF diving into their government
pockets every time the postman brought
a certificate. and paying the government
twopence Of government money which
the government had fined itself
These picturesque old customs of ours
are ever being swept away by the re-
morseless vacuum cleaner OF modern
methods. The old quarrel between the
postmaster general and the registrar
general has been settled. The post
master general has climbed down after
fifty years.
1t was stated by DR.. Wynn westcott,
the coroner, at an inquest at Hackney on
Saturday, that new set Of forms had
just been issued, marked. officially
paid
1T is a very sensible reform" added
the coroner.
But he did not see the hidden tragedy
Of IT all-the anguished despair Of the
civil servant, bereft OF his fifty-year-old
plaything, and set woefully searching for
some other red-tape tangle with which
to amuse himself at the taxpayers ex-
pense.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
FRENCH PRISONERS
TRADE PLACES
One Agrees to Serve Term of the
Other, but Bertillon Measure
ments Block Plan.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald
Paris, Nov. ia case of transaction in
prison whereby one prisoner who was
about to be liberated agreed to serve the
sentence of another man has just come to
light. Every month NJ. Bertillon, the d.
rector of the Anthropometric Service, re-
ceives from the central prison a descrip-
ton OF the prisoners who are to be liber-
ated. A week ago the report bearing on
prisoner named Bretcher reached him
frol-- Loos jail AS is his custom, NJ. Ber-
tillon compared 1t with that which he pos
Sc sses in his offices.
He found that the two reports did not
correspond. Believing that mistake had
been made by the authorities Of Loos
prison, he ordered a second report to be
sent to him. This was Identical to the
first one. He was now convinced that
something Of an unusual character had
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
,p.,s.l OH. to III. w,.hinr.uu H.r.ld.

sperisl Cable to Ths Washington Herald.
Glasgow. Nov. Is.-Exceptional heroism
and bravery does not need battlefield
or a sudden calamity as a setting. Its
merit Is the same II 1t be achieved amid
the ordinary happenings Of everyday life
and death
Such a tale OF quiet. splendid heroism
comes from the north Of Scotland The
sheer. spontaneous bravery Of II, the un-
questioning Of self-sacrihce. made with
out a moments hesitation, impressed it.
self so yividly upon one Of the witnesses
that II will remain the outstanding MEM
ory Of lifetime
The scene was the humble cottage
house Of working man and his wife In
one Of the outlying districts Of Glas-
cow. Their little boy Of fve years was
dying OF one OF the most malignant dis
eases a child can suffer from-diphtheria-
The swiftness with which the dreaded
membrane, the poisonous matter. grows
closes the air passage in the throat.
In this particular case the crisis had
come on with terrible rapIdity. and the
doctor was summoned with all haste.
What followed is best told IN these words
Of the witness:
UnforgettabIe Scene.
'T shall never forget to my dying day
the scene in the little cottage kitchen
with the dying child lying on the bed In
front Of the IRE and the parents, grief
stricken. sitting in a semi-dazed condi-
ton.
There was a gas jet burning. hut the
room seemed to be lit by freight.
could only see this and the child
When the doctor arrived its condition
was critical The disease was as ad-
vanced as IL could be without actual
death. Directly the doctor saw the little
boy he saw that 1t was a case for instant
action.
What 1 saw next will always remain
the bravest deed have ever seen or
could possibly conceive.
''WIthout q moments hesitation he de-
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
DOCTOR RISKS LIFE TO
SAVE CHILD OF MINER
No Thought of Danger to Self. and Reward
Is Loss of Victims Life.

