It will be thus seen that four grounds for divorce are provided, which may be briefly stated in almost as few words: Adultery, desertion habitual drunkenness and violence. A perusal of the third ground will show that habitual drunkenness is not ci itself a sufficient cause for dissolu tion of marriage, either as applied tc tho husband or wife. In the formet case there must be failure to support the wife in addition to habitual drun- ]

feenness or cruelty towards her, in

the case of the wife, it must be proved not only that she is an habitual drun kard, but that she has "habitually ne glected her domestic dutieß and rer. dered herself unfit to discharge them. 1' It will thus be seen that the Legisla ture does not consider habitual drun kenness as a sufficient cause for di vorce, but that when it is accom panied by failure to support, or in capacity to discharge household duties, it is of such a grave nature as to war rant it. A provision is made to guard against any abuse of the Act, as it is distinctly stated "that if, in the opin ion of the Court, the petitioner's own habits or conduct induced or contribu ted to the wrong complained of, such petition may be dismissed, but in aJI j other cases under this section (3), if the Court is satisfied that the case of the petitioner is established, the Court shall pronounce a decree dissolving the marriage." It will thus be seen that unless a petitioner comes* into Court with clean hands it will be doubtful whether he succeeds in his action, even though he proves bis case, as it is left optional with the Judge to withhold or grant the peti tion. If, however, the case is incon testably proved and there has been uo contributory causes to a wife's or hus band's faithless actions or other mi»-

conduct, then it is mandatory upon the Judge to pronounce a decree nisi, which may be made absolute at the expiration of not less than three months, as the Court, in its discretion, may decide.
