The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-08-18
THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE.
Different Arts by Which Women Obtain
Domestic SUPREMACY.

Ute WAC Gn SS thc HOOSCs
Different Arts by Which Women Obtain
Domestic Supremacy.
Is "Benedick, the married man." ever
really the master of his own house? "A
pretty question that to put to an Afaer-
lean sovereign" says some ''head of a
family" who considers himself the Al
pha and Omega of the home depart
ment. ''Of course, there are millions
of married men who are masters of
their own houses, and of that grand
sum total am an integral part"
Bravely retorted But assertion is
not argument. That millions of Bene-
dicks 6eIiere themselves to be absolute
under their own roof-trees, the Ledger
does not doubt; but nevertheless the
truth is that, as rule women reign.
The majority of ''ladies paramount"
govern gently, so gently indeed that the
yoke is unfelt Xantippe was fool as
well as a termagant She could have
twisted Socrates round her finger with
much less trouble than she took to COW
his better part af man
There is petticoat government of
smiles, another pctticoat government
of tears, and another of reason. Some
wives queen it over their husbands
hearts, others over their heads, and
two or three of the most absolute
petticoat monarchs we have ever
known have been rs undemonstrative
as statues The art of controlling by
seeming to submit Is a species of finesse
thoroughly understood by many of the
weaker vessels, and perhaps no man is
more happy or more to be envied than
he who obeys a wise and good wife's
will, thinking he exercises his own.
Never undeceive such an one: it is the
greatest unllinduess you can do him
1t was thought at one time that the
Turks were supreme lords of their own
households They are SO in law, but
not in fact Travellers who have re-
gently been among them taking notes
assure us that some of the Ottoman
grandees are terribly henpecked by
their Lights of the Harem. The Grand
Seignior. though ''Brother of the
Sum-" often gets snubbed, it is said. by
some of the bright particular stars of
the connubial armament, and occasion
ally by those lesser lights of loves
yalaxy-the odalisques. Thus has 1t
been since the days OF Solomon Whose
domestic troubles are more than hinted
at in his writings), and thus will it be
until the end of time.
{ There is a story of a French priest of
the olden time which neatly illustrates
the general principle here set forth
The good father fancied that the law
laid down by St Paul touching the
obedience of wives to husbands
was obligatory on the former,
and that to contravene it was a heinous
sin. In order to encourage its observ-
ance he one day offered to give his en-
tire crop of pease, 4 very one, to any
married man among his parishioners
who could prove that he was not under
subsection to his spouse. Scores of ap-
plicants for the prize appeared, but
they all broke down under the priests
searching cross-examina;ions-
At length, however, a bury, surly
iaborer, who was admitted by every
body to be a thoroughgoing domestic
tyrant, laid claim to the reward, and
made out his claim to the satisfaction
of the cure.
WELL" said the good father, 81 am |
glad to know that have one man in |
my congregation who is master in his |
own house. Call tomorrow for your |
pease."
The next day the fellow went to the
priests house with small sack, which
he began to fill
That's too small" observed the
priest, shave you not a larger one?"
"Well, yes. l have" replied the peas
ant, sulkily, but You see my wife |
wouldn't let me bring it"
AHA" cried the cure, ''let my pease
alone-let my pease alone; you're only
a slave like the rest,'-N V Ledger. |