Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-21
ORIGIN OF THE GREY MARES
BEING THE BETTER HORSE.

lORIGIN OF THE GREY MARES
BEING THE BETTER HORSE.
had lately the pleasure Of passing 9
livery agreeable evening ia a mixed com.
pany with both sexes, where the CONVEX.
,ation happened to turn upon the pro-
lpriety Of that power which men usually
larrogate to themselves of ruling over
their wives with despotic sway /: young
Lady of wit and humor, replied, it might
ZOOS IDLY be so sometime but much 81,
ltener the grey mare is the better horse =
1 And very obligiDgly entertained the com
lpany with the following account of the
rise Of that proyerbial saying, which i
|made use of when woman governs hel
/ ,usbaHd
/ A gentleman of a certain county ~
England, having married a young lady o.
transferable fortune, and with many o
Ither charms, yet finding. in very sho,'
time, that she was Of a high, domineerine
Esprit, and always contending to be mis-
ltress of him and his family, he was re
solved to part with her. Accordingly. ht
Iwent to her father, and told him, he FOUR
Ibis daughter of such tenper, and wa;
$50 heartily tired of her, that if he woul,
take her home again he would retari
'Ieyery penny Of her fortune.
/ The old gentleman having inquirer
Into the cause Of his complaint, askes
him, /" why he should be more disquietcd
latiItban any other n arried man. since il
Twas the common case with them all, and
consequently no more than he ought t.
lhave expected whenhe entered into the
marriage state ?" The young gentlemen
desired to be excusednifhe said he was
80 far from giving his'assent to this as
Isertion, that he thought himself more un-
HAPPY than any other man, as his wile
had spirit no way to be quelled, and as
lmost certainly ne man, who has a sens
Iof right and wrong, could ever submit to
Ibe governed by his wife. "SoD, said the
lold man, you are bat little acquainted
with the world, if you do not know that
Iall women govern their husbands. though
met all, indeed, by the same method :
however, to put an end to all disputes
between us, ] will put what ! have said
lon this to proof. it yeu are willing to try
liz. i have FIVE horses in my stable ysu
shall harness these to cart, in which !
shall put basket containing one hundred
!esgs; and if in passing through the
country, and making a strict inquiry into
1.-The truth or falsehood of nav assertion,
land leayinga horse at the house of every
Imam who is master of his family himself.
land an egg only where his wife governs,
1you will find your eggs gone before your
lhorses, | hope you will then think your
lease not uncommon, but will be content
led to 60 home, and look upon your own
wife as no worse than her neighbours.
lit, on the other hand. your horses are
gone first, will take my daughter home
lagain, and you shall keep her for
tune"
This proposal was too advantageous to
be rejected. Our young married mar,
Therefore, sat out with great eagerness to
lget rid as he thought, of his horses and his
lwife.
At the first house he came to, he heard
"a won an, with surly and angry voice.
lcall her husband to 90 to the door. Here
lhe left an egg, you may be sure, without
making any further inquiry at the next.
Inc met with something of the same kind
land at every house, in short, until his
eggs were almost gone, when he arrived
lat the seat of a gentleman of family and
figure in the country /; he knocked at the
ldoor. and inquirins for the master of the
Ihouse, was told by a servant that his ma.
ter was not yet stirring, but, If he pleased
Ito walk in. his lady was in the parlour.
The lady with complaisance, desired him
to seat himself, and said, if his business
was very urgent, she would awake her
Husband, to LET him know it, but had much
lrather not disturb him. Why, really
,nadam, said he, my business is only toI
TASK question. which you can resolve as
your husband, if you will be ingenious
with me you will doubtless, think il
Todd, and tmay be deemed inpolite for
iany one, much more stranger, to ask
such question, but a very considerable
wager depends upon it, and It may be
some advantage to yourself to declare
| the truth to me. hope these considera-
tons will plead my excuse. Il is. ma
dam, to desire to be informed, whether
lyeu govern your husband, or he rules o.
yer you !-" Indeed, sir, replied the