The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-01-03
HAS NO DIVORCE LAWS.
There Is But Very Little COnjuga1 I'm.
happiness Reported from
Newfoundland,

Newfoundland is the only British
possession where a divorce is unpro-
durable. The colony has no divorce
laws and recognizes no interference
with the marriage relation.
In the Australian colonies divorce is
recognized as a necessity to the con-
stitutional machinery, and while the
laws are rigid, still evidence of infidel-
ity will accomplish it's attainment.
In South Africa also the courts are
clothed with power to dissolve the mar
riage vows for adequate reasons, and
the aid of this convenience is frequent
ly called upon.
In Canada the procuring of a divorce
is very difficult and expensive opera
ton, and necessitates the presenting
of evidence of the most conclusive
character. The influence of the Catho-
lie church, opposed to divorce the world
over, made itself felt through the dele
gates from Quebec when the Cana
dian constitution was being framed.
They stubbornly resented the propo-
sal to vest the power of divorce in the
courts. Only % divorces have been
granted in the "a years that Canada
has been a federation, says the New
York Sun.
Newfoundland is stricter still, and
refuses to recognize divorces. This
attitude is due to the predominance
Of the Irish Catholic element in the
population.
Truth to tell, there is very little need
for a divorce law. Did it exist there
would doubtless be many persons avail
ing themselves of it, but as it does
not they do without, and are none
the worse off.
The colony's whole population con-
sists of but 100000 persons, and while
it would be absurd to contend that
there is no conjugal infelicity it is
quite correct to maintain that the per-
centage of marital dereliction is small
er than in probably any other country
in the world, barring Ireland.
Cut off from the American continent,
the old-time virtues flourish more Wig
orously than in the communities
nanced modern thought which finds
expression in making marriage civil
contract, to be broken at the will of
either or. for very trifiing causes. With
the exception of st. Johns, which has
10000 people, there is not another
town on the island with more than
1000 or 5000, and the great majority
of the places are merely fishing vii
lagos, inhabited by the hardy coast
folk who for generations have fol-
lowed the one pursuit.
Not among a people like that, who
are face to face with death as an al
most daily incident in their existence,
would a divorce mill find material,
nor would a demand come from them
for such an accessory to the existing
legal institutions.
The nearest approach to divorce
which is recognized here is a judicial
separation of man and wife, for
drunkenness, desertion, i'll treatment
or the like. The husband is almost in
variably in fault, and is condemned
to pay the wife weekly share of his
earnings, on penalty of Imprisonment,
the judge fixing the alimony.
Of course this arrangement implies
no permission for either to marry
again. Strange to say, though infidel-
ity is ground for such separation it is
rarely pleaded, there being only two
instances in ten years, and then by
wronged husbands against erring
wives.
Proof of it releases the husband from
any obligation to support the wife and
gives him custody of his children.
Women here never advance this plea,
preferring to endure private grief to
creating public scandal
His Fresh Heir Fund.