People get divorced all the time nowadays; it’s just a fact of contemporary life. But back in the early 20th century, it was a lot rarer. In fact, if you were unhappy in your marriage back then, it was pretty hard to get out of it. So, disgruntled spouses had to get creative. As we can see from newspaper reports from the early 1900s, some couples ended up going their separate ways for the most insane reasons. Here’s a look at some of the strangest and funniest justifications our 20th-century ancestors had for filing for divorce.
Tickling
“Tickled His Wife So Much She Sues Him For Divorce”— Harrisburg Telegraph, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1924
Though it can be torturous to experience, a couple tickling each other is usually a sign of happiness. Well, it seems the “torture” aspect of it was front and center with this couple.
Though it can be torturous to experience, a couple tickling each other is usually a sign of happiness. Well, it seems the “torture” aspect of it was front and center with this couple.
The wife clearly really didn’t like to be tickled, yet her husband was unrelenting. And that was that, as far as their relationship went.
A ghostly lover
“Love Fled When Husband Found Spirit Affinity”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, August 4, 1909
When a person learns their partner has been cheating on them, it can be one of the most painful experiences imaginable. And sadly, that seems to have been the situation in 1909 for this couple, who we know simply as the Mendelsohns.
When a person learns their partner has been cheating on them, it can be one of the most painful experiences imaginable. And sadly, that seems to have been the situation in 1909 for this couple, who we know simply as the Mendelsohns.
The twist in their case, though, is that the other lover wasn’t of this realm. It was reportedly a ghost that destroyed this marriage! That’s got to hurt.
Too much talk
“Hubby Talked Too Much, Wife Granted Divorce”— The Star Press, Muncie, Indiana, May 19, 1922
Married couples tend to be each other’s closest confidants, but everyone has their limit with regard to jabbering: this woman obviously reached hers in around 1922.
Married couples tend to be each other’s closest confidants, but everyone has their limit with regard to jabbering: this woman obviously reached hers in around 1922.
When it became clear her husband was never going to shut up, she took the drastic step of seeking a divorce. She got it.
Onions
“Hubby Eats Onions; Wife Grows Angry; Divorce Is Granted”— The Evening News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1920
You’d have to wonder just how many onions this guy was eating each day. How much does it take for a person to actually drive their partner away?
You’d have to wonder just how many onions this guy was eating each day. How much does it take for a person to actually drive their partner away?
We sadly don’t know much more about this story, but we just have to presume he was eating an awful lot of them.
Destroying youth
“Husband Declares His Wife Had Doctor Make Him Old”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, August 4, 1909
That’s quite the claim for this gentleman to make about his wife and doctor, but what exactly does it mean? Well, this piece in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thankfully elaborates a little.
That’s quite the claim for this gentleman to make about his wife and doctor, but what exactly does it mean? Well, this piece in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thankfully elaborates a little.
It reads, “Defendant in divorce suit alleges blood of aged man was injected into his arm to destroy his youth and vivacity.” If true, it’s probably fair to say the man is more than entitled to his divorce!
Living rough
“Wife Wore Overalls and Hoboed, Avers Divorce Complaint”— The Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, January 23, 1921
So, we know the claim: a man said his wife deliberately made herself look like she lived on the streets. But what we don’t know is why she would have done this.
So, we know the claim: a man said his wife deliberately made herself look like she lived on the streets. But what we don’t know is why she would have done this.
Was it just to get her kicks, or to pick up some spare change? Like so many of these stories, it’s a difficult one to wrap your head around.
Bad kissers
“Tobacco and Cat Kisses Too Much”— Evansville Press, Indiana, January 4, 1909
This couple from New York were such bad kissers that they made the news all the way over in Indiana. Basically, the couple separated because of the nasty habits each one refused to give up.
This couple from New York were such bad kissers that they made the news all the way over in Indiana. Basically, the couple separated because of the nasty habits each one refused to give up.
The husband just wouldn’t stop chewing tobacco, much to the disgust of the wife. But she wouldn’t stop kissing her cat at bedtime, which he clearly found disgusting.
