Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-19
NEW LAW PUTTING
END TO THE RENO
DIVORCE COLONY
Six Months Residence Require
ment Supplanted by One
Year Ruling.

RENO, New, Jan. 19.-with the
ringing out of the old year came the
death-blow to the Reno Divorce Col
ony,' for 1t marked the expiration of
the six months residence law.
The colony owed its existence pri-
marily to the short time-residence re-
quirement, combined with the many
causes of action recognized as grounds
. for divorce in this State. The new
law requires one years residence.
During the four years from 1910 to
1914 this colony numbered 2,250 men
and women. Ninety-one rushed in
during the last month, and the last
day, Wednesday, broke all records.
Approximately 300 are today safe
within the closed door, having begun
= their residence prior to July 1 and
filed their complaint prior to January
!. Some of the most prominent will
have gained their DEGREES and depart
ed within the present month of jan
uary, while others will not see the ter
mination of their suits until Feb
ruary, or even later. The remaining
300 colonists will comprise the "col-
ony'' until then.
New Years eve witnessed great
scenes of hilarity and merrymaking.
The cafes have been spending $4,000
q month in musical and cabaret en-
tertainment alone. Every table was
reserved in advance. In the crowds
were some of the most prominent and
wealthy New York divorces. In the
midst of a drenching rain, which con-
tinued all day and night, the festivi-
ties continued, from early evening till
nearly daybreak. The fact that 1t was
the final scene In divorce colony &C.
tivities in Reno was significantly q
subject of frequent comment among
the throngs.
May Contest New Law.
There has been much talk of con-
testing the constitutionality of the
new law requiring years residence
for jurisdiction after this in an effort
TO restore the old law.
Two New York women, whose iden-
tity was kept secret, stepped from the
de luxe Overland Limited train here
at 11:40 on the night of December 81.
An automobile rushed them to a cot
tage home awaiting them, and they
began their Reno residence before the
clock struck the hour of midnight.
Besides bringing with them young
children and maids or companions a
number of the women have been ac-
companied by some pet animal, most
ly high-class dogs. One woman bur-
ried from the Pullman steps up to
the express car, yelling something ex-
citedly to the man hustling the bag
gage from the car door.
What is it you want-a dog?"
mol" she yelled. MY bird"
A party of eight women with three
children arrived A placard attached
to their hand baggage bore in red
and black lettering the legend, Reno
by December 81 or bust"
About sixty per cent. of the rem
nant of the divorce colony are women
and forty per cent. men. Tt must be
said that many of the women are
quiet, retiring and devoted to their
children. never figuring in the activ-
tiles which have drawn so much pub
lie attention upon the colony. There
are many business men who are like
wise discreet. But there are enough
of the other class to keep up the
pace. Every night, from the early lin
ner hour to or 8 O'Clock in the morn
ing, the cafes are thronged with rich
ly-gowned women, some of them with
their affinities, dining and drinking,
as the cabaret entertainers sing or
dance. Many OF the divorces and
their companions daily spend hours
, at an elaborate evening dinner and
then go for an auto ride or to a the
atre, leaving others to wine and dine
with the late Corners.
Outing Parties for Summer.
The diversions during the summer
season have been largely outdoor.
Dances of all degrees of responsibility,
semi-respectability and risqueness
gave place to outing parties along the
Truckee river, which runs through the
heart of the city. Some were members
of tennis clubs. All available saddle
horses in the city and county are
: spoken for days in advance, and the
women alone or in pairs or groups
rode out day or night. Auto joy rid
ing at one time became so boisterous
as to compel official action by the City
Council. There are $50 automobiles in
Reno today. ranging from Millionaire
Wingfield's big $500 car to the latest
designs of small closed electric and
Reno has only 1900 population.
During the years 1910 to 1918, in
elusive, 2,216 divorce petitions were
tlled-493 in 1910, 546 in 1911, 5SS in
1912, $50 in 1913 To so per cent. de-
cent. of the prominent applications
from the Atlantic coast obtained de-
crees.
New York furnished the largest
number, with California, Canada, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Penn
sylVanla trailing in the order named.
Europe furnished about IS.
About 120 divorce es have immediate
" remarried-many of them to their
"affinities."
About 20 per cent. of the applicants
have had no children. Only about 5
per cent. have asked any alimony for
themselves; only about ten per cent.
tthose having children of minor age)
have asked for maintenance for chill
dren.
About 5 per cent. of the DEGREES
have been granted upon publication
service