"DIVORCE MILLS."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 126, 20 February 1908, Page 3

"DIVORCE MILLS."

A NEW YORK RECORD-

The New York, correspondent of the London ,'D.aily Telegraph" writing recently said: American. divorce mills—woi havc over two thousand of them in. this resourceful'counnojv grinding out decrccs \vitli lightrung, speed. It is generally so aiiouc Oliristfc'ffie. .In New York . 180 cases .were actually down for hearing on one'day, and sixty-two cases were, marked for, immediate trial. This was a record rush, and naturally it.attracted much'public attention. On two consecutive, days -curious : crowds thronged, choked, and fouglit for admission to' Justice wewburgher s court, where tales of.'domestic woo, are pithily - narrated, and decrees promptly granted. It is a pleasant, court architecturally, with, marble' columns, greystone- walls, . and groined ceiling, together more like a mediaeval cliaperthan a modern divorce, mill.. When I looked in the sun'was' streaming with splendid impartiality through itno - stamed-glass windows upon fair, women —they were mostly fair—and gallant men l — they were mostly, as the cvidenco showed too. gallant. Outside in-the branches' of the big -trees English■ sparrows .were twittering noisily, -until the- time came when the' peal of-: marriage!'bells. from Trinity Church,, whbre Dr. Ingram, Bishop of London, addressed the nnanciers.latelyj drowned their warbling.-'.' ; lhe'. proceedings -rßminded one ; of! the : old .saying- here that "If you don't like . America it s very: easy to leave it/ and it's just as easy ■to iget; a - divorce." > In', Marlborough lohcc Court I have seen Mr. Plowdcn polish off undefended ."drunks" after a Bank' Holiday at ia marvellous rate, but .. Justice. Newblirglicr. of our. Supreme Court hero, runs him very close. , • • -, -, :An amazing'air of Christmas cheerfulness pervaded .the, court and ■ overflowed'into tho corridors, where-more badly mated-husbands and wives wore , waiting : their , turn. ; . One charming .young woman, albeit,'a grosslydeceived, wife; sat in a chair directly in front of mine, and to;her lady friend she deplored tho possibility of her suit being adjourned "We did all we could'to push it forward," she-explained,' "-and.; wouldn't :ifc bo just too sweet to be free by Christmas Day?" 'It, was noteworthy that most' of the applicants,- for decrees were- young.- women' though .now and .then a suitor- well advanced in. years asked for relief. Before tho afternoon ended, many; cases had : beon heard and many,-a clean.slate, matrimonially. speaking, was distributed. Justice .Nowburgher's ambition, was .to - settle sixty cases iu two sittings, and.ho has nearly succeeded.