No spinach
““What? No Spinach?” Divorce Follows”— Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico, November 27, 1932
If ever there was a headline that catches the eye, it’s surely this one. “‘What? No Spinach?’ Divorce Follows.” It’s almost like poetry. The problem, though, is that we don’t have access to the full story. All we can do is imagine what happened.
If ever there was a headline that catches the eye, it’s surely this one. “‘What? No Spinach?’ Divorce Follows.” It’s almost like poetry. The problem, though, is that we don’t have access to the full story. All we can do is imagine what happened.
Perhaps a situation where one member of the couple — let’s be real, probably the husband — came home one day to find their partner hadn’t provided them with their favorite green vegetable, leading them to become so incensed that they couldn’t bear to stay married for any longer.
A naughty book
“Husband Says Naughty Book Broke Up Home”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, May 1, 1908
Erotic fiction didn’t begin with 50 Shades of Grey: people have been getting their kicks from writing for about as long as literature itself has existed.
Erotic fiction didn’t begin with 50 Shades of Grey: people have been getting their kicks from writing for about as long as literature itself has existed.
But, of course, lots of folk have always disapproved of it, as did, clearly, this guy from the early 20th century. It seems his wife had been reading something “naughty” which he just couldn’t handle.
A trunk kerfuffle
“Pushed Off Of Trunk by Wife; Asks Divorce”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, December 8, 1908
The details are scant, but this is what we do know about this story. Edward Huber was sitting on a trunk. His spouse, for whatever reason, became apoplectic with rage because of that.
The details are scant, but this is what we do know about this story. Edward Huber was sitting on a trunk. His spouse, for whatever reason, became apoplectic with rage because of that.
She furiously yelled at him to get off, but he wouldn’t. So, she took matters into her own hands and shoved him off. That was the final straw for Edward, who then sought a divorce.
An everyday animal-lover
“Wife Kept Dogs and Cats in Bed. He Slept on Chairs. Divorce”— Oakland Tribune, California, February 27, 1909
A love of animals is a sweet, admirable quality in a person, but there are limits.
A love of animals is a sweet, admirable quality in a person, but there are limits.
If that love means your husband can’t sleep on his side of the bed because it’s being taken up by a bunch of hairy cats and dogs, then you probably need to look at that. If you don’t, there’s every chance your marriage won’t make it.
Hogging space
“Costs $25 to Fight Wife for Share of Bed”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, January 6, 1909
Space on the bed proved to be an insurmountable issue for this married couple. The story reads, “Roemmich thought she was taking more space than she was entitled to.”
Space on the bed proved to be an insurmountable issue for this married couple. The story reads, “Roemmich thought she was taking more space than she was entitled to.”
They clearly couldn’t work things out civilly, and things got dirty — and expensive — when they went down the legal route.
Soapy coffee
“Wife Accused of Putting Soap in her Husband’s Coffee Asks for a Divorce”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, May 21, 1910
What do we think? Was the wife trying to actively harm her husband by poisoning him with soap, or was it all just a practical joke taken too far?
What do we think? Was the wife trying to actively harm her husband by poisoning him with soap, or was it all just a practical joke taken too far?
Well, whatever the case, the husband wasn’t happy by the end of it. The marriage was dead from that point on.
Pork chops
“Pork Chops Supper Starts Divorce Suit”— The Bristol Daily Courier, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1921
Not everyone loves pork chops as much as Homer Simpson, but that innocent truth shouldn’t ultimately lead to the failure of a marriage. Yet that’s obviously what happened in 1921.
Not everyone loves pork chops as much as Homer Simpson, but that innocent truth shouldn’t ultimately lead to the failure of a marriage. Yet that’s obviously what happened in 1921.
Sick of pork chops, one member of this union clearly just couldn’t take it any more and sought to secure a divorce.
Poetry readings
“Wife is Kicked Out of Bed Because She Reads Her Poetry to Husband”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, January 7, 1910
Writing poetry can be a rich, powerful means of expression — but that doesn’t mean everyone wants to hear it.
Writing poetry can be a rich, powerful means of expression — but that doesn’t mean everyone wants to hear it.
