Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1888-07-21

Napoleon, Jane to Thomas Carlysle, percnance
was Xanthippe to Socrates, although the annals
refuse to divnlge the fact.
Now Socrates was blessed with divers eccentri-
cities of genius; for example, he had cheerful
habit of going about proving to every one who
would listen, how little they knew. Then he re-
linqushed his occupation of sculptor to become a
ph.osopher-'sa gentleman at large; master of
his own time; distracted and absorbed in
thought" So Plato describes him. The world
of to-day does little honor to the impecunious
philosopher. Xanthippe was advanced in her
ideas, she was woman centuries ahead of her
time. Xanthppe was not meek woman; she
was practical and thrifty. She had principles
embodied in the sentiments of "early to bed and
early to rise. Now philosophers are not usually
addicted to early rising, so it is easy to see how
the days all began wrong for Xanthppe and her
temper rose with the SUM-.
As she was thrifty housewife the frugal
repasts of the philosophers family were served on
time This was doubtless of small moment to
Socrates, who desired not to live by bread alone.
From the authority of Phedo one Eupois says:
~ hate this beggar who is eternally talking, and
has debated every subject on earth save where to
get his dinner" Picture this While Xanthppe
dWdlJS HIS W lle vi SIleeI
corner to discuss the immortality of the soul.
Xanthppe has arrived at the stage where for
bearance ceases to be q virtue She is not inter-
ested in things eternal so much affairs temporal
and while the entire market place may hang on his
every word, she stands in no awe Of the philoso-
pher. In vain does he assure her # how little she
knows. What though he accuse her thousand
times Of being sophist t makes not the least
impression, She has too many grievances. AS
she 5ees him At la approaching she makes ready
nvr uoctefes sol Jcgins BY mildly questioning.
With an Irresistible argument in prospect, Socra-
ties answers. The debate grows heated Xanthippe
is something of a logican herself; the arrows of
her argument are well aimed they rarely miss
the target; her remarks are growing very uncom-
fortaby personal She has a woman's retentive
memory and she produces illustrations of past neg
lect to back her assertions Truths, personalities
and reproaches too much for Socrates he is out
done. He may be something of a prophet abroad,
but at home he is naught but shftless fellow.
One of these times Socrates calls in the law to
suppress Xanthippe. History nowhere records
that Xanthippe was ever suppressed. She pre-
ferred to die game and be distinguished as an
arch termagant than to be convinced against her
WILL atiohoo, lollS ouhollhS anu H00hh0oo holo
fruits of the spirit which refused to blossom for
Xanthippe She had strong mind for facts, and
instead of standing like Jane Carlysle between her
husbands genius and the worlds contumely, in
stead of making herself shield for the assaults of
the butcher, the baker and the candlestck maker
she boldly buckled on the armor for a stout self
defense and babe her tongue 60 forth to the fray
Silent struggle, like virtue, often brings its own
reward, but Xanthippe failed to grasp the unseen
If she must suffer she preferred to suffer aloud.
And yet, history says, Socrates was fond of her;
'after the fatal poison was mixed for him, he babe
her and his children an affectionate farewell and
committed them to the care of friend, and they
went sobbing from the ROOM"
Then, says Phado, he reminded his friend Clto
that he owed cock to Aesclepius. Immortal
shades of greatness! Xanthippe indeed had griev-
ances Had she been the first to be removed by
DEATH Socrates i'm an AGONY of remOrSe MIGHT