The Grange advance., 1874-01-14
ShreWish Women.


as examples of warning, some notable
instances of shrewish women, thus:
Milton had a most vixenish wife. 1t
might have added to his comfort to
have been deaf instead of blind. To
Aatter his wife, Buckingham once called
her rose. II am no judge of colors,''
replied the poet, land it may be so,
for he added with a sigh-' feel
the thorns daily"
The "judicious Hooker Jared no
less badly in his selection of a better
half and experience with her. The
picture of his domestic relations, as
drawn by Whipple, though truthful, is
by no means Aattering. Whipple at
tempts to excuse in a measure the TEN.
per of Mrs. Hooker on the ground that
Hooker married her to be his nurse,
and * there being no possibility Of equal
ity between them, she, in spiritual self
defense, established in the household
the despotism of caprice and the tyran-
ny of the tongue" His snarling wife
used frequently bid him rock the era.
die, and so annoy his friends on visit
that they rarely came to see him again
except when they knew that Mrs
Hooker, with her "spiritual sarcasm"
was not at home. To Cranmer, repin-
ing that his wife should not prove
more " comfortable Hooker replied
MY dear George, if saints have usually
double share in the miseries Of this
life, |, that am none, ought not to re-
pine at what my wise Creator hath ap-
pointed for me, but labor-as indeed [
do daily-to submit mine to His will,
and possess my soul in patience and
peace"
The famous Dr.. Parr had wife who
used to quarrel with her husband for ex-
pending so much money for his books
while he allowed his library chairs to be
sadly out Of repair. One day, meeting
him in the library, she exclaimed: '!Mr.
Parr, we should have new chairs in the
library they are in very sad way."-
II cannot afford it, Mrs. Parr," quickly
replied the doctor. Not afford it p re-
turned the lady, "when you can give ten
guineas for musty book which you nev-
er open!'' II tell you I cannot afford
it," vociferated the doctor, growing an
cry with his wife's obstinacy. "Not af-
ford it." slowly said the lady, "when
your rents are coming in so fast point
ing to fast-widening gaps in her hus-
bands garments), "when you are in as
much need Of repair as the library
chairs! p Dr. Parr, who had expected a
scene, quietly collapsed at his wifes mas
terly stroke Of humor, and Immediately
sent for the upholsterer and the tailor
completely vanquished by his wife S
sharpness.
Although James Furguson, the cele-
brated astronomer, in his autobiography
does not a]lude to his wife's conduct, it
has been we'll ascertained that her tenn.
per was hot the most congenial. One
anecdote illustrating the fact that has
come down to US. 1t appears that one
evening in London, while he was de-
livering a lecture on astronomy, his
wife entered the lecture-room in pas
sion, and maliciously knocking down
several pieces Of: the apparatus. Fergu
son calmly surveyed the catastrophe,
and turning to the audience quietly said
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have the
misfortune to be married to this woman.
! Even great artists have not been free
from the sharp action Of shrews. The
wife of Albert Durer compelled that re-
nowned painter to toll merely to CRAFTY
her own miserly disposition, and wher
in disgust at her wretched treatment
he ran off, she allured him back to hi
death-bed.
! Disraeli, the elder, relates of Berghem
that his wife would constantly keep hin
busy, and she contrived an odd expert
ment to detect his Incidence. He work
ed in a room above her own; ever ant
anon she cheere6 him by humping ;
long stick against the ceiling, while tn
meek, obedient Berghem answered by
stamping his foot on the floor, and
clenching his fist, too, perhaps, to sat
isfy his wife that he was not mapping
but that he still lived
Moliera was extremely unfortunate
in his wife. Captivated by the vivaci
, ty and grace of the actress, Bejart, he
married her, only to find that after mar
) mage her grace became converted int
glddiness, and her vivacity into coquet
~. Her vanity and articles often drov'
him to despair. She had NJ pity, +