Clearly this husband didn’t want to listen to the poems his wife was writing, no matter how adamant she was that they were decent quality. She apparently told the court during divorce proceedings, “It was good verse.”
Demands pickles
“Denied Pickles, Wants Divorce”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, May 3, 1906
Food is obviously of central importance to our lives, so disagreements on that subject might well prove to be a couple’s undoing. And so it was in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Dulany, who just couldn’t work things out because of a dispute involving pickles.
Food is obviously of central importance to our lives, so disagreements on that subject might well prove to be a couple’s undoing. And so it was in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Dulany, who just couldn’t work things out because of a dispute involving pickles.
That wasn’t all, though, as Mr. Dulany apparently ordered his wife to “eat mangoes.” That didn’t fly with her.
Husband is a “bum”
“Won’t Get Married Again, She Thinks”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, May 27, 1907
May 27, 1907, must have been a slow news day in Missouri, if this story is anything to go by. Following the break-up of her marriage, this woman decided she probably won’t wed again — and that’s it.
May 27, 1907, must have been a slow news day in Missouri, if this story is anything to go by. Following the break-up of her marriage, this woman decided she probably won’t wed again — and that’s it.
That was deemed news-worthy. Anyway, we do know why her relationship broke down: iIt’s because she considered her spouse to be “a bum.”
Fussing and fighting
“Fears Wife’s Nagging Will Drive Him Insane”— Oakland Tribune, April 18, 1911
The opening paragraph to this story says everything about the state of this couple’s relationship.
The opening paragraph to this story says everything about the state of this couple’s relationship.
It reads, “Ten years of nagging is given as the chief cause for the filing of a divorce complaint by Robert Cherry against Rosa Cherry, to whom he was married in Oakland in 1889. He states that he fears if he is forced to remain longer with her he will become insane.”
Toast issues
“Quarrel Over Toast Starts Divorce Suit”— The San Bernardino County Sun, California, September 15, 1935
Clearly, food foibles can really get in the way of a healthy marriage.
Clearly, food foibles can really get in the way of a healthy marriage.
Even something as simple as plain, old toast can prove to be a couple’s undoing. Maybe one person burnt it, and their spouse just couldn’t forgive them for such a heinous mistake?
Feeding the cat
“Wife Who Fed Cat At Table Gets Divorce”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, November 8, 1907
Animals also seem to be a major cause for disquiet in failing marriages.
Animals also seem to be a major cause for disquiet in failing marriages.
Here we have a situation where a woman was happy to give her cat some scraps of food, right there at the dinner table. Her husband couldn’t abide by that, and there was no resolution to be found.
A confusing shower
“Lobster, milk, and egg shower ends marriage”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, June 25, 1909
Some of these headlines are vague, confusing, and firmly open to interpretation. And, well, this one is right up there with the more difficult headers to get a handle on.
Some of these headlines are vague, confusing, and firmly open to interpretation. And, well, this one is right up there with the more difficult headers to get a handle on.
What on Earth is a “lobster, milk, and egg shower?” It does sound pretty disgusting, whatever it is, so perhaps the fact it led to a marital break-down isn’t such a surprise.
No ice cream
“Would Not Get Ice Cream; Divorce”— Oakland Tribune, California, November 2, 1909
This time it’s ice cream at the heart of the issue.
This time it’s ice cream at the heart of the issue.
Well, it’s a delicious treat that can inspire great passion in people, so if one member of a couple is denied it, then tempers might well be expected to flare. So, take note, married folk. Give your partner the ice cream they so feverishly desire!
Too many cats
“26 Cats in Bed Too Much for Weary S.C. Husband”— Santa Cruz Sentinel, California, October 22, 1937
Animals can get in the way of a happy marriage.
Animals can get in the way of a happy marriage.
Sometimes it seems like one partner is overreacting, but in this case the husband seems well within his rights to seek a divorce. That number of cats being allowed into bed is unacceptable by any sane standards.
Love and hot dogs
“Love and Hot Dogs in Divorce Suit”— Reading Times, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1929
Again, we have to do a lot of work to figure this one out.
Again, we have to do a lot of work to figure this one out.
