The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-02-14

states. 1t has been estimated that
the proportion is not much below 70
per cent This estimate is based-
largely upon the statements of court
clerks and divorce lawyers in SOUTH
ern states regarding the relative fire.
quency of the divorces granted to the
two races. If il is correct or ap-
proximately correct. the divorce sta
tistics of the South must reflect. to a
large degree. conditions prevailing
among negroes.
A study of figures by years indi-
Gates, however, that the difference
between the NORTH and south, as re-
CARDS the PROPORTION of divorces
granted TO wives. was about as marx
ed in 1S67-the earliest year for
which we have statistics as it is at
the present time. II is hard TO be-
heve that divorces among negroes
could have attained much importance
at that early date, and, therefore, the
inference is that the difference would
probably obtain in comparison re-
stricted to white population. In gen
eral white women in the northern
states have a greater degree of econ
omic independence than their south
ern sisters: lie. they have more Op-
pOrtunities to obtain employment, and
are more accustomed to the idea OF
earning their own living. This may
influence their attitude towards di-
voTce, by making them less depend
ent upon their husbands for support
and more ready to dissolve the mar
riage tie when it becomes a cause of
unhappinGsS or suffering.
IN connection with this question the
occupation figures of the twelftfs> cen
sus are significant, not as explaining
ho diffarancO 7qofol bnt1npn
the north and south. but as indicating
that a large proportion of the women
who have been divorced take up some
occupation. OF the total number OF
divorced women enumerated at that
census 55.3 per cent had some gainfu-
occupation The percentage is higher
than for any other marital class.
Common Ground is DesertiOn.
The most common single ground tor
divorce is deseTtion. This accounts
for $50 per cent of all divorces (pe-
Tiod 1887 to 1906): 49.4 per cent. or
almost One-half. OF those granted to
the husband. and 1876 per cent. or one
third, of those granted 10 the wife.
The next most important ground
of divorce is for husbands. adultery
and for wives, cruelty. OF the di-
voTces granted to husbands tISST &c
1902 2S-7 per cent were for adultery
of the wife; and Of those granted Il
wives 30 per cent were for cruelty
on the part of the husband Only &c
per cent of the divorces granted &c
wives were for adultery of the hus-
band; and 10.5 per cent for divorces
granted 10 husbands We're Or cruelty
on the part of the wife
- Drunkenness was the alleged sole
ground for divorce in % per cent of
the cases in which the wife brought
suit and in II per cent of the cases
in which the suit was brought by the
husband.
IHtemperSnce Cause Of Divorce.
Drunkenness, as already stated, was
the sole cause of divorce in 3.516
cases. or 80 per cent Of the total
number of divorces tISS7 to 1866 |.
was cause in combination with
some other cause in I7.765 cases. OF
I-9 per cent OF the total number
Therefore 1t was direct cause
either alone or in combination with
other causes. in 54.2SI cases. or 81
per cent OF the total OF divorces
granted to tine wife the percentage fOI
drunkenness either alone or in com
bination with other causes was 10
of those granted to the husband, ths
corresponding percentage. IA.
Fhs attempt was made to ascertain
also the nun Der of cases in which
Drunkenness or intempeTanRe, al
th6aSh not q direct ground fer the
diFonee, was an indirect or contrfhzl
tory csuse- The number of such
cases was returned as 130. 2sT, repre-
seating 1913 per cent of the total
Eunaher of divorces. Probably this