The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-10-13
Curiosities Of Divorce.
". Y. Herald.


States from the beginning. Adultery, the
prime and everywhere all sufficient ground
for divorce, has been more and more lenient-
ly treated every half century or so. Allusion
has been made at various times in = general
way, TO the diversity Of divorce laws in the
different States and Territories Of the United
States. In Alabama, for example, not only
does adultery committed after marriage ahord
. ground for divorce, but adultery or immor-
slity committed before marriage, can, when
discovered and proved after marriage, vitiate
and dissolve the marriage. In Georgia, not
only insanity, but mere mental incspacity 10
legal ground for divorce. In Kentucky
certain forms of disease afford legal cause
for divorce. In point Of fact Kentucky NJ
lows divorce for more causes than any other
State in the Union or country In the world.
A man aud wife can obtain divorce from
each other on sixteen different "cAuses" In
Kentucky.
In Maine the saying Of the wag holds good
that "though It 10 hard to get drink, 1t Ii
easy to get divorce" The law there reads:
"Diverce may be decreed when tho judge
deems It reasonable and proper, conducive
to domestic harmony, and consistent with
the welfare of society" In Illinois also
large discretionary divorcing powers are
granted to the judges, in addition to the
seven legal causes allowed for divorce. In
Delaware adultery itself does not necessitase
the granting Of = divorce. It depends upon
the party committing the crime. II the wife
sins then % husband can legally demand an
absolute divorce: but RI the husband is the
offender, then the wife Is only legally enti-
tied to partial divorce or separation. This
may At nrst glance seem unfair. Yet 1t Is
based upon one sound argument and conced-
ed fact. The sin Of the husband and father
cannot affect the status Of the children OF .
family, but the sin Of the wife and mother
can and does. In Nevada failure or neglect
upon the part or the head Of the family to
provide the "necessaries" Of life for said
family constitutes legal ground for divorce
"I.unacy at the time Of marriage" Ii speci
fed In the laws of Nevada IS vitiating th'
union. "If love Is lunacy," ss some philo
sophers hold, how can marriage be legal
Besides the momentous question arises sn
der the laws Of Nevada, are "new tonnets'
counted under the hesd Of "nscessariss?" .
North Carolina, theoretically at least, mus
be estate of easy divorce" "Any jus
cause, at the discretion Of the judge" Is al
lowed to dissolve the marriage tie. Rhod
Island allows "gross misbehavior or wicked
ness" in either party 10 constitute grount
for divorce.
In Connecticut the famous-or, IS som
held, the infamous clause" b
came part of the code. This "omnibu
clause" provides that any "such mischief
nisbehavior ~ permanently destroys happ
ness and defeats the purposes Of marriage
shall constitute legal ground for divorc'
Such provision - this would be convsn
emily sensible II It could only be settled b
yond peradventure what such mischief
misbehavior was in each particular csse. /
Tennessee IN attempt against the life Of on
party to marriage contract by the oth'
party was held Z full and sufficient leg
ground. But In recent case In New Yor
CITY, where the wife attempted one night
strangle the husband in his sleep, the hu
band VA, advised that he had no leg
grounds for divorce, adultery being mo-
"matrimonially available" than murder.
: Virginia II woman is discovered afler ma
riage TO have borne bad character deserve
, ly before marriage, without her husband b
coming aware Of that fact till after marrias
then the husband becomes legally entitls
to . divorce. In this case the man 10 held
having been married by the woman und
Ihe false pretense Of good character. And
either husband or wife has committed Grin
before marriage, and said commission
crime Is not discovered by the other par
till after marriage, then the Innocent par
!. 70 held to be entitled to . divorce from q
guilty party. ..,.g H.. -