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Show TOWN GOSSIP. "I have heard some people say that they wished Utah were a stats" remarked a philosophical phil-osophical friend to me last evening '-so that we might have more politics here. A good many people think that way, but they talk through their hats. We have rooro politics now than is good for us. In each campaign an immense amount of energy, time and money is used, and the sound of one has scarcely died out before the hugag sounds another. I don't know of a city where there is more bitter contention, more enthusiasm, and more racket over politics than right here, and 1 have lived in a few of them. With a county election, the contest over the delegate and a presidential election this fall, I am inclined to think that those who sigh for more politics poli-tics will get bravely over it." What a hideous practice is that of marring . f t , r i .1 . .... . i . v.l . . .. 1 glaring signs. I 6tood this afternoon with an architect who was gazing at one of the children of his creation. "That cornice," said he, "which cost hundreds of dollars might just as well have been left off the building, for the signs hide it almost completely and its presence adds nothing to the beauty of the structure. It seems to me that the owners own-ers of fine buildings would have too much pride iu the beauty of them to permit this sort "of vandalism." .. ..... V "The papers have had a good to say about the creat number of divorces granted here. "Send a lawyer to me this morning." Now I want to tell you that in a number of these cases, the plaintiffs have simply been here the length of time required by law and after obtaining their decrees they depart, and such separations are not properly to be charged upon our population. The idea is conveyed, too, tbat divorces are easily obthined. As a matter of 'fact, and speaking generally, the reverse is true. There hasn't been a divorce granted in Salt Lake since I have been here where there was any contest. Now when a party comes in, alleges several grounds all recognized recog-nized by the law, proves them and there is no contest, the defendant not even making an appearance, the courts can do no less than grant the decrees. But if ever a case is contested you will find that it is far from easy to obtain a divorce. "A peculiar instance of the injustice of the law recently came to my notice," said the same gentleman. "A party named John P. Carlsen, I believe, we will call him that anyway was sued for a small amount. He did not appear when the case was called, and judgment was entered against him in a justice's court. An evecution was issued and given to an officer who knew nothing about Carlson. His first act, therefor was to look in the directory, where he found the name and learned that the same person was employed em-ployed by one of the street railway companies. com-panies. He concluded that this was the same man, and served a garnishment. The party denied all knowledge of the matter, but the companv couldn't do anv- thine, so the money was paid and the judgment, costs and all satisfied. Now, as a matter of fact, the man whose mouey was taken was not the man who was sued, although their names are identical. He is a poor fellow and needs every cent he can earn for his family. Yet what can he do about it? If I thought you would write up some of these judgment mills, known as courts, I might give you a little more information. |