458 EEASONS FOR DIVORCE 



the legislature of Kentucky had taken the same 

 extremely gallant view of the matter having passed a 

 resolution, by way of instruction to the courts of law, 

 that it should hereafter u be considered a reasonable 

 ground of application for a divorce, that the husband had 

 advertised his determination not to pay his wife s debts ! &quot; 

 In general, the divorce law is much less strict in the 

 United States than with us. The -causes for which 

 besides infidelity it can be obtained, are more numerous 

 in some than in others 5 and hence it is occasionally found 

 convenient for a party who wishes to procure a divorce, 

 to shift his residence for a time into another State. The 

 following summary exhibits briefly the reasons for 

 which a divorce can be claimed according to the laws of 

 the different States : 



Maine. Desertion five years ; joining Shakers ; im 

 prisonment in the State prison or penitentiary five 

 years ; drunkenness for three years. 



New Hampshire. Desertion, or absence ; not heard of 

 for three years ; three years neglect of family ; ex 

 treme cruelty. 



Massachusetts. Imprisonment seven years. 



Rhode Island. Desertion five years ; habitual drunken 

 ness ; neglect of family ; extreme cruelty ; &quot; and also 

 for any other gross misbehaviour and wickedness in 

 either of the parties repugnant to, and in violation of, 

 the marriage covenant. 1 



Connecticut. Desertion three years ; absence ; not heard 

 from for seven years. 



Vermont. Desertion three years ; cruelty ; imprison 

 ment three years ; absence seven years ; neglect. 



New Jersey. Desertion five years. 



Neio York. Imprisonment two years in a State prison ; 

 incurable insanity ; belonging five years to a sect 

 which forbids marriage (Shakers.) 



