Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-22
RENO IS ECL|PSED
BY PARIS SINCE WAR
French Capital Now Mecca OF
Rich Americans Who Seek
Marital Freedom.
Prom The Washingfon a Pos

liz Is a significant fact that some OF ene
most fashionable women IN New York
society have recently gone to Paris France,
for their divorces, rather than to Keno,
New, or some other popular center OF
the American divorce industry.
During the past few months Mrs.
Or,en l.. Mills. daughter of Mrs. w.
II. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Leonard Thomas,
the noted beauty, have obtained divorces
with remarkable secrecy In the French
capital A few months before that 1T was
the distinguished Mrs. phil Lydig who
obtained her freedom IN the same city.
In the early years of the war the equally
distil gllishcd Mrs. Clarence Mackay,
now Mrs. Joseph A. Blake, divorced MIR.
Mackay from the vantage ground of
4aris residence She appears TO have
been a pioneer in the movement among
the smart set 20 secure matrimonial relief
from the French courts.
Other names, could be added to the
hist but the four women mentioned
represent in the highest degree the beauty,
brains, wealth, smartncss, distinction,
clevcrness and originality OF New York
society. Their example sufficiently proves
the statement that there Is tendency IN
the fashionable set 10 go to Paris Tor
divorce, rather than TO Reno or any othe
American resort.
Shall we see Paris entirely supplant
Reno as the home of easy and pleas
ant divorce? Social authorities say that
more women viii still go to Reno, but
the srnartcst will prefer Pans. A divorce
originating in the latter place Will have the
cachet of supreme elegance and distlnc-
tlon.
LAW OFFERS ATTRACTIONS.
Investigation has proved that French
laws offer attractions TO those seeking
easy divorce fully AS great as those OF
Nevada-in some respects greater. The
most important point about the French
divorce law is that the Judge may con-
sidcr any period as establishing legal
residence for the petitioner, whereas
Nevada requires a residence of SIX months.
The French Judge may decide that
a woman who has been in France for
q week, or even for d day, has acquired
a legal residence enabling her to sue
for divorce Ii rs not believed that such
n decision has been given, but 1T is possible
in principle. The point Is left entirely to
the wisdom of the Judge.
IL is not necessary for the parties to be
citizens Of France. for the French code
LAYS down as a general principle that for
eigners resident in France shall enjoy
the same benefit and protection from
French laws as citizens of the country.
Service of notice to appear and de-
fend a suit for divorce may be made
by publication in the newspapers if the
nudge decides that IL Is the only reason
able procedure.
After the first fling of divorce CON-
plant the judge issues ''requete en-
Cancellation" which is demand that
the parties shall appear before him and
endeavor 10 settle their differences with
his assistance. If they fail to respond
OF fail 10 agree the suit proceeds.
The testimony may be taken by deposi-
ton il the Judge so orders, thus insuring
perfect secrecy and the minimum of dis
tress and discomfort to a woman plaintiff.
II the Judge Is satisfied that the plaintiff
Is entitled to a divorce he grants an
interlocutory judgment, as in England and
IN some American States. This is for
SIX months,at the end OF which time
II NAV be made absolute. Tne iudg-
ment is prom ulgated so quietly that
IN several cases of American appli-
rants il has escaped public knowledge
for many months after II was gwen.
The grounds for divorce IN France are
not dissimilar TO those OF Nevada, where
cruelty Is listed AS a cause and has been
construed by judges TO cover such offens-
er as speaking unsympathetically to a
wife or not spoaklrg 10 her often enough.
The serious grounds of divorce In
France are infdehty and convection of an
infamous crime The lighter grounds are
classed together under Article 2Sl of
the French civil code as "exccsSes, cruelties
and grave injuries" ." The French expires
sion injuries graves, which is roughly
translated as grave injuries covers
moral and physical injuries, abusive
langliage and, IL fact, nearly every kind
and degree cf injury. II would cover that
vague complaint, ''incompatibility,
which has often been accepted as g
ground for divorce IL American courts.
GAMBLING CAUSE.
French Judges have interpreted the
provisions Of their code as covering
WIDE variety of acts. Gambling habits
on the part Of 8 husband and recklessly
accusing wife OF lnfdelity have been
construed as ground for divorce. Les
raots grossiers - gross words are held
70 be- sufficient cause.
A ''mutuel divorce" may be granted
hv the French courts where each party
brings similar charges against the other
and offers proof. In q case where the
defendant offers no defense the divorce is
pronounced with quietness and dispatch.
A singular advantage appears to be
offered 10 complaining wives In Reno or,
perhaps, any town IN America. The
bouleyards Of Paris, with their endless
theaters and restaurants, appear more
fascinating 70 these fair expatrlates than
the simple delights of Main street, Reno,
with It's one cabaret, It's shooting galleries.
bootblack parlors, its motion picture
shows and its forlorn bars.
The historic Rue de la Paix, with
It's splendid shops, once considered the
most expensive in the world, but now
surpassed In this respect
bg Fifth avenue, offers consultations TO
these refugees awaiting relief from the
'cruelties" Of their husbands.
Drives IN the beautiful Champs Elvsees
and the Bos de BoulogI bring joy to the
heart in the springtime and chase away
sarrOw from these delicate victims Of
masculine brutality. A trip to the races
az LOngchamps IS more distinguished
than a ride TO the roadhouse where "Jim" !
JefIries trained for his historic conflict
with "Jack" johnson.
One Of the most interesting of these |
recent Paris divorces is that obtained
by Mrs. Ogdep Livingston Mills. Jr,
formerly Margaret Rutherford who Is a
daughter Of Mrs w X Vanderbilt bv . |
previous marriage Mrs Mills is a great |
beauty, Of very distinguished type, with |
hne features and statuesque figure. She |
was only married in 1911 to Mr.. Mills q
grandson Of the rnultimillionaire. ID o |
Mills, and son Of Mrs. Ogden Mills. /