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Show V S" I :: 7i v Of' v. 5r .J i V i i1 If ,XL ne day in June, 0young couple sat an un across the happy desk from a Chicago divorce attorney. Their marriage was at an end, they said stonily. They wanted divorce papers drawn up immediately. The attorney listened patiently; then, taking a deep breath, he began to point out that it would be folly for them to go ahead with the divorce. An hour later he was still trying to convince them, but without success. To escape the strain for a few minutes, he stepped into the waiting room. Sitting there was a divorcee who had come to see him about overdue 1949, TT! T'sidDBitti alimony. She had often told him how much she regretted her divorce. Now was her chance to tell someone else someone to whom her experience might prove helpful, the attorney thought in a sudden burst of inspiration. Would she? She did, and was so convincing that the couple agreed to give their mar- - ' ; . . : - - - 1 ., " ;j many marriages from the divorce courts and has strengthened and freshened others. It has also helped divorced persons adjust to new lives. Headquarters of DA are in Chicago, with branches scattered throughout the United States. Some are in large cities like Grand Rapids, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Miami; others in smaller communities like Newport News, Va., Lubbock, Tex., and Mansfield, O. At its first national convention, held last Summer in Chicago, 75 cities were represented. Each month new branches are being organized, but even in communities where none exists, the individual who has marital troubles may contact DA headquarters by writing to P.O. Box 5313, Chicago, 111. Many letters are received daily. Each gets careful attention and a personal reply. Only the most highly qualified workers are assigned to this huge task of answering mail. I t may seem strange that Divorcees Anonymous, which is devoted to saving marriages, was founded by an attorney whose divorce business was booming. However, each case he car- Unhappy couples considering the divorce court ex-mat- now have a better place to go Divorcees Anonymous. Family Weekly, June 9, 1957 ried through court raised further doubt in his mind as to whether divorce was a solution for his clients. When he saw them weeks after the divorce, not one seemed happy. In fact, many of them, bewildered and frustrated, said they regretted their action. They spoke about their in wistful tones they hadn't used before. Now, instead of putting the entire blame on their previous partner, they insisted that they, too, had shortcomings and should have been more understanding. riage another try. The attorney asked the divorcee if sh would like to help with other cases. She was eager for the chance and said she knew other divorcees who would be, too. Thus was formed the nucleus of Divorcees Anonymous, which has been highly praised by marriage counselors, clergymen, and lawyers. In the eight years of its existence, Divorcees Anonymous has saved es "Besides," one woman commented sadly, "I'd rather have my husband back with 100 times his faults than to be without him." By the time she came to this realization, it was too late. Her husband had remarried. |