If the number of divorces in relation to the population had remained the same in 1905 as in 1870, the exact number of divorces in 1905 would have been 24,000, and not 67,791, as actually was the case. The total number of divorces from 1867 to 1886 was 328,716; from 1887 to 1906, 945,625. The United States have the highest divorce-rate. For every thousand marriages there were the following number of divorces: In 1870, 81; in 1880, 107; in 1890, 148; in 1900, 200. Why is divorce more frequent in the United States than in any other country? Firstly, because in some of the states the divorce laws are less rigorous than in most of the other countries, and, secondly, ~because women enjoy a freer, more independent position than in any other country of the world, and are accordingly less willing to submit to the tyranny~ of husbands. The following shows the number of divorces in Germany from 1891 to 1900: KEY Y: Years D: Divorces Y 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. D 6,678 6,513 6,694 7,502 8,326 8,601 9,005 9,143 9,563 7,928 We see that from 1899 to 1900, the number of divorces have decreased by 1,635, because on the first of January, 1900, the new code of civil law went into effect which made divorce more difficult. But life is stronger than law. After there was a decrease in the divorce-rate from 1900 to 1902, there has been a rapid increase ever since, as the following table shows: Years 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. Divorces 7,964 9,069 9,933 10,868 11,147 12,180 12,489 In Saxony, too, in spite of various fluctuations, there has been a steady increase, as may be seen from the following table: For each 1,000 Years. Divorces. marriages. 1836–1840 356 121 1846–1850 395 121 1871–1875 581 122 1891–1895 921 138 1896–1900 1,130 151 1901–1905 1,385 168 For each thousand marriages in Prussia there were the following number of divorces: 1881 to 1885, 67.62; 1886 to 1890, 80.55; 1891 to 1895, 86.77; 1896, 101.97; 1905, 106; 1908, 121. That is a tremendous increase. The increase of divorce is not a national but an international symptom. For each thousand marriages there were the following number of divorces in: At the close 1876–1880. 1881–1885. 1886–1890. of the century.