Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-01-08
Chioago's amazing divorce statistics

with Patrick J. Mccarthy, origin
ator Of the Trial Engagement" plan
to curb the rapidly increasing number
of divorces in Chicago. Mr.. Mccarthy
is marital statistician for Cook county
the only Office Of its kind In the coun-
try. In the official statistics which
he presents, it will be seen that ha-
bitual drunkenness is placed last
among the leading causes for legal
separation.
In view of the fact that Chicago Is
the first city to secure the services of
a marital statistician the statistics
and information presented as the re-
suit Of wide experience and careful
study on the part Of Mr.. Mccarthy IL
certain to prove Of pertinent and PROFIT
able interest to each and every citizen
OF the country.
Part of the Chicago Sunday Her
aid" story follows:
1000 Marital Derelics.
II Mr.. Chicago and Miss Dearborn
would steer clear of the shoals Of ma
trimony, avoiding shipwreck on the
rocks OF divorce, they should heed the
nautical advice Of that weather-beaten
"old" salt, Patrick j. ]. Mccarthy.
After more than years cruise in the
waters of dissension, during which he
saw 1000 marital derelicts, the. pilot
of the good ship Cook County believes
that radical navigation law should
be enacted.
P. j. J. McC. is our divorce stats,
tician-the official keeper of tho
who's Who and Why" records of in-
harmonious domesticity Turning to
a loose-leaf ledger he can tell you the
number of and the reason for every
family split-up since he took office,
and then, leaning back in his com.
Portable armchair, he can give you
great deal more information CHS own
deductions).
Now "Navigatlon Law.
my navigation law is nothing
more or less than trial engagement"
said Mr.. Mccarthy. In my opinion II
would make smoother sailing for the
newlyweds and cut the number OF d.
vorces granted yearly in Cook county
almost In half.
.'Let me illustrated John is in love
with Mary and Mary Is in love with
John. They keep company for 9
while, and then some evening John
pops the age-old question, will you
be mine?' Mary bushes and answers
This is so sudden or something to
that effect. On recovering her breath
she lays her head coyly on Johns
shoulders and whispers, Yes They
are engaged
In nine cases out Of ten John
doesn't know whether Mary can boil
water without burning it-and doesn't
care. In like number Of cases Mary
doesn't know II John Is earning
enough money TO buy the water-and
1T doesn't seem to worry her. They
love each other-that Is sufficient.
Mary can learn to cook In time and
Johns boss will raise his salary in
time. SO why worry?
Startling Divorce Statistics.
"The records show that In 1914
3S,897 marriage licenses were ISSUED
In Cook county. A total Of 5,121 d.
vorce, separate maintenance and an
nulment suits were filed, and total
of 1914 DEGREES were granted In the
same period. The ratio Of suits filed
to marriage licenses Issued was about
l to 6, and the ratio Of suits disposed
Of by decree was approximately 1 to
every licenses issued Taking the
figure 5,121 for the number Of separa-
tons, We had 1 for every 497 inhab-
liant Of the City of Chicago, and l
decree for every 705 inhabitants.
when John and Mary decide that
they love each other sufficiently to
think of marriage they should agree
upon trial engagement John
should go to his folks and say: Mary
will live with US for a week. She
wants to see what kind Of a fellow
] am around the house.
Homecoming Advised.
Il might advise young married
couples to strive to acquire a home OF
their own. It seems more conducive
to domestic happiness than a fat or
apartment The couples who owned
their own homes out of the total Of
1914 DEGREES in 1914 were 70, of which
were concerned in separate main