Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-10

GENERAL laxity of the public mind
~ as reflected in actual life, contem-
porary books and plays and moving pic
lures which discuss divorce and the so :
called emancipation of women, are
given by Judge William H. Shoemaker,
of Common Pleas Court No. 1, as chief
reasons for the alarming increase in
divorces in this city and country. =
1.-THE average book you read,' said
the judge, representing the work of
writers prominent in the public eye,
treats Of divorce in light. frivolous
and casual way, that has made this sub
ject lose its terrible significance in the
minds of the public. The same may be
said of many of the plays of today, and
as for the moving pictures, especially
when you consider the masses which
they reach, the effect is .demoralizing.
"Time was, in our fathers day, when
the divorced person was more or less
Stunned by his fellows. Now among
many, especially in the so called higher
circles, it is considered the smart thing.
Women More Independent Of Men
"Then again women at this so called
emancipated stage, when they are able
to earn their own living and are more
or less independent Of men, are assert
ing themselves more than they used to.
Before, in the old dependent days, they
put up with all kinds of suffering and
disappointment and tribulation rather
n to thn COURTS for rnuraSS
Most of the libelants in divorce cases
in nav experience have been women, and
in many cases evidence shows that their
experiences were of most humiliatlng
and intolerable nature"
II was called to the attention of the
Judge that the number of divorces ap-
piled for in this city during the first
six months of this year aggregated
1916, a rate that will run the totals for
the wear well over 5000, the highest in
the history of the city and an advance
of 400 per cent over the period extend
ing back to 1912. 1t was also pointed
out that the number of applications for
divorce had almost doubled since the
armistice.
1t was suggested that the recent high
cost of living might be partly RESPONSE
Bile for this. Judge Shoemaker smiled
and called attention to the fact that
these figures held, despite the fact that
most cases today are heard before
masters and that masters fees during
tie last year or two have advanced
from $50 to SIS, with an additional
charge of $40 for each extra meeting
involved.
About One. sixth Of Petitions Granted
He also showed by statistics that the
courts kept a check rein on the cases.
These figures indicate an average in
crease yearly in divorces of 10 per cent,
or a total since 1912 of 70 per cent.
This is not quite one sixth of the num-
Der of applications made.
but despite this fact,p he stated,
"Philadelphia is rapidly getting a repu
tation as one of the leading cities, il not
the leading city, in the country for di-
vorces. 1t Is at present running a
neck and neck race with Reno. Reno
requires a six months residence, while
this city calls for year; but, on the
] other hand, this city probably outranks
Reno when it comes to the number of
causes for which divorce may be
granted. Here we have about seven
causes, the principal Of which, of
course, is desertion.
$50 widespread has become this
city's reputation as center for di-
vorces that residents of other cities
have chosen it as a sort of Eastern
Mecca. There have been a number of
cases where members of New York's 3
exclusive families have come to estab
lish a one-year residence here for the
purpose of taking advantage of our
| laws on divorce, guaranteeing them a
better chance of getting their desired
freedom than in their own state.
"Of course, where the courts or the
tnr0uSh dseif fbsn investigations
prompt in taking measures to block IL.
Lawyers in the city have received
scores of letters from New York attor :
neys on behalf Of wealthy New York
lclients. jnQuiring about the lava. pros