The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-08-18

eminenly successful. During the last
war he commanded the Constitution and
took several prizes, among which were
the Cyane and Leyant.
"Ehc Gray Mare is the better Horse"
Most Of our readers have heard this expression,
and are at no loss for It's solution bat many may
not be aware of It's origin. In the hope that it
may amuse, and prove profitable 10 them, I've give
the story as follows:
An English gentleman having married
a young lady who was handsome, ac-
com2llshed, and rich, expected to reap
the harvest of matrimonial felicity but
he soon found that she was of high DOM
neering spirit, always contending to be
mistress of him and his family; and he,
therefore, resolved to part with her. He
went to her father, and told him, he found
his daughter of such a temper, and was
so heartily tired of her, that if he could
replace her in her former home, he would
return her every penny of her fortune.
The old gentleman having inquired into
the cause of this complaint, asked him
why he should be more disquieled at it
than any other married man. since it was
Il common occurrence with them, and,
consequently, no more than he ought TO
have expected the husband said he was
so far from giving his assent 10 this asser-
ton, that he thought himself more unhap-
Ply than any other man, his wife had a
very aitractable spirit, and certainly no
man who had due sense of right and
wrong, would ever submit TO be govern
ed by his wife.
"Sir" said the old man, "you are little
acquainted with the world it, you do not
know that all women govern their hus-
bands, though not indeed by the same
method. However, to end all dispute
between US, | will put what | have said
on this proof, if YOU are willing to try it.
| have five horses in my stable you
shall harness them TO cart, in which
shall put basket containing one hundred
eggs; and if in passing through the
country, and making a strict inquiry into
the truth or lalsehood of my assertion,
and leaving horse at the house of every
man who is master of his family himself,
and an egg only where the wife governs,
you shall find your eggs gone before your
horses, hope you will then think your
own case not uncommon, but will be con-
tented to 20 home, and look upon your
wife as no more than your neighbours
if, on the other hand, your horses 90
first, will take my daughter home again,
and you shall keep her fortune" The
PROPOSED was too advantageous to be re-
jectcd the young man, therefore, set out
with great eagcrness TO get rid, as he
thought, of his horses and lis wife. AT
the first house he saw, he heard Il woman,
with shrlIl and angry voice, call her
husband to 60 TO the door.-llere he left
an egg, you may be sure, without making
further inquiry. At the next he met with
something Of the same kind, and al eve
ry ordinary house in short until his
eggs were almost gone when he arrived
al the seat Of a gentleman Of family and
figure in the country, he knocked nj
the door, and inquired for the master OF
the house, was told by a servant that his
master was not yet stirring, but that his
lady was in the parlor. The wife, with
great complasancc, desired him to sea,
himself, and said if his bushes was very
urgent, she would wake her husband to
let him know it, but would much rather
not disturb him. "ReaIly, madam" said
he, "my business is only to ask ques
ton, which you can solve as well as your
husband, il you will be ingenious with
mc--you may, doubtless, think ii odd, and
it may be deemed impollte for stranger
to he SO free, but, as great weight de-
ponds upon it, and it may be some adj
vantage to yourself TO declare the truth to
me, hope these considerations will
plead my eXcuse--what | wish 10 know
is this, whether you govern your husband,
or he rules over you" "lndeed. Sir"
replied the lady. "lhat is an odd question,
but. as think 10 one ongh, TO be
ashamed Of acting rightly, ! shall not
scruplc TO say, that have always been
proud TO obey my husband in all
things, but, It n woman's own word is to
be suspected in such case, let him an.
swcr for me, for here lie comes"