The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-03-11

Woman, made to be mans helpmeet, has
always complained that she had become his
victim-by turns his slave, his plaything,
and the butt of his wit-how justly who
can saw, for no matter who makes history
man always writes IL. All We know OF
Xanthippe is that she bore three sons 10
Socrates, that she had violent temper, and
that the great philosopher only married and
endured her for self discipline. Perhaps
could Xanthippe speak to us she might tell
another story. The same literary genius
that glorified Hellas and convinced us that
all the outside world were barbarians has
doubtless pictured with an equally partial
hand ehe domestic relations OF that famous
couple. Xanthippe was "A virago; Socrates
a demigod; but our informants were his
boon companions. We have more than once
suspected that could the vigorous and prac-
teal Xanthippe have exercised some OF that
tyranny of beauty concerning which he
could SO glibly discourse, or could she have
left her cooking and scrubbing and spank
ing long enough to go down to that plane
tree beneath whose grateful shade her sage
lord and Phedrus were accustomed to re-
cline on the grass and dangle their bare
feet in the cool waters of the Ilissus. during
working hours, and pulled him by the ear
back to his workshop, their home expert
ence might have been "A happier one, and
he might have lived out his days and died
peaceably in his bed at last, and "all the
world and the rest of mankind" no worse
off.
From that very ancient time to the pres
ent, if there was ever man good for moth
ing ut home, but hail fellow well met
among all the "boys down town." who did
not imagine himself a Socrates and her an
other Xanthippe, as he skunk mp stairs at
midnight to face the frowns and smile at
the impetent rage of his better half, it was
only because he was unfamiliar with this
fiction; and even he has seldom lacked some
second hand grog- shop smart saying born
of that fiction, wherewith to silence her.
But even this long lane has come TO a turn,
it seems. The laws which have ever favored
mems tyranny over women have been drawn
so taut upon her around the shafts of ridi-
cule that the spirit of Xanthippe has at last
snapped the too attenuated threads, and
henceforth our Socrateses may look out foI
something far more serious than tongue
lashings and bridgeless noses.
If good law, the decision of a New York
Justice certainly entities him to the ever
lasting gratitude of the numberless victims
of worthless husbands. A Mrs. Griswold
bad her husband arrested for non-main-
tenance, and he was sent To prison until he
could give bonds for her proper support.
On her relenting and begging that her hus-
band might be released from confinement
this Justice would only consent TO let him
out on parole, m Mrs. Griswold's charge
and eff he acts badly, you have only to sur
render him to the first policeman you meet
and he will be remanded to the Tombs."
1t is true Mr.. Griswold has little to feai
| from his soft heated wife; but the decision
is IA very suggestive precedent, and under
J the gathering influence of the fair advocates
| of "womans rights" many another Justice
| will be qpick to catch the suggestion, until
ere long we will doubtless witness a mighty
revolution in the domestic relations, render
ing them SO much more attractive TO vigorous
and sensible young women that few OF
our Miss Anthonys may conclude to try
their hands at marrying, and give us the
most perfect possible examples of what
may be made of the world under woman's
supremacy. Chicago Ledger.