REAL LIFE COMEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21348, 30 May 1931, Page 24

REAL LIFE COMEDY

CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S ADVENTURE. Owing to his car breaking down, Mr Charles Chaplin, who was staying in the south of France at Easter, figured in a real-life comedy. He was on his way to a luncheon at Antibes, and, being recognised by a passing motorist, was given a lift. But as Mr Chaplin speaks no French and the motorist knew no English, there was a misunderstanding when it came to explaining where Mr Chaplin wanted to go. Thus it happened that, after a lengthy drive, he found himself back at Nice, whence he had started. The famous comedian then hired a taxi cab to get to his destination, but arrived an hour late.

The city of Reno, in Nevada, United States, enjoys a prosperity that never wanes, for it is nourished on tragedy, built on broken , homes and shattered hopes. It is the city of easy divorce, writes the correspondent of the Sunday Express. Statistics show that 2071 divorces were granted in Reno last year. Every yea - seekers after divorce spend about £BOO,OOO at Reno. Although the permanent population is only 18,000, the city has 47 hotels, 35 beauty parlours, and 120 lawyers. It is honeycombed also with fortune tellers, palmists, crystal gazers, Hindu seeresses, and readers of tea leaves. At any one time, the divorce colony consists of about 1000 people, 700 being divorce seekers, the remainder relatives, friends, or servants. Those who can afford it rent a house at Reno for the stay of, three months that the law requires. Others settle in hotels. Through the heart of Reno runs the Truckee River, and from one of its bridges it is customary for wives to throw their wedding rings into the' water immediately after the court has pronounced divorce.