Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 22.pdf/230

 The Green Bag

212

such a condition grew up,and received

where there is so large an increase of

this reply:

insanity, especially among the promi nent families, it is one of the most popular reasons for demanding

“We all recognize the

harshness of our present law, and when a man sues his wife for a divorce, if she is young and at all attractive, about

all that is necessary to establish his case is to prove that she has a gentle man friend, that they have exchanged a few letters, attended the theatre, or

reform. ' Insanity and prostitution, which ﬂourish in communities where it is dilﬁ— cult or impossible to secure a release from an unendurable matrimonial alli

dined together. The jury presumes the rest and returns a verdict accordingly."

ance, are found to exist to an alarming

It is quite different, however, when a wife seeks a divorce from her hus

uous.

band——the charges must then be proven.

young men and women, especially among the poorer classes in the cities, are living together and rearing children, without

Of course, we have more legal causes for divorce in most of our states, but one is inclined to think that the

present situation in England is due largely to the paucity of legal grounds.

extent——the latter being very conspic These, however, are not the worst

results of the English system.

Many

going through the formality of a mar riage ceremony.

A conversation with

by the Divorce Law Reform Union,

these women is pathetic indeed, for it reveals the fact that they do love the fathers of their children and are true to them and are treated by them with

an organization which is receiving the

kindness, but are afraid to marry for

support of many liberal-minded people.

fear their happiness may end as soon as their husbands know that the women no

The agitation for new legislation is being fostered and directed in England

The chief aim of the reformers seems to be to secure the passage of an act which will enable husbands and wives

who are living apart under Separation Orders, or one of whom is undergoing a long term of penal servitude, or is incurably insane, to obtain, subject

to certain safeguards, a dissolution of their marriages. While the National Congress on Uniform Divorce Laws did not recommend that incurable

insanity should be a ground for divorce in this country, it, nevertheless, is one of the most reasonable, and in England, Moundsw'lle, W. Va.

longer have a right to leave them if

treated unkindly. This condition has been commented upon by many writers, and is well understood by religious workers. The practice seems to be in creasing. A similar condition exists in Jamaica, for a well-known author, who resided there for several years, told the

writer that he did not believe that more than three per cent of the natives were living in lawful wedlock, owing to the fact that it was expensive to get married and impossible to get divorced.