George Coats, who lives near Sowers, was arrested yesterday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff Allen Seales on an affidavit charging bigamy.
     Coats appeared before Justice J. M. Skelton this morning and waived examination. His bond was fixed at $500, which he gave and was released.

     Records of the clerk of Dallas county indicate prosperity, in spite of bad crops, the continued drouth or inherent laziness man. It has been an undisputed axiom these many years, that marriages result in greater numbers when all classes seem to be contented and money is plentiful. Work at living wages encourages Cupid and nerves the love-sick swain to not only propose, but to insist upon launching out on matrimony's' sea and drifting with his bride, regardless of divorce court records or the proverbial mother-in-law. Rampant dads do not seem to discourage when fond hearts beat in unison and there is a mutual desire to start house keeping.
     The recently entombed year, preserved with the embalming fluid of memory, which teams with love, laughter and song, as interpreted in the parks, along the driveway, at public and private entertainments, or under the beguiling influence of the man in the moon, surpassed all previous records as regards the number of marriage licenses issued, and gave the first cycle of the twentieth century something to be proud of. During the twelve months ending Dec. 31, 1901, the county clerk's office issued 1373 permits to marry, and, for so doing, received $2069.50.
     An inspection of the records dissipates the belief that June is the favorite month for weddings. It may have been in the past, but such statements can no longer stand in the light of facts. December holds the record, although October is a close second, while June has been set back to the sixth place. Christmas time is in great favor, as the interested parties, doubtless, deem it more in the line of economy to have the word pronounced so that household necessities may be given as presents instead of articles whose chief value lies in associating them with the name of the giver.
     The record does not state clearly the ages of the contracting parties, but it is known that the range is from the teens, up to more than three score years and ten.
     Ceremonies were pronounced in many instances under the direction of the church, while others dismissed all formality and declared that they were "willing to be spliced as soon as the judge could speak the word."
     Marriage, as a civil contract, seems to be as binding as the more solemn form, as it all depends upon the character and adaptability of the contracting parties in the perpetuation of the ties which man and wife assume. A judge can pronounce a life sentence with as much assurance as a preacher that the interested parties will work in double harness until death or the divorce court drives them asunder. Human nature enters into the agreement much more than divine grace, and there is no wonder that some people soon realize that their supposed affinity is no other than a glittering fraud.
     Marriage licenses secured in Dallas county during the respective months of 1901, follow: January, 117; February, 99; March, 89; April, 103; May, 102; June, 109; July, 111; August, 102; September, 89; October, 168; November, 110; December, 174; total, 1373. Quite a number of other residents were married last year, but went to other cities for their choice.

     Another story is told by the docket in the district clerk's office. It relates to divorces, and it may be said, with a degree of satisfaction, that 1901 shows a slight decrease over 1900. The marriage licenses exceed the divorces prayed for, being upward of three and two-thirds times as great. In this class of cases, women exceed the men, as plaintiffs, by two to one, which justifies the student of human nature to declare that the lords of creation are not as dutiful as their position would warrant. August holds the record for 1901 by a good margin. During this month, there were 53 divorce suits filed. December, with a total of only 18, is awarded the booby, quite a contrast to the report of the marriage license clerk.
     Divorce suits make up a large per cent of the cases docketed in the civil district courts, but they take up but a small proportion of each term. The hearings are usually short, as but few contests result and several cases can be disposed of each day.
     A familiar sight is the procurement of a marriage license by parties as soon as they are relieved of the ties that bind.
     The usual fee in divorce cases is $25, although some lawyers frequently take cases for less, while, if property is involved, a greater charge is made.
     Petitions for divorce filed during the respective months of 1901, follow: January, 32; February, 24; March, 30; April, 36; May, 35; June, 25; July, 33; August, 53; September, 32; October, 34; November, 22; December, 18; total, 374. Of this number, women were the plaintiffs in 261 cases, while the sterner sex were plaintiffs in 113 instances. One hundred and ninety-four actions were brought in the fourteenth district court, while one hundred and eighty were assigned to the forty-fourth district court.

     Montie L. Rogers vs. Harry M. Rogers; divorce granted plaintiff who is permitted to resume her maiden name.
     L. B. Gallimore vs. W. H. Gallimore; divorce granted.

     B. V. Weaver vs. E. L. Weaver; divorce.

     Johanna Small vs. Wm. Small; divorce.

     Kathryn E?/F? Huey vs. Robert A. Huey; divorce.

     Sarah Pender vs. Will Pender; divorce.

     Allie Hughes vs. James M. Hughes, divorce.

     J. W. Robertson vs. Dora Robertson, divorce.

     Mary L. Craycroft vs. J. Frank Craycroft, divorce.

     L. Hagan vs. E. H. Hagan; divorce.

     E. H. McGoldrick vs. C. M. McGoldrick; divorce.

     Mike Ryan vs. Mattie Ryan; divorce.

     Henry Deutchmeinster vs. Dora Deutchmeinster, divorce.
     G. A. Drew vs Laura J. Drew, divorce.
     Edmond Cecil vs. Martha Cecil, divorce.

     Fred J. Mayfield vs. Mattie E. Mayfield, divorce.
     H. C. Barlow vs. Laura Barlow, divorce.

     Emma Qualls vs. Porter Qualls, divorce.

     Alice Brown vs. Andrew Brown, divorce.

     W. M. Pemberton vs. Effie M. Pemberton; divorce.

     Mary King vs. Sam King; divorce.

     Mrs. Gussie Cole vs. W. P.[?] Cole; divorce.

     Alice D. Brown vs. Joseph D. Brown; divorce.

     Drusilla E. Tyra vs. James Tyra; divorce, etc.

     Annie Yearger vs. Jacob Yearger; divorce.

     Lucy Smith vs. Blake Smith; divorce.

     Mary Sumners vs. Geo. Sumners; divorce.

     Harry W. Mott vs. Earna Mott; divorce.
     Clara Burns vs. A. H. Burns; divorce.
     Bettie Eastwood vs. Ormund Eastwood; divorce.

     R. M. Staats vs. Sarah B. Staats; divorce.
     Ruty Arney vs. Will Arney; divorce.

     Annie Rush vs. E. H. Rush; divorce.