MERRY MERIDA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 3 June 1927, Page 7

MERRY MERIDA.

WHERE DIVORCE IS EASY

SMALL FEES FOR ALL.

A city in Central America, where divorce is the principal “industry,” and where the hotels and lawyers’ offices are crowded and prosperous, owing to the never-ending flood of divorce-seekers front the-United States, is described by Dr. Thomas Gann in his new book, “Ancient Cities and Modern Tribes. ’ ’

Dr. Gann is one of the greatest authorities on the mysterious Maya race, which inhabited Central America so-me 2000 years ago, with a calendar and a civilisation of tlieir own. The city of easiest divorce- is Merida, the capital of Yucatan, and hither flock all types of Americans seeking freedom from husband or wife.

“The fees are small,” writes Dr. Gann, “and no cause need be adduced, beyond a wish by either party to be freed from their matrimonial chains. Only a short side nee in the State by the applicant is necessary.

“SPECIALISTS.” “I had not been long in Merida when I was approached by a lawyer, who volunteered to assist me in any matrimonial trouble, and later, in the plaza, was introduced to a gentleman who handed me an elaborate professional card upon which was inscribed, beneath the name of his firm, the following legend: ‘lnternational Lawyers, Specialists in Yucatan Divorce Law, Facilities in Mexico City and New York Citv.’

“To the Indian, the divorce crowd, men and women, are in dress and deportment. a revelation, but the Maya, down-trodden and exploited though lie be is not without a saving sense- of humour.

“We dined at the best and largest hotel in Merida and found there a considerable concourse of pretty ladies, on divorce proceedings bent. Some of them were accompanied by their prospective partners whom they hacl already selected for a fresh matrimonial venture. . . To these poor pilgrims from the United States of America, suffering under the restrictions imuosed by Messrs Mann and Volstead, Yucatan must, indeed, appear a little earthly paradise.”