Clearly hot dogs were a topic of debate in this failed marriage, but exactly what the issue was is unclear. Maybe one member of the couple was eating too many hot dogs? Or too few? Who knows?
Not buying the story
“Sleeping Woman Falls Out of Wagon and Keeps Right On Sleeping, She Declares”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, July 28, 1908
Okay, so, here’s what we know: a lady was inside a wagon when she fell asleep. So far, so normal. But then, she somehow ended up tumbling out of said wagon. She doesn’t wake up when that happens — she just carries on sleeping. Implausible? Well, her husband certainly thought so.
Okay, so, here’s what we know: a lady was inside a wagon when she fell asleep. So far, so normal. But then, she somehow ended up tumbling out of said wagon. She doesn’t wake up when that happens — she just carries on sleeping. Implausible? Well, her husband certainly thought so.
He felt sure she was faking it, which ultimately led to the breakdown of their marriage. Of course, the question we’re left with now, more than a hundred years later, is why on Earth would she pretend to be asleep as she fell out?
In the doghouse
“Wifie Slept With Dog and Beat Him Up, Hubby Avers”— The Pittsburgh Press, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1919
This is among the more sinister animal-related divorce stories. We don’t have enough information to understand what really happened here, but it certainly doesn’t seem good.
This is among the more sinister animal-related divorce stories. We don’t have enough information to understand what really happened here, but it certainly doesn’t seem good.
Did the wife sleep alongside the dog and then beat the animal, or did she sleep with the dog and then beat the husband? Either way, this wasn’t a good situation.
Too sweet
“Ice-Cream Soda Causes Divorce”— Vancouver Daily World, Canada, September 1, 1908
If you’re a kid, maybe you can be forgiven for enjoying an ice cream soda. If, on the other hand, you’re a grown-up with a spouse, maybe you’ll need to look at that.
If you’re a kid, maybe you can be forgiven for enjoying an ice cream soda. If, on the other hand, you’re a grown-up with a spouse, maybe you’ll need to look at that.
Adding scoops of ice cream to soda is just too sugary for an adult to reasonably enjoy. Think of your health, and also think of your relationship. If this headline is anything to go by, ice-cream sodas can kill marriages.
Throwing chips
“Wifey Threw Potato Chips at Him, Charge”— The Pittsburgh Press, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1919
There’s no excuse for allowing an argument to boil over to such an extent that you’re throwing things at your partner.
There’s no excuse for allowing an argument to boil over to such an extent that you’re throwing things at your partner.
Even if the chosen projectiles are as light as potato chips. That’s what happened to this couple, and it was the final straw. Their marriage couldn’t be fixed after that.
Dirty face
“Husband Does Not Wash Face Before Going to Bed”— The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio, August 24, 1911
Hygiene is important. For one’s own sake, it’s really important to stay clean. But it’s obviously vital for your relationship, too.
Hygiene is important. For one’s own sake, it’s really important to stay clean. But it’s obviously vital for your relationship, too.
This woman, for instance, just couldn’t handle the fact her husband refused to wash his face before getting into bed. His refusal to do that cost him his marriage.
Doggy dog
“Says Doggy Dog Ruined His Marriage”— The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois, October 25, 1950
Yep, another marriage ruined because of a pet.
Yep, another marriage ruined because of a pet.
This sort of thing clearly happened a lot back in the first half of the 20th century, but the surprise is the extent to which such stories were covered. Newspapers, it seems, were once absolutely full of articles about marriages being destroyed because of animals.
Reads too much
“Wife Whose Preference For Books Over Housekeeping is Cause of Divorce”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, August 24, 1907
Reading is so clearly a good thing to do, yet this man seems to have had a problem with it, when it came to his wife, at least.
Reading is so clearly a good thing to do, yet this man seems to have had a problem with it, when it came to his wife, at least.
Holding values we can generously describe as “traditional” but probably more accurately classify as “misogynistic,” he felt his wife’s love of literature took her away from maintaining the household. And that wouldn’t do.
Won’t eat soup
“He Would Not Eat Wife’s Soup, Judge Fined Him $20”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, August 29, 1909
This husband didn’t want to consume his wife’s soup — and it cost him.
