Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-11-11
The Hen.Pccked Husband.

Il AHC HCu.ICCkcu MuSDduQ.
This is an animal for whom we hav,
no kind OF sympathy or respect, for ge n
orally he is fool, having no will O
mind OF his own. In vulgar life yo,
can see him on Sunday afternoon car
rying the paby ON his arms, whilst o,he
'toddlin' wee things, as Burns call them
are being dragged along by the skirts o.
his coat we can hardly conceive m or,
Illuminating spectacle than seeing grea
burly man without dairy. turning nurse
at the bidding Of little creature in
bright muslin, who walks leisareIy be.
hind as though neither husband or chill
dren were any relation Of hers whatever.
In higher life, il you observe, yoa will
find that the hen>pecked hus nd is gov.
erned in society by system of frow
or mods. which he obeys as understands
ingly as if they were viva voce expres. i.
sions. 1t is very seldom that a ruling
wife makes any brags Of her dominion,
for although she likes to govern very
well, she is little ashamed not only of
her assumption Of the prerogative of her
husband, but also of the hus sband who is
tams enough to submit TO it.
A friend OF ours, man Of some emf.
nence in the literary world, and not
over mindful Of the conventional forms
of public society, married lady who in
a short time began to show DISPOSE
tion TO assume the command. We re-
member one evening at social gather
ing at friends house, whilst he was
conversing with some gentleman, his
wife was relating TO the ladies presen,
how much she had improved the manners
of her husband-that he was really be
coming quite refined and gallant.
This was very we'll but she must
needs determine on giving practical ill.,
lustration Of her power and his improve
ment. She remarked to her friends -
Now, see, | will drop my pocket.hand-
kerchief. and observe how readily he
will pick it up and hand il to me- AT,
this moment, the husband having finish.
ed his argument, turned towards his
wife, who was sitting next to him. He
saw the handkerchief, but showed no
signs of a disposition to pick it up,
The wife hemmed, and cast her ewes
down on the floor where lay the hand
kerchief, but without effect. At length
after having tried every stratagem she
could think Of TO direct his a.ten ntion to
her wishes, she was compelled to speak.
my dear, that is my pocket handker-
chief on the floor" ISIS it?" said he.
and without moving from his position,
quietly put his foot under it, and lifting
it up, presented it 10 her at the end Of
his toe. Poor W, not knowing
what his wife had hazarded on his ac-
count. was quite abashed at the roar OF
laughter which followed his action
We have met them frequently since nd
W-'s manners are just as eccentric
as they ever were. We presume the
wife had the good sense to follow rather
than to lead.
There are plenty Of Mrs. Leo Hunt.
ers in the world, and lots Of Jerry Sneaks.
The duties of wife are plain. Her
government is aud always should be
powerful when confined to its legiti-
mate purposes-the home department,
on her throne at the freside, we cheer
fully and willingly do her reverence
We love, honor, and obey, but when she
thinks proper TO annex the counting
house or study Of her husband 10 her
territory, we look,upon her as an usur.
per. and feel inclined to rebel. Some
times not even content with this she
establishes police over his conduct
abroad, dictates what acquaintances he
shall have, where he shall go. of wha,
pleasure he shall partake, and then we
become out and out rebels, aud strike
for freedom. There are men however,
men! heaven pardon us for the cour-
tesy who bow to the dictation of
these petticoat tyrants and become the
veriest slaves on the face Of the earth.
There are women possessed Of the
great tact of ruling. whilst they seem to
serve. They have their own way en-
tirely. but SO adroitly do they move,
that the Lord Of Creation has not the
remotes, idea that he is not at the very
head Of the domestic government.-
When such a woman's husband happens
to stay ou: little later than usual a,
night. she does not show airs at the
breakfast table next morning and sneer
ingly suggest that her dear, she sup
poses, will want his coffee little stron-
ger than usual-she has heard it's very
good for gentlemen who sits up late at
night-but she is all smiles aud good
nature, and suggests that Il is very bad
for his constitution to keep late hours
what would she do II anything should
happen to him, and she looks fearful.--
Cunning wretch.-she touches him most
nearly-he must consider his constitu-
tion-besides its hardly fair to leave so
tender and affectioaate wife 10 spend
The evening alone.
We rather like government Of this
kind, for il there be one thing we like
more than another. i. is to be coaxed
and petted by those we love IN. o.
Delta.
+ DyRABILlrY OF Woop.-The piles un-
der the London Bridge have been driven
500 years, and on examining them in
1S46 they were found 10 be little decay
ed. Old Savoy Place in the city oil