The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-12-07
Xantlppe Justified.

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spirited, irascible girl. Her only educa-
ton consisted of q knowledge OF the
mysteries of Athenian housekeeping and
the arts and accomplishments in which
her mother had been capable of impart-
ing instruction. A youth with ugly
physiognomy, whose flat nose, thick lips,
and prominent eyes, like satyr's, were
long the butt of Jest in all Athens, pre-
sented himself as suitor for the hand
of the maiden. Possibly the provident
father may have looked upon the wisdom
and learning of the youthful Socrates,
and pictured his daughter as the wife of
a distinguished public man. Certainly
she would have the prospect of COM
Portable home, all the conveniences,
probably some of the luxuries, of life, for
the youth was a sculptor whose genius
had already won some distinction. So
the heather maid, who knew not that
the wife must ever honor and obey the
husband, was weeded to this suitor.
She entered upon her new duties with
all the enthusiasm and earnestness of
her nature, yet the twain seem to have
lived in state of doubtful connubial
bliss. Naught save the discordant part
of their experience has been handed
down.
Socrates, and then the world, have
immortalized Xantippe as scolding
wife. Admitting the accusation, we ask
you to consider the true provocation.
Not only was Socrates unattractive in
feature, but his style of dress was such
as would disgust any woman of taste
and spirit. He wore the same old gar
ment summer and winter, and went
barefooted, having been known to pos
sess but one pair of shoes in all his life.
This conduct may have given false
impression of the domestic qualities of
his wife. What though her floors were
as white as sand could make them, and
her chests filed with snowy linen, the
world would Judge of her neatness chiefly
from the personal appearance of the
husband. The outer robe for gentlemen
and ladies was the same, and the wife
often wore the one belonging to the hus-
band. But Xantippe is accused of
steadily refusing to wear Socrates
cloak. How could she do otherwise
under the circumstances
With no wish to touch with impious
hand, or detract one iota from the glory
which clusters around the name of this
great philosopher, and remembering
also the times in which he lived, we
must say that he who showed wisdom
and good sense in every thing else was
very careless and negligent in the
treatment of his wife. Grote says that
he was very irregular in his hours,
haunting every sort of place where he
could enjoy the delights of talk and
argument. If he went to q merry
making, he was likely enough to stay
all night, and without any sleep, just to
wash his face, go to the lyceum or acad-
emy and set in for another days talk.
Meanwhile his wife staid at home with
the children, nursing her wrath to keep
it warm. There is such thing as
righteous indignation. Under our civil
lized laws the lady might almost have
obtained q divorce on plea of wilful
desertion.
Socrates was greatly attracted by the
conversation of women of talent, and
courted their society for the higher cul-
tivation of his own mind. He was IN
structed in the art of speaking by
Aspasia. Was it not enough to make
any wife jealous to know that she was
neglected and the company of Others
sought? Very likely she wished he had
married one of these snowy women
Very likely she told him so. Besides this,
Socrates did not provide for his family.
He left the employment of his youth
and gave up his time to conversing with
all who came to him free of charge. The
result of this was that he lived on bread
and water.
Socrates, when asked how much his
property would bring if sold, said that,
if he could find good purchaser, all his
property, including his house, would
bring five mime, or SO, and considered
himself rich enough. Now if this amount
had been put out at interest in Athens
it would have yielded an annual income
of Sl2; a slender revenue upon which
to support wife and three children.
Evidently he was not an enterprising,
efficient manager. This failing on the
part of the husband has driven many
modern women into the lecture field,
which occupation, unfortunately, Kan
tippe could only exercise upon Socrates.
Socrates was probably often invited
out to dine, for, being constantly on the
street, where he could snuff the savory
odor of the kitchens, he had the best
chance in the world to know where a
feast was about to be held. A public
man, with as glib tongue as Socrates
had, would not lack invitations. He was
constantly bringing home some one to
dine, when his wife had not scrap in
the house to cook, nor a stick of wood to
cook it with. She could give no feast,
much less attend any, because she lacked
the means to present herself in suitable
attire. Plutarch says that the ladies
were invited year beforehand that they
might have time to dress.
The well-known occupation of Soc
rates was finding fault with his neigh
bors, and very naturally the wife did
not escape his censures. He even per-
mitted her to be accused of scolding in
his very presence "a thing which the
world never could have known, and
then, instead of trying to defend and
hide her faults, as loving husband
should, he admitted that this was true,
and said: 81 have married this woman,
being firmly convinced that, in case |
should be able to endure her, l should
be able to endure everybody"
Such things as these are supposed to
make the very best of women scold.
Therefore. since Xsntippe probably
married Socrates because she had no
other choice, and Socrates married Kan
tippe because he knew their dispositions
were most discordant, and then did so
many things to torment and aggravate
her, we claim that she was justified in
occasionally giving her husband view