Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-02-04
NAGGiNG WOMEN.
What Petruchio, Solomon and Rip Van
Wrinkle Have Borne.

What Petruchio, Solomon and Rip Van
Wrinkle Have Borne.
Even though young women are so
unfortunate as to possess a shrewish
temper, they take care not to display
it too publicly, knowing full we'll 1t
would frighten away any admirers who
may be attracted by their beauty and
accomplishments. for 1t Is rare thing
to find man with the courage OF Pc
truchio to attempt the cure Of this evil
habit. Nor Is 1t likely that bride will
fall into the habit Of nagging directly
after her marriage, since brides usually
make themselves as agreeable as pos
sible, at least until the sentiment and
romance of the honeymoon have given
place to the cares Of life and the reality
Of q commonplace existence. In fact,
it is somewhat difficult to say just how
the habit of scolding does begin. AT
first it is seldom in earnest, or If 1t be
it is soon repented Of and forgiven as
being only one of those little tiffs''
which, like a summer shower occasion
ally cloud for q moment the sunshine
Of married bliss. These small fallings
out are so proverbial part Of the first
year Of marriage, before the newly wed
couple have become intimately ac-
quainted with each others character
and disposition, that the famous "Flitch
of Dunmow" was instituted as a re-
0le who could swear-kneeling on the
steps Of Dunmow church-that during
the first year they had never had a
disagreement. Although this prize was
instituted in the twelfth century, 1t is
asserted that frequently years pass
without any claimants appearing, and
when in last December at the annual
distribution three couples appeared to
as so unusual and surprising that the
people Of the parish expressed the opin-
ion that the millennium must be about
to begin.
first year was the least happy Of their
united life. So many peculiarities that
are not much in evidence during court
ship gradually show themselves, and
only by mutual forbearance and gentle
ness can these things be overcome.
Once these have been adjusted the
chances are that the young people set
tie down to a peaceful existence In
which. If sorrows or trials come, they
are borne bravely and serve but to
draw them more closely together. But,
unfortunately, there are some women
who never learn forbearance, and every
fresh discovery that their husband Is
less perfect than they fancied him to
be is regarded by them as a crime and
made the occasion Of long and bitter
accusations. One scene like this Is
sure to lead to another, and soon not
day passes that the unhappy wife
does not berate her husband about
something or other. That the most
ardent affection soon dies under such
storms of temper is little wonder and
that men can put up with it and not
find effectual means to silence the un-
ruly tongue is a marvel to everybody
not similarity afflicted.
From the feeling way in which King
Solomon alludes several times to CON
tentious" or nagging women, comparing
them to a continual dropping on a
very rainy day." it is plainly to be seen
that in some of his numerous matri-
monial ventures he had had the misfor-
tune to encounter that worst Of earthly
evils, a nagging wife-or perhaps sew
eral of them-poor man! That the
subject was often in his thoughts is
evident, for when he is not openly COM
planning, as in the above quotation, he
says: Better is a dry mOrsel with
quietness than a house full of sacrifices
with strife" and again, ut is better to
dwell in wilderness than with a con-
tentious and angry woman" Many a
man has uttered sigh Of understand
| ing and sympathy as he read or listen
ed to those words; and not few have
echoed Rip Van Wrinkles sentiment re-
garding the silent apparitions Of the
| Catskill mountains that If they had
sister what a fine wife she would make.
No doubt this very feeling was at the
bottom Of the sympathy every one felt
for the vagabOnd Rip when, according
to all justice, it should have been with
his ill-used wife, Katrina.
The nagging habit is bad enough
when it expends itself upon grown peo-
pie who should be able to defend them
selves; but it is infinitely worse when
children become the victims Of a wo-
mans nervousness or i'll temper. How
pitifu is the life of a child who lives in
an atmosphere of constant fault finding
and repression, to whom the word
don't" is said scores of times each
day In q roOmful of children it is not
difficult to pick out those who have this
kind of home life; and hard indeed
must be the heart of a woman who is
not moved by their expression to re-
strain her inclination to scOld Upon
the streets and in public Conveyances
one sometimes marks the sullen or else
the rebelliouS expression on child's
face when the mother speaks to 1t: and
it is easy to see that fear and not love
is the controlling influence in the home
from which they come. Even If child
be blessed with so fine disposition
that is not entirely ruined by this kind
of bringing up 1t will carry with 1t
through life anything but happy men,
ories of childhood, and the words
home" and mother" will have very
different associations in his mind to-
what they should have.-News and