Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-29
ORIGIN OF THE GREY MARE BEING

ORIGIN OF THE GREY MARE BEING |
THE BETTER HORSE.-Thc following ar
ucle Is from an old Philadelphia Magazine, !
published thirty years ago:
had lately the pleasure OF passinsa very |
agreeable evening in mixed company of both
sexes, where the conversation happening to
turn upon the propriety of that power which
men usually arrogatc to themselves of ruling
over their wives with despotic sway, young
lady OF wit and humor, then present, replied,
II might possibly b. 50 sometimes, but much
oitener the grey mare is the better horse ~ and
very obhgingly entertained the company with
the following account of the rise of that pro-
verbal saying, which is made use of when a
woman governs her husband
A gentleman of certain county i'm England
having married young lady of considerable
fortune, and with many other charms, yet find
ing, IN very short time that she was of high
domineering spirit, and always contending to
DC mistress of him and his family, he was re
solved to part with her. Accordingly he went
To her father and told him that he found his
daughter of such temper, and he was so hear
uly tired of her, that il he would take her home
again, he would return every penny of her for
tune
Inc Old gentleman having inquired into the
cause OF his complaint, asked him .'why he
should be more disquicteda at it than any other
married man, since il was common case with
mem all and consequently no more than he
ought TO have expected when he entered into
the marriage state ?" The Young gentleman
desired to be excused, il he said he was so far
from giving his assent TO this assertion that ne
thought himself more unhappy than any other
man, as his wife had spirit no say 10 N,
quelled, and as most certainly no man who had
sense oil right and wrong, could ever submit
to be governed BY his wife.
'Son, said the old man, ''you are but little
acquainted with the world, if you do rot know
that all women govern their husbands, though
not ALL indeed, by the satne method. How
ever, to end all disputes between us, | will
put what have said on this to proof, if YOU
are willing to try it.
have five horses in my stable; you shall
harness these to cart, in which shall nut a
basket containing one hundred eggs and If i'm
passing through the country, and making a
strict inquiry into the truth and falsehood of
my assertion, and leaving horse at the house
OF every man who is master of his family and
an egg where the wife governs. YOU will find
your eggs gone before your horses. hone YOU
VIII tnen think your own case not uncommon,
out VIII DE contentcd 10 go home and look IN
ON your own wife as no worse than her nciab-
bors. If on the other hand your horses are
gone first, will take my daughter back again.
and YOU shall keep her fortune.
ms proposal was too advantageous TO be
rejected; our young married man therefore. set
OUT WIN great eagerness to get rid as he
thouSht, OF his horses and his wife
Al the iirst house he came 10, he heard
woman with a shrill and angry voice. call IN
her husband to go the door.gHere he left an
egg you may be sure, without making further
inquiry; al the next he met with something of
the same KIND; and at every house, i'm short
un'li his eggs were almost gone, when he ar
IiVed at the seat OF a gentlemen of family and
iiSure IN the country. He knocked at the door
anu lnqulrlng Tor the master of the house, was
'oiu Dy the servant that his master was not vet
stirring, but II he pleased TO walk in his lady
was III the parlor The lady, with great com
piaisance, desired him TO seat himself. and said
ms business was very urgent she would
wake her husband toilet him know il, but had
much rather not disturb him.
'tWhy, really madam" said he. "mv bus;
ness Is only To ask question, which Won can
solve as well as yotr husband. if Won viii
only be ingenious with me. You will doubt-
less think it odd, and il may be deemed i'm
polite Tor any one, much more a stranger tn
ask such question:; but as very consider
able wager depends upon it, and il NAV he
some advantage 10 yourself TO declare the truth
To me, hope these considerations will plead
my excuse. It's, madam, desire to b. in
formed whether you govern your husband, or
he rules over you?'
Indeed, sir, replied the lady, ''this ques-
ton Is rather odd but, as | think no one should
be ashamed-of doing their duty, shall make
no scruple to say that | have always been proud
to obey my husband in all things; but if wo-
, man own word is to be suspected i'm such y
case, let him answer for me for here he comes 4"
The gentleman at that moment entered the
room, and, after some apologies, being made
acquainted with the business, confirmed every
word his obedisnt wife had reported in he,
own favor; upon which he was invited 10
choose which horse in the team he liked hes,
and to accept it as present.
A black geIding struck the fancy of the gen
! tieman most; but the lady desired he would
choose the grey mare, which she thought
would be very fit for her side saddle: her hns-
band gave substantial reasons why the black
horse would be the most useful TO them: but
madam still persisted in her claim to the grey
/ mare?
| what" she exclaimed, "and will Won not
take her them But say you shall: for lam
sure cgrcy mare is the better horSe.'
"Well my dear" replied the husband, '.if il
must be so"
'fou must take an egg" replied the gentle
man carter, 'and must take all my horses bach
again, and | must endeaver to live happy with
my WIFE, ZENo PoRTroMo.