Page:The rights of women and the sexual relations.djvu/134

118 in proving against the other the charge of — adultery. The hope for divorce, therefore, depends solely on scandal.

A New York court, in a suit of this kind, has just given a decision by which a marriage was dissolved on account of the proven adultery of the (seventeen-year-old) wife. The husband was left free to marry again, "just as if the divorced wife were dead;" but the wife was debarred from a new marriage "until the divorced man had really died."

A more senseless, more immoral, more unnatural,and more unjust decision I have never heard of; but it is only an application of existing laws.

I will not stop to speak of the indirect inducement that such a decision could become to the condemned party to remove the arbitrary hindrance to marriage by criminal means.

Neither will I dwell on the fact that the divorced woman has been condemned by the court either to an unnatural and not-to-be-expected renunciation, or to permanent prostitution and shame.

Nor will I discuss the question whether a court can deny one who has not been found guilty of a criminal offence his or her natural or civil rights.

I will not even stop to consider the logic which by the divorce destroys every bond, every connection between the divorced parties, and yet restores this connection by making the woman through