The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-03-18
WIFE RESENTS HIS
AGE; HE adopts HER
Court Approves Plan and
Grants Legal Papers.

St. Joseph, MO.-Hans G. Arentzen
and Elizabeth /. Arentzen did not find
the relations as husband and wife con-
genial-at least Elizabeth didn't-so
they entered into an agreement TO be
divorced. Hans is old enough to- be
E~lizabeth's grandfather, and she is not
out of her twenties.
The conjugal state had existed sew
eral years when the young wife. ap-
piled to the Circuit court last week
for a decree of divorce, and Judge
William H. Utz granted the petition.
The Arentzens were married in Sa-
varnah, Mo-, in 1921, and have lived
together in st. Joseph ever since.
Arentzen, who is caretaker of a
local church, has reached that stage
of life when men Of frugal habits pre-
fer their pipe and a seat at the FIRE
side to the moving picture show or
the dance hall. Mrs. Arentzen has
not yet passed the age at which many
women experience tender emotions at
the view Of the sheIk Of the cinema.
and find the syncOpatlOn Of the fox
trot and the two step simply irresist-
ible.
LOnaed for Young Friends.
Also she found an O~ld-fushiOned man
who was entirely satisfied with three
meals q day and a sOftsb bed beyond en-
durance. She lOnged for association
with persons nearer her own age, with
tastes conforming more closely to her
own. So she told her husband.
Arentzen loved his wife and be could
not bear to entirely give her mp. He
feared if she were left TO her W way
evil or misfortune might Overtake her.
He was willing to release her from the
obligation of wife, but wanted her
cOmpaniOnship in the home. He had
accumulated some property and wished
her to have the benefit of il if she
should Outlive him, which he conceded
to be more than probable. They laid
the case before Judge William K.
Amick, a former Circuit judge who is
noted for his success In adjusting diff
ferences between married people, and
he advised a divorce, to be followed by
the adoption by Arentzen of Mrs.
Arentzen as his daughter.
Judge Amick's suggestion met with
the instant favor Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Arentzen. The wife's petition for di-
vOrce was promptly granted, as the
husband did not answer in court.
There was no prayer for alimOny and
no stipulatiOns of any kind. A few
days later the divorced couple went
into court with their attorney to ask
that the ex-wife be made the legally
adopted daughter and heir of her for
mer husband, which was done.
Adopted as Daughter.
It was explained to the court that
Arentzen stllI aOeed his former wife,
but realized the disparity in their ages
! made 1t impossible for her to hold him
In wifely affection. Furthermore, he
needed a hOusekeeper and Mrs. Aren't.
zen needed a home and a guardian
He has no near relatives and wished
to make her his heir.
Mrs. Arentzen continues to keep the
Arentzen home in order, her status
simply being changed from wife Il
daughter. NeighbOrs say she is ever
more sOlicitous of the comfort of Mr.
Arentzen as daughter than she was a
wife. She is privileged to receive sucl
company as she wishes. and it is no
ticeable that callers at the house ar,
of a much younger set than they were
when she was a married woman
Friends of the two say they seen
happy under the new arrangement
and none have been heard to disap
prove Of it.