Reno | Page 5

Africa to Reno, in order to try and bring about a reconciliation, still the
beautiful wife has gone on with her divorce, which was finally granted,
though bitterly contested!
And so there he sits as though lingering over the grave of a great love.
Bow down, ye Gods, and weep....
The hotels also are filled with interesting types; the pretty girl at the
news-stand today suddenly disappeared! Yes, she got her divorce! In
her place is the homeliest man you have even seen, and all the traveling
men look disgusted and buy their papers from the newsboys in the
street. The hotel stenographer has also taken her departure, and now we
see a dainty blonde in place of the statuesque brunette. The brunette has
gotten her divorce and has gone to San Francisco to marry a millionaire
sportsman, so I hear.
The beautiful lady with the sparkling black eyes, between that little boy
and girl, is a violinist. They have the rooms over mine, and for several
months I have heard the patter of tiny feet and childish free laughter;
but I fear the mother does not laugh so much. I have been told that she
lives in constant fear lest her husband come and take the children from
her. In this case, I am told, there is a chance of reconciliation. I hope so

with all my heart!
The tall, handsome old gentleman speaking to her is a retired civil
engineer; very wealthy I believe. He lived twenty-one years with his
first wife who died; after some time he married again, but after one
year of married life he is here for the "cure." He is an enthusiastic
sportsman, a good horseman and very popular.
The Court House is the next place of interest to study character, to find
interesting personalities and new types. You may go over any day and
watch some poor victim's case being tried. If one is doing time one self,
it is a very good way to obtain inside information, though it is a bit like
being at your own hanging..... not exactly, of course, but enough to
make the anticipation peculiarly gruesome. Each searching question of
the judge seems to draw the noose around the plaintiff's neck tighter
and tighter; you will hold your breath: a word, and the six months' exile
and more are all in vain..... Not until the final decision, "Judgment for
the plaintiff," is pronounced do you heave a sigh of relief.
[Illustration: ONE OF THE COURT ROOMS IN FAMOUS RENO
COURT HOUSE]
Each day the divorce mill grinds the steady grist, and it is there that one
has a splendid opportunity of studying personality and character. The
wife who is nagged and abused; the one who is obliged to support
herself and her children; the one who has outgrown her charms; the
luxurious beauty who has spent her husband's fortune and is preparing
to spend another in the same way; the wife who has made a mistake
and found the right man at the wrong time; the wife whose husband
another woman has taken; the wife of a drunkard or a gambler. The
husband who is nagged; the husband whose wife is a spendthrift; the
husband whose wife wins prizes at bridge and neglects her home; the
husband whose wife has deserted him when he needed her most....
Naturally the stories you hear from the "aspirants" are always plausible;
and so they go by, the endless passing show.
Next we will go to dinner; we will dine at the Hotel Golden tonight;

they have just opened their new restaurant, and the food is excellent; so
is the cabaret. There are two beautiful girls, new arrivals, who sing very
well indeed; one is tall and fair and more than usually interesting. This
beautiful girl sings with wonderful expression; a sweet tender passion,
expressing at the same time a great love and a world of sympathy .... It
is said that out of suffering comes sympathy, out of pain tenderness....
This girl might well burst into fame on the heart throbs of her songs;
they are the voice of a soul which has suffered much, loved much and
has become all tenderness and all sweetness.
Another interesting type whose story will be told at the Court House in
a few months.
There is a violinist who is exceptional also; he draws the bow over his
violin, and low, sweet strains of music come floating to our ears; then
the music will suddenly change to the wild ecstasy of joy which will
compel you to notice the player. When you look at him, you will know
that his soul is not there; your heartstrings will quiver until the music
stops; then you will suddenly find that you have forgotten to eat, and
that