6oo
THE GREEN BAG
States, divorces have been granted within six years from the date of the marriage. Mr. Wright's investigation showed that on the average 9.17 years elapsed between the marriage and the divorce, and that nearly two-thirds of the divorces were granted to the wives. Some recent investigations show that eighty per cent of the divorces are granted to the wives, and that they usually sue because of desertion when that is statu tory, as is now the case in forty-six states and territories. The term of desertion now necessary to be proved varies from one to ten years, with an average of a little over two years, which is much less than was the average in 1886. There is also, undoubtedly, a proportionate decrease in the average duration of marriages terminated by di vorce. From these figures a conservative esti mate would place the average time during
which divorced persons actually lived to gether at less than three years in one-half of the cases and at less than six years in the remainder. Judging from the reports of a few states which compile divorce statis tics, the next government report will prob ably show this estimate too high. While a few hundred physicians cannot voice the sentiments of the whole profes sion, the unaminity of these opinions, com ing as they do from some of the most promi nent as well as the less conspicuous prac titioners, certainly demands the most serious consideration. And while there is slight consolation here for the ecclesiastic, who can doubt but that legislation appli cable to the conditions herein suggested would go far toward solving the real evils of the divorce and many other social prob lems? MOUNDSVILLE, W. VA., October, 1906.
