Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-07

Popular and Poetic snyingv Abous de
Gentle Sex.

WOfvlAN AND PROVEk BSs
Popular and Poetic snyinss About DE
Gentle SEX.
Prom the London Standard
The proverbs OF most countries are rich In all
subjects relating to woman, although frequsntly
they are far from complimentary Indeed, 10 Is
curious that In some sources OF literature We
should ind 30 much nl-natured sarcasm-often-
| times As unjust as IL Is untrue. On the other
hand, many Of the traits Of wonans character are
very cleveriy and aptly depicted and occasionally
put man 10 an inferior light. Thus the strength
OF her influence Is indisputable and has given rise
TO q host Of old proverbs. Whatever a woman
will, she cana saying which has its equivalent
In other countries. Hence, too we are warned
how
The mans fool who thinks by force or skill
10 stem tae torrent o. a woman's will:
And II she won't. she won't, and theres an end ont
Within the lines may be compared the common
maxim, "a woman convinced against her will Is OF
the same opinion STILL" Whether II be called Oh
stlnacy or not. there can be no doubt thai strong
VIII on the part OF n woman is uaenviable char
acterlsic; being one. also, which is invaluable 70
men when engaged In the business OF life. The no.
tion that woman cannot keep secret Is EN-.
In Henry ":
But yet woman: and for secrecy
And so far Will trust thee gentle Kate
Accordingly, there is familiar proverb "a woman
conceals what she does lot know" similarly the
spanish are wont TO say, ITO woman and mag.
pie tell what you would speak in the market
place" But this, 10 must be limited, Is unfair
reproach. woman being as capable Of keeping a
secret as one or her opposite sex. Indeed, as Mr..
Kelly remarks In his book on proverbs, at there be
truth In proverbs. men have no right to reproach
FRY ON the es snSs q
age" The industry OF women has long ago been
proverbial, as 10 the couplet:
The woman that's honest, her chfefest delisht
IL still to be doing from morning till night.
With which we may compare the common maxim,
"a woman's work Is never at an end" On the
who, after being busy Industrious maid, became
an INDECENT wife, 'she hath broken an elbow at
sne
was perfOrmed-having disabled her for domestic
duties. Thus another adags affirmed how
The wife that expects to have . rood nams
lsslwsys at homo, az if she were lame
According to our forefathers. 1t did not look well
for a woman TO be always sightseeing. such
domesticated, and was too fond Of pleasure. Hence
IL was usually said:
or seen as EFT Of. s1rn
Even az the present day, according to a Unknown
Yorkshire proyerb. "a zonktown"-a gOssip--"is
seldom good housewife at home" Many OF our
old proverbs speak or the nckleness OF women, but
surely this Is a libel on their constancy. We have
only 10 refer TO the pages OF our own history In
centuries past to prove The falsty Of this asser.
70 the same purport, and popular one reminds US
that "a woman's mind aud winter change Off,"
and again
The love of woman and bottle of wine
Are sweet for a ssason and last for time.
Francis l. OF France, IL may be remembered wrote
Chateau or Chambord these words: IA woman
changes oft; who trusts her Is right SOFT Ac-
coTding 10 Mr. Jea1reson, In his "Brides and
fancy that women were prone TO do the very thing
which. at the very moment OF doing It. they de-
Glare they would never DO Thus one adaSe tells
an offer OF marriage" On the same principle 1t
has been commonly said, take q woman's first Ad-
that women are apt to surpass men In Quicknsss
OF Intuition, having to quote Dr.. Trench's words,
"what Montaigne ascri6es to them is a remarka.
Die word, lESprit Prime-SaUtler-the leopard's
spring, which takes its prey II 1t be 70 take IL ut
all, at the first bound" Among some OF the many
other proverbs relating to women Is the familiar
THERE'S no mischief in the world done
But q woman il always one.
which must be received with ali caution. Accord.
Ing 10 another adage, "WOmen In mischief are
wiser than men," and 1t is said that "Womens
jars breed mems wars" The Germans have the
following variation Of this provero: There's no
mischief done in the world but there's woman or
has become q household saying with a slight
amendment for the bene1t OF children, Il this:
'Madens must be seen and not heard" piece OF
small recognition in these days OF women's rights.
Hence, the familiar saying that 'Siience Is the
abstract, is one which nowadays is considered
Anticipated. And even as Mr.. Jeaffreson rightly
remarks, "When We concede to woman the use OF
her tongue proverbial philosophy insists, In har.
mony with Shakespearean opinion that she should
talk gently, In accordance with the wise precept In
the husband wisdom. IN the wife gsntleness.'"
The talking propensities OF women have been en-
boiled In the not very nattering provero which
tells US how Three women ana three geese make
beauty Of woman. there are nnmerons ssy,n1s
Thus we are reminded that 'Jhe more women look
In their glasses the less they look to their houses
and, again, "a fair woman and q slashed gown viii
always find some nail In the way" the meaning, OF
course, being that women are apt 70 be negligent
housekeepers In proportion they value their per-
sona attractions Then there is the popular prov
ero which says that Joan is as good as my lady In
the dark" for as an ancient Latin saying reminds
agree With this statement or not, yet as Mr.. Kelly
remarks quoting the following lines;
The night
shows stars and women in o better light
which may be compared with the French hyper.
oole, "By candle-iight goat looks a lady" Once
more, While q dark complexion betokened pride,
JeanreSOn, were remarkable for their nolsness ana
beauties for their lack OF discretion. Hence II is
said:
EoHs and md f2 sas sl:ss .u .rc Ds0nd
The same author further ad IS that at Is some
thing 70 the credit OF the proyerb-making cynics
who spoke thus bitterly Of handsome women
that they refrained from assailing the ugly ones.
Striking the women whom nature had provided
with armor and legends OF defenders they spared
the less fortunate Of the fair sex" Lastly there
are many proverbs warning men Of the danger Of
bad women:
wicked woman and IN evil.
At three-halfpsnce worse than the devil
Hence numerous admonitions are given relating TO
marriage, one OF which tells Us that q mans best
fortune, or his worst Is his wife. Similarly Lord
Burieigh says TO his son, Use great prudence and
eircumspection In choosing tay wiIe, for from
thence will spring all thy future good or evil; and
II Is an action Of Life ike unto a sIratagem Of war;
wherein man can err but once" Once more, Sir
John Moore. the famous chancelors father, com.
pared inatrimony 70 bag containing hundred
snakes and one eel, and says, III man should
put his hand into this bag. he NAV chance to light
on the EEL but !t Is an hundred 10 one he shall be
stung by the SNAKE" But Martin Luther had evi.
IDENTIFY u better opinion OF women, when he said:
He who loves not women. wine AID song,
He Is a fool his whole life long
piece Of proyerbial lore with which most men
VIII agree, In spite OF the many hard sayings 70
ungallantly uttered against the fair sex.
Crock Courtships.
THE AMERICAN FATHER COMPARATIVELY IN YoKru.