sided on the last desperate remedy
Making an incision In the child's
throat. he knelt down and proceeded de-
liberately to suck out the vurulsnt.
poisonous diphtheria matter In the wind
pipe.
mot once. but two and three times, he
put his mouth to the little boys throat
with apparently not the slightest thought
Of the terrible danger he was himeslf
running.
He was deliberately risl<ing his life
for the child's. as surely as the soldier
goes back to rescue q wounded comrade
under fire. with the difference that no
one was seeing his heroic EFFORT
own Life In Danger.
That his splendid sacrifice was In
vain was the bitterest thing Of all. though
II does not IN any way detract from the
heroism Of the deed
His own life was undoubtedly in dan
ger atrerward. and that night he was
very unwelL
given to miners and other brave men
who risk their lives for the sake Of
others. Surely it ought to be possible for
some similar recognition to be made to
the medical profession for their splendid
deeds
went through the South African war.
and have seen many brave acts, but
the bravest ! saw anywhere was the one
which saw enacted In that little kitchen.
The memory of the dying child on
the Scotch bed in front OF the fire, the
beautiful courge and devotion o fthe
doctor, VIII never fade.
He was an entire stranger to me, and
l shall probably never see him again,
but count myself proud and fortunate
even TO have known for so short a period
an unknown hero behind the scenes"
The doctor was DR.. John Munro Camp
bell. NJ L, Of Glasgow, and IL is salts
factory to know that he has suffered no
i'll effects Of his brave act.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
SHAW FLOODED
WITH REAL WOOL
Pair of Sheep Increase to Whole
Flock and Shearing Causes
Embarrassment.
.shington Herald.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
London, Nov. 16-The cause of George
Bernard Shaw's partiaIity for suits made
of homespun cloth is given by a writer In
the Express.
1t all came about, says the writer, from
&. b. ). s admiration-or that of his wife
for two black sheep. The owner was so
hattered that he insisted on making them
a present of the sheep. Being yegetar-
ians, they did not know what to do with
them, and so they put the twin sheen out
TO board and lodge on a desolate farm in
the north of Ireland, while they them
selves returned to civilization. Within
a few months couple of bales of wool
were sent, and were speedily turned into
homespun for Mr.. Shaw and his wife
But when the next shearing came they
had more wool than they knew what to
do with, so they sent it to their rela-
tives.
Time passed. and Mr.. Shaw's prosperity
increased-so did the wool. After his rela-
tives he tried It on his neighbors. In
fact so much cloth arrived that all his
friends-excepting only the critics-were
wearing clothes from the shaven sheep.
He is said to have clothed many an am
bilious actor appearing in his plays, but
with the increase of the wool came a po-
lite intimation from the far1ler that he
could no longer afford to board and lodge
the sheep at the same rate as previously.
Then the truth leaked out-the black
sheep bad lost no time in following their
owners teachings against race suicide.
Mr.. Shaw wrote more plays in the hope
of getting into touch with actors who
were not vegetarians and actresses who
liked lhomespun. but even his versatility
was not equal to the sheep, which multi
piled exceedingly. And so Mr.. Shaw can
say with Shylock, when asked IL his
money is so much sheep and lambs, 81
cannot tell; made It breed as fastl"
AIIsHt,sa recently exported Z: aE.t cargo Of Din.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
PRINCE TO PUSH
CLAIM TO THRONE
Jean Ghika, Hero of Many Adven-
lures, Seeks to Preside
Over Albania.
SPECIAL Gable to Ths Washington Herald.


Paris, Nov. 16.-Prince Jean Ghika,
cousin Of the prince who married Miss
Hazel Singer, of Chicago, and Of Prince
George Ghi<a, who married the Paris
music hall beauty, Lame de Pougy, has
gone to Athens to push his claim as pre-
tender to the throne of Albania. Prince
Ghika married an Irish woman named
Margaret Bowling, a cousin of Lord
Lansdowpe, and promptly squandered her
fortune in pushing his claim as pretender.
SO thoroughly did he succeed in dIssi-
pating her worldly goods that the prin-
cess is now eking out q livelihood selling
the handiwork of Roumanian peasants in
the Rue Royale.
Prince Ghika once wrote a series of
poetic and infiammatory love letters to
the Princess de Chlmay. begging her to
fee with him to the wilds and forests
of Rounania and there, communing with
nature, both would forget their unhappy
pasts. The princess prosaicaIly turned
the letters over to Rigo. who could not
read them.
Another of Ghilxas adventures was
when he organized a theatrical company
with Della Rogers. OF Denver, as a star.
The company was stranded In Athens
and the star married the manager of the
Berlin Theater. declining the pretender
to the throne of Albania and thus sacri-
ficing all hopes Of being a Balkan
queen.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
speall Cable to ms wsahinEton Herald.

