Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-22
ORIGIN OF AN OLD SAYING.

ORIGIN OF AN OLD SAYING.
How the "Grey" Mare Was Accepted
as the "Better Horse"
A correspondent Of the Winnsboro
News and Herald has unearthed from
an old gazette of 1885 the following
account Of the proverb that Is usually
applied to those unfortunate gentle
men who are under petticoat govern
ment and which every man will apply
to his neighbor:
A gentleman of certain county in
England married young lady Of
wealth and accomplishments, but, alas!
he soon discovered that she was most
intolerable shrew. After enduring this
earthly purgotory as long as he
could, he resolved to break his letters
by deliberate separation. He ac-
cordingly went to her father, and with
a rueful countenance informed him
that he could no longer live with his
daughter, and that II he would receive
her back he would restore her whole
fortune The old gentleman, after as
certaining the cause Of his misery,
calmly informed him that he was near
ly in the same situation with every
married man. The young gentleman,
however, positively denied the asser-
tion, and declared that he was the
most wretched being In existence.
Sir" replied the old gentleman, you
must have little knowledge Of the world
If you do not know that all women
govern their husbands though not In
the same mode. In order. however, to
end the dispute, will stake the truth
Of my assertion, on the following e1-
pedient, II you agree to adopt it. will
furnish you with five horses, which
you can harness to cart, In which l.
will place basket containing 100 eggs,
and IL, on travelling through the coun-
try and leaving horse where you as
certain on strict inquiry, that the hus-
band governs, and merely an egg
where the wife rules, you shall find
that the eggs are disposed Of before the
horses. trust that you will not con-
slider your own case 30 very desperate,
but be satisfied to return home and,
regard your wife thereafter as no
worse than her neighbors. II, on the
other hand, you get rid Of the horses
before the eggs, will take my daugh-
ter home again and you may retain
her fortune"
The proposal was eagerly accepted,
and our Benedict sailed forth, flushed
with the hopes Of soon relieving him
self of his five horses; and, or course,
of his gentle mate. At the first house
where he arrived he was soon con-
vinced, from palpable appearances,
that the lady governed, and accord
ing quietly left an egg without an in
quiry. At the next house he met with
no better success, and 30 at every
other house until his eggs were nearly
exhausted. -. .ay
At length he came to mansion or
a gentleman Of great influence In the
country, where knocking at the door,
he inquired II the master was at home'
and was told by servant that his
master was in bed, but that If he would
alight his mistress was in the parlQr.
He did so, and the lady received our
traveller with much civility, and In
formed him that unless his business
was urgent she did not wish to disturb
her husband.
"Why, really, madam" said he, "as
wish only to ask q question, you can
answer 1t as we'll yourself II you will
be but candid with me. You may
think it impertinent, Especially in a
strangely but as considerable wager
depends upon It, I hope you will excuse
me. Pray, then, inform me whether
you govern your husband or he rules
you?"
The lady replied, without hesitation,
that it had always been her pride to
obey her husband in all things, but
that If a woman's word was to
be suspected in such a case her
husband could answer for himself,
for there he came. The gentle
man at that moment entered the
room, and being informed Of the busi-
ness. confirmed every word which the
wife had reported in her favor. On
this he was requested to make a selec-
ton from the five horses in the cart,
and to accept Of 1t as present.
An elegant black charger struck the
gentleman's fancy, but the lady pre-
ferred the. grey mare, which she
thought would suit the side saddle.
The husband urged many reason why
the black horse should be preferred,
but madam still persisted in the pref
erence for the grey tnare. "Is 1t pos
sible," she exclaimed "you will not
take her! But I say you shall, for
am sure the grey mare is the better
horse" "Well, my DEAR" replied the
obedient husband, III 1t must be so."
You must take an egg," replied the
gentleman carter, land must take my
horse back again and endeavor here
after to live happy with my wife"
THE WORLDS DEMAND For SOBER
MEN-Cold -blOoded business Is doing