The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-22

not been heard from since. The
husband, still living in Canada.
wants TO know If under the new
law he can obtain a divorce.
Other inquiries of a complicated
nature have also been received
from hundreds CT alleged New
Workers dwelling in other states
Apparently everybody who has ever
lived in New York and has since
been deserted by a nomadic spouse
wants to take advantage Of the
Enoch Arden feature. Most OF the
cases, however, are brought by per
manent residents here in the state
of New York. who have hitherto
been handicapped by the stringency
of the old divorce law.
The tremendous popularity Of
the new Swift act is probably due
to the fact that it is regarded as
essentially fair and Just. When one
of the partners to a marriage CON
tract suddenly vanishes without
warning. leaving no trace, and re-
mains in silent retirement for a
period Of five years, the deserted
partner-most people will agree
is justified in taking steps TO end
the marriage. In the past, the New
York divorce law made no allow
anceS for such a situation A mar
ried woman had to present the
court land az the same time all OF
her friends and acquaintance
with certain uneIevating facts CON
corning her husband before she
could obtain her freedom This
necessity, always regrettable, was
also impossible when the husband
had completely disappeared As a
result, the Enoch Arden drama oc-
Cured rather frequently in family
life. sometimes with ugly compli-
cations.
An Unusual Case.
There is the case of one woman,
for instance, who was cruelty de-
serted by her husband, a young &C
tor of rowing disposition, when
their baby was only three months
old. The young wife. herself
scarcely more than child. worked
and supported her boy for 10 years.
At the end of that time she receiv-
ed an offer Of marriage from a
wealthy business man She did
not know what to do. She had
never heard a word from her miss
ing husband. and her friends all
assumed that he was dead So did
the man who wanted to marry her.
She could not afford to go to some
other state and secure a divorce on
the grounds of desertiOu-Chieiy
because she did not have the neces-
sary money, but also because she
could not rely upon the patience
of her wealthy sutton. AS she con
f1ded to a friend, "It-was a chance
that had to be Sapped up quickly.
And I took it"
Three years later, as they say IN
the movie captions. the actor-hus-
band returned and found his wife
happily married to another man,
enjoying an attractive home and
social position and a delightful
baby girl. 1t was manifestly up to
him to melt psthetically out of the
picture in the time-honored Enoch
Arden fashion, but he refused to
accept his proper cue. Instead, Il
occurred to him that here was a
fine opportunity for bIackmail Not
long after that the whole mel0dra-
matte story was reported in the
newspapers. The wife had finally
disposed of her Enoch Arden by
shooting him.
The advisa biiity of making a Ave
year period of desertion one OF the
national grounds of divorce is now
being considered by prominent
clergymen and other reformeFs VINO
are interested in securing a ma
tional amendment creating uniform
divorce laws. If it is ever accom-
plished. Mr.. Swift will appear in
future history as one of the great
est liberators of the ages.