The record-union., 1896-11-08
DIVORCE Tn MANY LANDS.
Curious Reasons Given by Married Folk
For Annulment Of Nuptial Vows.
New York Takes Seventh Place, rIany
of Her Couples Getting DEGREES
Away From Home.

''Those whom God hath joined to-
Eether let no man put asunder."
The words are too frequently now
adays a hollow mockery. They have
been pronounced in many instances
over the same persons two, or even
three times, first together, then with
other partners in happiness-or misery,
II you like-during the course of their
lives, without a death intervening, says
q New York exchange.
''Those whom God hath joined to-
gether let no man put asunder save
the learned Judge of the divorce court" ;"
That would be more in keeping with
facts.
But love is a tickle little fellow and
always prone to become unmana geable
when in harness, and then, even if
there is nothing the matter with poor
Cupid himself Misunderstanding creep
In and create havoc with marital hap
piness and peace of mind; differences
occur, conpanionship not only ceases
10 become a pleasure, but is positive
misery; then comes doubt then dis
trust, and then-ah, Well There are
the divorce courts, with wide open por-
tails.
1t is of interest to know the varying
views entertained on this most impor-
tant subject and the laws pertaining to
them in the different States of the
Union and on what grounds divorces
may be obtained
Attempt on life' IS sufficient cause
In Illinois, while in Virginia a fugitive
from justice would have no redress
sfould his wife wish to obtain a divorce
or these grounds
There are good many States where
to obtain divorce is a comparatively
easy matter and where the grounds
or causes requisite are elastic, to say
the least. Thus in Kentucky the mere
TACT of either the husband or wife hav-
Ing an ungovernable temper is suffi-
cient; an inability to live together in
peace and union answers in Utah; any
proven gross neglect of duty in Kansas
and Ohio and mental incapacity at the
tine of marriage in Georgia.
Wfllful desertion for five years is a
sufficient cause in two States: gross
rnisbehaviOr or wickedness will sever
nupual vows in Rhode Island. while
fraud or a fraudulent contract is deemed
j st in no less than nine States. I'M
prisonment for felony is cause in every
State in the Union with the exception
OF ten.
In Tennessee a man can secure a di-
vorce from his wife if she is guilty of re-
fusing to remove into the State, while
absence without being heard from is
sufficient causein many of the States and
Territories. Willful desertion for three
years constitutes grounds for a divorce
in fourteen States.
The causes that are legally valid in
some of the States are certainly curious.
Take, for instance, Florida. There the
habitual Indulgence in violent and un-
governable temper ''goes." Habitual
drunkenness is a cause in all the States
and Territories but ten. In Kentucky
besides the "ungovernable temper
cause, settled aversion which tends
to destroy all peace and happiness is
equally valid.
Three years with any religious So
ciety which holds that the marriage re-
lation is unlawful is considered good
grounds in Massachusetts and the mere
joining of any religious sect that be-
lieves the marriage relation unlawful
or the refusal to live as man and wife
six months is legally tabooed in New
Hampshire
In Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania
and Wyoming divorces are granted for
''such indignities as render life burden
some"
Cruel treatment, outrages or eXcesses,
such as to render their living together
unhappily, is cause in Arkansas, Ken
tucky. Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee
and Texas, while cruel and abusive
treatment is cause in all States ex-
cepting New Jersey, New Mexico, New
York. North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia and West Virginia
Failure of the husband to provide,
with no time specified, is just cause in
nine States, failing to do so for one year
in five States and for two years in two
States.
We may. in this country Of ours. have
some very funny laws governing the
subject, but the laws Of some other ma
tions outrival the most ingenious of our
own.