This husband didn’t want to consume his wife’s soup — and it cost him.
Not only did his relationship crumble as a result of his distaste for the stuff, but the judge sided with his wife. The guy was issued a fine of $20, which was a far more significant sum than it is today.
Smoking
“Prefers Cigarettes to Objecting Husband”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, August 18, 1907
A husband takes issue with his wife’s smoking habit and asks that she give it up. For lots of us looking at that situation today, the man seems to have taken a fairly reasonable position.
A husband takes issue with his wife’s smoking habit and asks that she give it up. For lots of us looking at that situation today, the man seems to have taken a fairly reasonable position.
But that’s not how his wife saw it at the time. She outright refused to quit, and the marriage broke down beyond repair.
Make-up
“Man Complained That Wife Bleached Hair and Used Paint on Face”— The Scranton Tribune, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1894
This guy wasn’t on the reasonable side. He had a big issue with the fact his wife took care of her physical appearance.
This guy wasn’t on the reasonable side. He had a big issue with the fact his wife took care of her physical appearance.
Her decision to bleach her hair and wear make-up on her face clearly upset him, and their relationship broke down. It seems never to have occurred to him that it was her decision to look the way she wanted.
Back from the dead
“Names Spirit in Suit for Divorce”— Harrisburg Telegraph, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1926
Talk about jealousy! This guy was so insecure about his wife’s relationship with her ex-husband that it led to the breakdown of their marriage.
Talk about jealousy! This guy was so insecure about his wife’s relationship with her ex-husband that it led to the breakdown of their marriage.
But let’s be clear: the ex-husband had been deceased for 15 years by this point. The man seemed to believe that the ex’s ghost was on the scene, though.
Cold tootsies
“Couldn’t Be Warmed On Hubby’s Back, and a Cincinnati Woman Got a Divorce”— The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ohio, March 21, 1907
On a cold night, it can be the most comforting thing in the world to keep warm by cuddling up to a partner.
On a cold night, it can be the most comforting thing in the world to keep warm by cuddling up to a partner.
But if that person can’t help to keep you warm that particular night, that shouldn’t necessarily be seen as grounds for divorce. Well, it was for this couple.
Egg-throwing
“Fried Eggs and Divorce”— Star-Gazette, Elmira, New York, December 16, 1891
This story from 1891 relates to a marital breakdown that seems, at least in part, to have come about because a wife threw fried eggs at her husband.
This story from 1891 relates to a marital breakdown that seems, at least in part, to have come about because a wife threw fried eggs at her husband.
Once a relationship gets to that point, it’s probably best to start considering the options.
Wants to keep nose
“Actress Won’t Have Nose Cut Off”— The Day Book, Chicago, December 31, 1913
This is a horrible story. An actress named Lillian Lorraine sought a divorce after her spouse intimidated her with terrible violence. To be blunt, he said he’d cut her nose off.
This is a horrible story. An actress named Lillian Lorraine sought a divorce after her spouse intimidated her with terrible violence. To be blunt, he said he’d cut her nose off.
This is a disgusting threat, but the headline reporting the story is a little odd, too. The framing almost makes it seem like she’s the one being unreasonable.
Bad sleeping pattern
“Reads at Night, Sleeps all Day”— The Evening Statesman, Walla Walla, Washington, February 1, 1910
This woman was just sick of her husband’s sleeping pattern. He apparently lazed around in bed all day, but at night he was wide awake.
This woman was just sick of her husband’s sleeping pattern. He apparently lazed around in bed all day, but at night he was wide awake.
He just stayed up reading romantic novels, much to her annoyance. She was understandably perturbed by his behavior and the marriage was doomed to fail.
An objection to being killed
“Wife Objected to Being Killed When in Bath”— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri, August 11, 1909
Again, here’s an instance in which the headline appears to be taking the wrong angle.
Again, here’s an instance in which the headline appears to be taking the wrong angle.
The wording makes it seem like the woman is, in some way, taking an unusual stance on the issue of whether or not it’s okay for her spouse to kill her while she’s in the bath. Shouldn’t the headline emphasize the fact her husband wanted to murder her?