Spazn Cable to ms Washington Herald.
London, Nov. 1s.-The royal divorce
commission, after three years Of con.
tugal pickering, has brought in a report
or rather two reports, showing hope
less incompatibility OF temper among its
members. The result has been to let
loose food of discussion which almost
drowned out the Balkan war, the Eu-
ropean crisis and the defeat of the gov
ernment on the Irish home rule question.
The public is as hopelessly divided as
the members of the commission. Every
body has an opinion to express and
everybody is expressing it George Ber-
nard Shaw sums II all up with his usual
cynicism when he says:
The majority report OF the divorce
commission is not quite so idiotic as the
minority, but the moral Of both is:
Don't get married"
After three years Of solemnly taking
hundreds of thousands of words of tes-
timony, the majority of the commission
recommends that women should have the
same rights as men in obtaining a di-
vorce. Impossible as IL may seem to
Americans, no woman hitherto could OBJ
tain a divorce in England on the sole
ground Of inhdelity, while a man on
the other hand could obtain a divorce
on this ground alone.
Minority Report Startling.
Apart from this one recommendation,
the necessity for which would amaze
any one but an EngIishman, the ma
jority report is OF little interest to
Americans. 1t merely recommends that
divorces should be granted on the same
grounds and with the same ease as they
are now granted in practically all
American States except South Carolina
The minority report, however, which
opposes extending grounds for divorce,
holds up the United States as a horrible
example against which all Englishmen
and women must guard themselves II
they are not to fall into the same hideous
conditions as those which now prevail
in America.
I'm the United States the excessive
prevalence OF divorce is notorious" says
this minority report, which is signed by
the Archbishop of York, Sir William
Anson. the historian, and Sir Louis Dib-
din. the famous church lawyer. THE
outstanding fact is that in the case OF
the great English-speakng American
people, which has, and for many years
has had, a divorce law largely similar
to that which our colleagues would see
established in this country, the number
Of divorces has grown rapidly year by
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
MRS. MARSHALL o. ROBERTS,

Mrs. Roberts. the American million
airess, who has just re-entered society.
has not yet recovered from her terrible
grief at the loss of her only child, Daisy
Irene, five years old. who was killed in
an elevator accident at her home in Gros-
venor Square a year ago.
Mrs Roberts marriage took place at
the Guards Chapel in 1903, and created
great interest on account of her youth,
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
Vaudeville and Sentiment.
lie to The WashinEton Herald.

Special Cable TO The Washington Herald
Strasburg, Prussia, Nov. l6.-At local
vaudeville hall the authorities forbid the
performance OF "A Royal Divorce" a
play in which the plot revolves round Ma
poleon, until the following passage had
been inserted in a speech by the Little
Corporal"
Il am haunted by the most somber
presentiments. II 1t were not for those
Prussians. Those Prussian Grenadiers
They march to battle like a living wall
impossible to penetrate"
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
BANK MESSENGER HERE
Man Who Took $4,000 from Berlin
Bank Traced by Teller.

Special Cable to The Washington Herald
Berlin, Nov. 16.-Gustav Drumming, the
messenger of the Dresdener Bank Of
Berlin, who escaped with $4,000 of the
banks money, is in the United States.
A letter from him was received by a
former messenger at the bank stating
he was well and safe in Hoboken and
that he had bad fine journey across the
ocean. The Berlin police cabled to New
York, hoping the fugitive would be
caught. but the opinion Of the inspectors
here is that Drumming probably went
West Immediately after posting the let
ter at Hoboken.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17

attractions, and the great wealth OF her
young American husband. who became a
naturaliZed British subject.
The couple, although happily married.
had singularly bad luck in several ways.
During the honeymoon in France they
met with a serious automobile accident,
both being badly injured. In 1908 Mrs.
Roberts most valuable jewels were
stolen from the house in Grosvenor
Square.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
Gets $500 for Smile.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
London, Nov. 16.-For smiling pleasant
ly at her as she left the church. Mrs.
Walker. wife of the cashier at the Cap
ital and Counties Bank. Chelmsford, has
been left legacy of 800 by the late Miss
Alice Hodges. of Chelmsford.
When told of her good fortune, Mrs.
Walter explained that she sat near Miss
Hodges at church. and as she came out
she was in the habit of smiling at her
and exchanging few pleasant words.
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17

Systematic exercise according to tests in German
university, be made TO incSan Q nana lung
capacity u per cent
The Washington herald., 1912-11-17

Argentina recently exported It's hrst cargo Of tin,
German foundry beng The destination.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31
Impressions Delivery Men Get.

