The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-21

Martial Supremacy.

BFeaC neal OF discussion among bach
elors as to whether there really is such
a thing as married man who is mas
ter in his own house. Apparently
weil-authenticated instances have
sometimes been given, but, upon in
vestigation, they have generally proved
as unsatisfactory as did the researches
of the poor French cure related in the
following anecdote: A'ls-- sa
There was once cure of st. Oppor-
tune, who was very different from the
conventional idea of a priest, being.
tall, thin, and delicate-looking; a man
with stoop, though he was still young
ana much given to lawful study, He
lived in an age which has long nassnd
away, yet he was behind it, for he held
most antiquated opinions ,upou the
oDedlence which is due from wives to
thelr husbands, and seemed to consider.
what st. Paul said upon the subject
was to be taken, in its -stTictest sense.
that tnosallowAnce could be made for
the changes which had taken place in
the manners and customs of different
nations, but that all infringement of
the rules laid down by the apostle for
the guidance of those in the holy state
was sinful. -T ~
He found his exhortations treated
with unbecoming levity, and thereu pom
pecameSzot course, lmOreand more earn
est upon the subject, till at last he laid
rather too much stress upon this one
offence, to the overlooking of others.
But he did not become unpopular upon
TINS aceohnt-rRther the reverse: for the
men naturally felt great respect for a
pastor who pleaded their cause SO elo-
quently, and impressed upon their
wives that submission to their will was
thelr hrst and most solemn duty; while
the women of his congregation were
glad to have slight attention paid to the
confession of other sins of which they
were ashamed, and the full phials Of
clerical wrath poured out upon one
which they had the consolation of feel
ing insured was shared by their entire
sex.
But that which most vexed the pood
cure was the bonhonIie with which some
OF the husbands amongst his parishon-
ers submitted to the rule of their wives.
ana the blind iEfatuation which caused
others who were equally tame to fancy
that their will was law, and that the
very women who led them by their
noses were their devoted slaves.
Provoked by these last especially, he
one day addressed his congregation,
after the sermon, thus: "My garden
has been, remarkably fruitful this year,
especially in peas. Magnificent peas
they are-the best 1 have seen; and 1
here otter prize of as many peas as he
can carry away with him to any mar
Tied man amongst you, who can make
it clear to me that he is not under sub
lection to his wife,"
as. Peas were valuable, the parishioners
OF st. OpPortune were poor, and, as a
rule, conhdent in their marital suprem-
acy, so that there were many applicants
for the prize. But the cure, trained by
the duties of the confessional, was a
keen hand at cross-examination,a and.
under his home-thrusts and pertinent
questions, claim after claim was upset.
and the candidates sent away abashed
and discounted.
AT last came porter, an obstinate,
sturdy fellow, who was confident that
he at least had the whip-hand of his
wife, The cure questioned him closely,
nut all his answers were straightfor-
ward and satisfactory. Even upon the
rock which had upset the pretensions
OF many who had seemed in n fair Way
to land safely the cabaret, he did not
split. No, he went to the wine-shop or
stopped at home, got drunk or kept
sober just as he pleased. His wife had
not word to say to it.
Well" said the cure, ''I am glad
have one man in my parish who
knows how to be master in his own
house. Come tomorrow morning and
1elch your peas."As "A
s So next day the porter came to the
cures house with small sack, which
he began to fill. s.g -
:, -. "Yo1 6 should have brought larger
'Well, now" replied the porter,
pausing in his task, "I should have
done SO, only my wife would not let
"Hap cried the cure, 'Tet my peas
alone, my manw