Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-30
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ssTHE GRAY MARE THE BETTER HORSE"

This well-known proverbial saying origina-
ted from the following circumstances: A
gentleman of certain county in England
having married a young lady of considerable
fortune, and at the same time possessed OF
many other charms, he found, not long after
marriage, that she was of high, domineer-
ing temper, and always contending to be mis-
tress both of him and his family therefore
he formed the resolution of parting from her.
Accordingly he waited upon her father, and
told him that he found his daughter Of such
temper that he was heartily tired of her,
and if he would take her home again he would
return every penny Of her fortune.
The old gentleman, having inquired into
the cause Of his complaint, asked him why
he should be more disquieted at it than any
other married man, since it was the common
case with them all, and consequently no more
than he might have expected when he entered
into the married state. The young gentle
man desired to be excused if he said he was
so far from giving his assent to this assertion
that he thought himself more unhappy than
any other man, as his wife had a spirit no
way to be quelled, and most certainly no man
who had sense of 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 not know
that all women govern their husbands, though
not all indeed by the same method; however,
to end all disputes between US, will put what
I have said upon this to proof, if you are
willing to try it.
have five horses in my stable; you shall
harness these to cart, in which will place
basket containing 100 eggs and if, in pass
ing through the country and making strict
inquiry into the truth or falsehood Of my as
sertion, and leaving horse at the house of
/ every man who was master of his family HIM
self, and an egg where the wife governs, you
shall find your eggs gone before your horses,
l hope that you will then think your own
case not uncommon, but will be contented to
90 home and look upon your own wife as no
worse than her neighbors If, on the other
hand, your horses are gone first, | will take
my daughter home again and you shall keep
her fortune"
This proposal was too advantageous to be
rejected Our young married man therefore
set out with great eagerness to get RID, as ne
! thought, of his horses and his wife. At the
first house he came to he heard woman with
shrill and angry voice call to her husband
to 90 to the door. Here he left All egg, you
may be sure, without making any further in
ouilry. At the next house he met with some
thing of the same kind, and at every house,
! in short, until his eggs were almost gone, when
| he arrived at the seat of a gentleman of fam
! lily and figure in the country. He knocked
at the door, and inquiring for the master of
the house, was told by a servant that his mas
ter was not yet stirring, but if he pleased to
walk in, his lady was in the parlor.
The lady with great complaisance desired
him to be seated, aud said if his business was
urgent she would wake her husband, but had
much rather not disturb him. "Why really,
madam" said he, "my business is only to ask
a question, which you can resolve as we'll as
your husband, if you will be ingenious with
me you will doubtless think it odd, and it
may be deemed impolite for any one, much
more stranger, to ask such a question; but
as wager depends upon it, and it may be
some advantage to yourself to declare the
truth to me, hope these considerations will
plead my excuse. 1t is, madam, my desire,
to be informed whether you govern your hus.
band, or he rules over YOU" Indeed sir"
replied the lady, "this question is somewhat
odd; but as think no one ought to be ashamed
of doing their duty, I shall make no scruple
to say that am always proud to obey my
husband in all things but if q woman's own