In Germany and the Netherlands divorce is equally open to poor people, who receive State aid, and in Scotland there is a well-known system which is known as the Poors Roll, which is said to have existed since 1424. The Scots Parliament Act, which instituted this excellent procedure, commenced as follows: "If there be any poor creature who for lack of skill or expenses cannot nor may not follow his cause the King for the love of God shall ordain the judge before whom the cause shall be determined to purvey and get a leal and wise advocate to follow such poor creatures causes: and if such causes be obtained [won] the wronger shall indemnify both the party injured and the advocate's costs and travail." It is amazing to find in Scotland of the fifteenth century laws for the poor that we are only dimly thinking about in our vague uncertain timid way at the present day. What actually happens to the poor man of the present day is set out in the following case--a very common one:-- Summoned in the City of London Court for the non-payment of forty-five pounds, his wife's costs in a divorce suit in which he was the successful petitioner, a City messenger said that he received one hundred and seventeen pounds a year, and while the divorce suit was pending he paid his wife as alimony two pounds ten shillings a month. He had paid sixty-five pounds for his wife's costs, and still owed forty-five pounds. He had obtained an order for payment of his own costs against the co-respondent, but as that person was only earning a few shillings a week he did not know if he would get anything. Judge Lumley Smith, K.C.: "Does a successful husband always have to pay his wife's costs?" Mr. Seyd (for the defendant): "Yes." Judge Lumley Smith: "That is rather hard on him." The defendant added that while the suit was pending he had to borrow fifty pounds from his friends. Judge Lumley Smith said a judgment debt must come in front of those of his friends, and ordered payment of one pound a month. This man could not have proceeded _in forma pauperis_, as by our then system this was not open to anyone with more than thirty shillings a week with no means above twenty-five pounds and clothing. If he had done so he would have had neither counsel nor solicitor to plead his cause and the only real benefit he would have obtained would be that he would not have had to pay Court fees. The self-respect of working men in many cases hinders them from applying for assistance rendered nominally distasteful by the pauper taint. They manage these things better in France, and what the poor want in England, in fact as well as in name, is "assistance." The new rules that have come into force this year go a little way to provide this, but it is too early as yet to say how far they will meet the wants of the case.