The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-11-27
s'The Gray Mare the Better Horse.

| ''In0 SfraY MAI? Uu0 06UE6T 11OEE0.
This wellknown proverbial saying origina-
ted from the following circumstances: A
gentleman Of a 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
mistress 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 ifhe 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 en-
tered into the married state. The young
gentleman desired to be excused if he said
he was so far from giving his assent to this
assertion that he thought himself more On
aaz sp5 h5a n6 way W 70 BE- 81 9ds3da az AID III Jgs Js
tainiy 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 [ have said upon
this to proof, if you are willing to try it.
II have five horses in my stable; you shall
harness these to a 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 is master of his family him
self. and an egg where the wife governs, you
shall find your eggs gone before your horses,
| hope that you will then think your own
case not uncommon, but will be contented to
20 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 he
thought, of his horses and his wife. At the
first house he came he heard woman with
q shrill and angry voice call to her husband
to 90 to the door Here he lett an egg, you
may be sure, without making any further
inGuiry At the next house he met with
something of the same kind, and at every
house. in short, until his eggs were almos
gone, when he arrived at the seat of gen
. tleman Of family and and figure in the coun
| try. lie knocked at the door, and inquirine
, for tho master of the house, was told by {
servant that his master was not stirring, bu
if he pleased to walk in, his lady was in tn
: parlor.
: The lady with great complaisance desired
, him to be seated, and said if his busines
y was urgent she would wake her husband
5 but had much rather not disturb him.
. "Why really, madam" said he, "my busi
t ness is only to ask a question, which you ca
resolve as well as your husband, if you wi
n be ingenious with me; you will doubles
e think it odd, and it may be deemed impolit
: for any one, much more stranger, to as
h such question; but as a wager depend
# upon it, and it may be some advantage
o Yourself to declare the truth to me, | hop
: these considerations will plead my excus
1t is. madam, my desire to be intorms
n whether you govern your husband, or |
% rules over YOU" "Indeed sill" replied I'll
Il lady, "this question is somewhat odd; but
IF | think no one ought to be ashamed OF dom
e their duty. shall make no scrupl 10 to So
that am always proud to obey my husbal
in all things; but if a woman's own word
as TO be suspected in such case, let hun a
,l- swer Cor me- for here he comes" !,
4 The gentleman at this time entered u
ht room, and after some apologies, beng hl'' m
k acquainted with the business co"hruI'
every word his obodient wife had report
in in her own favor, upon which he was
~ nucsted TO choose which horse IN the tea
ID he liked best; and to accept OF 1t as Pr
an W a black golling struck the fancy OF t