Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 99, October 11, 1890

A razor‑sharp satire takes aim at the newly minted Divorce Court, exposing its absurd double standards with a blend of wit and Victorian flair. The narrator sketches a legal arena where a husband’s infidelity is barely a blemish, yet a wife must prove cruelty or desertion to earn freedom, turning everyday mishaps into theatrical evidence. Through lively commentary, the piece lampoons the bureaucracy that pretends to champion morality while feeding society’s fascination with scandal.

At the heart of the sketch is the “beautiful Divorcée,” a figure both vilified and celebrated as she exits the courtroom, her reputation already inflamed by the press. Retreating to a stylish boutique flat, she reflects on the loss of a marriage she despised and the strange liberty that now lies before her. The tone remains playful, inviting listeners to relish the clever observations on gender, law, and the social theater of Victorian England.