From the New York Sun.
It's lucky the tenants don't see some
of the comments jotted down by delivery
men beside their dumbwaiter bell in the
basement said the superintendent of
an apartment house. while it's against
the rules to scribbfe on the whitewas he'd
walls, still some of these penciled notes
are SO good that let them stay. For in
stance, opposite the dumbwaiter bell con-
Meeting with an apartment occupied by a
very deaf woman, who's alone most of
the day, some one has printed in big
capitals, Deaf as a post. Give message
to halIboy' This has saved a lot of
trouble, SO I've left it there. Another,
where the tenants name is almost I'M
pronounceable. has beside it the name
divided into syllables, with an immense
accent showing on which syllable 1t be-
longs. That struck me as a good idea
and l left IL stand, too Ring loud enough
10 drown the piano. is the advice printed
beside the bell of an apartment occupied
by music teacher, which struck me as
good enough to keep there for the gen.
eraI good of the various delivery people"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

The Washington Colony, No. f. of the
National Society of New England Nom-
en-, at a recent meeting, voted 10 sepa-
rate from the parent colony, with head
quarters in New York city, and form an
independent local society. The new or
ganization will be known as the New
England Women of Washington. the OBJ
ject of which will be to bind, by the ties
of a common interest, the women born in
New England, or of direct parentage
therefrom: to give aid and encourage
ment to those New England women who
are strangers and at a distance from
their birthplace who may be in need, and
to instilI into the hearts Of the younger
generation love for the traditions OF
New England and a proper pride in its
history. The officers are Mrs. Bertha
NJ. Robbins, president; Mrs. Joseph A.
Gilfllan, vice president; Miss Addie Z.
Bourne. corresponding secretary; Miss
Della F. BOtsford, recording secretary,
and Miss Lillian A. Norton, treasurer.
the fourth Monday of each month, with
an occasional social meeting. Almost
every member of the Washington colony
Joined the new society and several new
applications were received.
Livingston Manor Chapter Daughters
of the American Revolution. met with
Mrs Britain. 1913 18th street, Wednes-
day at 2:30 pm. The program was as
P1pe The HnS of New iSSn nork
d
piano solo. Miss McCausland; paper. The
Story of the Five Nations Miss McIn-
tosh, and paper. THE Lost Colony of Roa-
noke." Mrs Nagle. The historian gave
some historical notices. Refreshments
were served by the hostess.
Deborah Knapp Chapter. Daughters of
the American Revolution, held its March
meeting at the home of the vice regent,
Mrs John H. Stokes, the Portner. The
Mrc NJ Davis nPnGlIad
The meeting was opened by devotional
exercises conducted by the chaplain. Mrs
Hulda Bready. Yearly reports We're called
for and the historian, Miss Gratia Curtis.
and the registrar. Miss Celynda Ford, re
sponded with reports. The treasurer, Mrs.
c. ". Ford, gave a report showing d
good financial condition for the chapter.
| Owing to the long business session the
paper which was to have been given by
Mrs Hulda Bready on The War of 1S12'
was postponed until the April meeting. A
social hour was enjoyed by the members
and guests, Miss Carter of Herndon, Va,
and Miss Ruth Ayres Stokes, daughter Of
the hostess.
Farragut Corps, w. r. c.. No. ;, met
Tuesday al headquarters with the presi-
dent, Mrs Van Ness. in the chair and
sixteen members and two visitors present
Three applications for membership Were
read and a committee of investigation APP
pointed. orders from national and de-
partment headquarters We're read. Mrs.
Fannie NJ Pratt was installed into the
Office of junior vice president by Mrs.
Olive Raymond. The president called
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31

Twenty-three members of the Capt.
toll Hill History Club assembled We'd
neSday afternoon at the home of Mrs
J. c. Weldon. 80 street northwest
for the regular biweekly meeting OF
the club. Several visitors We're pres
ent. At the close of the business meet
ing character sketches of Martin
Luther, by Mrs George Felt. and Mary
Queen of Scots, by Mrs. Jason Water
man, were read. On roll call quota
tions from Shakespeare We're given.