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Show , THE SPREAD OF DIVORCE . . whenit when2t Many persons still living lIvmg icmember lemember remember away a\\ay a ay assay \ \ back when it 2t was consideied considered considel ed something somethmg akin akm to disgrace to get a dr divolce Todaydivorces oice , , e except cept for the most compelling compel1mg reasons . Today dIvorces andcmnulments and annulments cmnulments of mainage malnage malrrage are so common as to asto excite e\.cIte e.cIte e .cIte cIte ' \ . only passing passmg comment . An mtelesmg rnteresrng mtei esmg table showing showmg the spiead splead spread of dIvorce divorcein dIvorcem m in this countly counhy country is contained contamed in the Woild World 'V V ' odd Almanac , gIV- gIV giv - - ing mg giving gIVmg statistics statlstIcs on the subject lunmng unmng lummng 1 back to the year 1888 year1888 , when the of peicentage pelcentage percentage divorces to marriages was wasonly wasonly wasonly only 54 5 4 . Since Smce then this percentage has increased wIth wIthalmost withalmost withalmost thelast almost continuous contmuous regularity , untilin until in m the year 1931 , the last for wluchcomplete whichcomplete which wluch complete statistics aie ale are available , it 1t leach leach- leached leached leached - ed 17 for every 100 marriages , or about one out of leachI six . I . Taking Tah.mg Tahmg . the record of 40 years Tears by intervals of 10 10years 10years years forevery we find fmd the following followmg : There were 6 divorces for every 1911-13.7 191113.7 1911 13.7 137 100 marriages , in m 1891 ; 8 2 in 1901 ; 9.3 93 . m in 1911 ; - periodthe 13.7 137 . in in 1921 , and 17 ' in 'In ui 1931 . During Durmg the same period hasnot the numbr numb"r " ; , of marriages per 100,000 100000 , of population has not vaned vaued varied greatly , but the last 20 years has shown a ceptionof exceptionof slIght aslight increase mcrease over the previous 20 , , WIth withthe Jhe , he e exception ception of 01 the 1ecent iecent ; ; cession depression which . y years , , have shown a sh"ht shht sliht } : " falling faIlIng off . . The T lowest n"mber nmber number " of marriages " a&es aes & , population con- con con - . sidered considered during durmg this 40-year 40 year 40-rear rear - period 1894 . whenthere was in m , when whpn whpnnesi ' " thehighest there were 8.6 86 . maniages marriages per 100,000 100000 100 , OO of population ; the highest , nesi was in 111 1920 , , when vhen ' the 'the number rose to 11.96 1196 . . increase Taking Takmg actual figures without considering considermg the in- in in - crease in m ' jwpulation 'populahon populahon population , it is shown that in 1888 only 28,669 28669 28 669persons 28,669persons 'the the ' , persons in 111 the United Umted States were divoiced divOlced divorced , while whlle the highest 204 204S than201,468 than201468 ? S wrn number was Ye reached in 1929 ' , when no less ss than 201,468 201468 , < couples released ' were fiom flom their marital bonds b'onds bonds . . The most dlshessmg dlstressrng featule feature of this rapid and con- con - tmuous contmuous splead spread " of the thedlvor dIvorce habit inn11 than100,000 than100000 TiT bit is that more rthan 100,000 100000 , childien chIldlen children are affected by it each year . . . . |