A RUSH FOR DIVORCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 13, 9 February 1909, Page 4

A RUSH FOR DIVORCE

A CHRISTMAS CLEARANCE. New York. December 11. While clergymen and social reformers in all parts of this continent are engaged iu fervid denunciation of the divorce , evil, New Vork to-day furnished a ■ wiiijue example of the celerity with which the divorce mills in this country are. able to work. It was the "clearing day'' in the Divorce Division in the Supreme Court, and the announcement. I'y Justice Dowliug that all uncontested cases not ready for trial would be adjourned till Easter caused a stampede of women plaintilVs eager to secure their freedom hi time to enjoy the Christinas holidays untrammelled. When I arrived there were 120. ladies of all ages, some not out of their teens, some verging on the sixties, clamoring for precedence. With the witnesses and lawyers they crowded to its utmost limits the largest courtroom ra thebuilding.

At the last moment a tall slender woman with a mass of yellow bair and wearing costly furs, rushed to tnio of the clerks and gasped, u I'm looking for

•' For the Divorce Court, madam," politely responded the clerk. "How did you know that'/'' '' Because ladies are always looking for the Divorce Court just before Christmas."

A moment later Mr Dowling began, hearing the evidence, which was delivered rapidly, charging Hie defendant, as a rule, with improper conduct. Xo Jiow street magistrate could hav<* polislicA off "drunks and disorderlies '* with greater despatch than did Mr Dowling those divorce suits. By noon forty decrees had been granted, and when I. left the divorce mill was grinding out more decrees at the rate of ten to "fifteen an hour. Mr Dowling announced, he would sit till two o'clock in the morning, if necessary, to satisfy the -Aspirations of litigants to secure freedom before Christmas.