A CHAPTER OF DIVORCES.

Western Star, Issue 862, 23 July 1884, Page 3

A CHAPTER OF DIVORCES.

The great increase of divorce cases that have been discernible of late is not a peculiarity of our own insular society; nor does it seem to be due only to tbo fact that people of all classes are beginning to find out how easy it is to get rid of an unfaithful consort. Conjugal fidelity is not one of the blessings which are increased by the advance of civilisation, and a similar Want of harmony between husbands and wives of the period is noted in all countries. M. Berlillon, the editor of the “Annals of Demography,” has been giving a lecture in.which be sets forth this fact and a number of others, which are certainly amusing and perhaps instructive. For instance, he finds that the households in which divorces are most common are those where the consorts are most nearly of the same age. Where there is a great disparity of age it is necessary to make a complete distinction between cases where the elder party is the husband and where he is not. Old husbands, f.-r some reason or other, seem to be more able to retain legal possession of their better halves than young ones ; for, as the man is older in piopoitiou to the woman, so is he less frequently divorced from her. With women it is altogether different, for the older they are in proportion to their husbands the more likely they are to part or be parted from them. In making these comparisons judicial separations —in countries where divorce is not permitted —are counted as divorces. But M. Bertillon finds that in countries where divoice is prohibited suicides from domestic trouble and poisonings are much more frequent than elsewhere. —“ Pall Mall Gazette.