New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-26

The Egyptians often gave any relative whom they
disled the title Of mOtherinaw and the Chinese have
the following proverb "The spring sky often looks like
the face Of a mother-in-law.7 There is much con
troversy over the justice of this widely spread opinion
and the unprejudiced maintain that the mother-in law
is better than her reputation.
But there a number OF savage peoples among
whom the little family scenes between the mother-n-
law and the daugherinlaw impossible, since Gus
tom forbids intercourse between them. This prohibi
uon-which Is certainly calculated TO preserve ule
peace Of families-sometimes includes both parentsn
aw and sometimes is limited to opposite sexes; FOR
Instance the daughtern-law must keep out OF the way
Of her fatber-in-law the sOn-in-law must avoid his
mother.n.law Sometimes this Introduction is for life
sometimes for fixed perOd-perhaps I'LL the mother
in.law becomes grandmother.
Family intercourse between the members Of savage
tribes is often a very complicated affair
Among the Omaha Indians a woman never appears
Nit possible to avoid doing 50, in the presence Of her
daughters husband The sonn-law tries to avoid enter
Ing anv place where his mothernlaw is alone. In Da-
kota the Ponca chief Standing Buffalo, noticed that his
mother-in.law was sitting IN the ROOM He turned
drew his blanket over his head, and went to another
part Of the house.
In Port Lincoln Australia, young man, at the
chance approach Of his motherinlaw was surrounded
BIZ a dense circle OF women, and he himself thus
warned covered his face with his hands, While The
old woman turned in another direction
The missionary Van Hasselt tells anecdote
Of one Of his pupils in Dareh tNew-Guinea boy SIX
Year, old who during his lesson, dropped Ike log
under to table because his brothers m0ther-m-Ia"
happened u pass.
Among other tribes the prohibition relates TO
mentioning the parentsin law by name. Whoever does
is regarded according 10 their code OF etiquette a.
an extremely ilbred fellow This is even carried -
far that even words OF similar sound must not be
uttered thus making IL rather difficult 10 carry on a
Conversation especially when the wife IS forbidden TO
name any Of her husbands male relatives. TINS
often leads TO strange turns Of speech like the one in
story told by Vambery OF the Kirghz people among
whom this custom exists.
Kirghiz had five sons named respectively Kol Qake
hsmiseh reed, Kaskir wolf, Kol sheep anu
ktschak Cknfe). One morning his danghterin-law
vent TO the lake and seeing wolf there eating sheep
nm back screaming: Down yonder by the glitter
hg, among the waving, beast Of prey Is eating the
peaing' thus clevery avoiding the use OF the words
which were the name Of the male members OF her
aoataads family.
fof the consolation OF mothers in-law II may
We added that there are also tribes among whose
A"hoers love and respect for parents-in law are
's'cNy eniOned. And among civilized nations we may
NOe the weu-knOwn German proverb An aseu
-SNef In the house is a sheltering wall around IT,
mere are comparatively few people who are able
OSa Inc pieces Of bronze or marble. For such as
nO' there is special comfort in the fact that II
a. wv comparatively easy 10 obtain fine CASTS Oh al
S "ooiest masterpieces Of ancient or modern sculpt
IT,. trivial price. The new processes by w'nV'
eaSs are waxed or stained. IL IVORY H'ii'"