The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1908-09-17
NAGGING WOMEN
What Petruchio, Solomon and Rip
Van W:nkIn Have BCrne.


Even though young young *omen
ire so unfortunate as 10 possess a
'hrewish temper. they take care not
o display it too publicly, knowing
90 well. 1t would Brighten away any
admirers who may be attracted by
heir beauty and acc onplishments,
tor it is rare thing to find a man
with the courage of Petruchio to at
empt the cure of this evil habitNor
1t likely that briIa will fall into
he habit OF nagging directly after
er mar age. since bridesN usually
make themselves as agreeable as
possible. at least until the sentiment
ard romance CT the honeymoon have
given place to the care of life and
tie realty of a commonplace exist
ence. IN fact it is somewhat difficult
10 say just how the nabit of scold-
ing does begin. At first. it is sell
dom in earnest. of IL II be it Is soon
cepented of and forgiven a being on
ty one of those little tiffs' which
like summer shower. occasionally
cloud for a moment. the sunshine of
summer bliss. These small fallings
out are SO proverbial a part of the
first year of marriage. before the
newly wed couple have become inti-
mately acquainted with each others
character and disposition. that the
famous "Flitch Of Dunmow was Ia
stituted as a reward to be given to
the fortunate couple VINO could swear
-kneeling on the steps Or Dunmow
Church--that during he first year
they had never had 4 disa greement.
Although the rrize vas instituted in
the twelfth century. it is asserted
hat frequently years pass without
any claimants appearing, and when
In last December at the annual dis
Irritation three couples appeared to
claim their fitch it was looked upon
as so unusual and SURPRISING that
the people of the parish expressed the
opinion that the millennium must
be about to begin.
Married people often confess that
the first year was the least happy
of their united life. So many pc
culia rites that are rot much in evil
dence during courtship gradually
show themselves. and only by mutual
forbearance and gentle1sss can these
things be overcome. Once these
have Leon adjusted the chances are
that the young people settle down
to a peaceful existence in which. IL
sorrows and trials come. they are
be rne bravely and serve but to draw
them mere closely together. But
unfortunately, there are some women
who never learn forDearance, and
very fresh discovery nat their hus-
tand is less perfect than they fam
ciei him % be is regarded by them
as crime and made he occasion of
iCEg and bitter accusations. One
scene like this is sure tt lead to an
ether. and sooC not a lay passes that
the unhappy wife ioes not berate
her husband about some thing or 9TH
q. That the most ardent affection
soon dies under such storms of tenn
Ier is little won Ter and that men
can put up With It aud not find eff
fectual means to silelce the unruly
similarly afflicted.
From the feeling way In which
King SoIomon alludes- several times
to content )ns" or nagging women,
compa ring them to continual
dropping on a very rainy day, 1t Is
plainly to De seen that in some OF
his Numerous matrimonial ventures
h, bad had the misfortune to en-
counter that worst Of earthly evils,
a nagging wife-or perhaps several
of them-poor man! That the sub
ject wss often in his thoughts Is
evident. fol when h3 is not openly
complaining, as in the above quota
ton, he says: Better is dry MGR
sci with quIetness tn IN house full
O. sacrifices with strife" and again,
81, is better to dwell wilderness
thai with 4 contentious and angry
woman Many a-man has uttered
a sign of understandi1g and sympa-
tn as he read or listened to those
words. AID nc few have echoed
Rip Van Wrinkles sentiment regard
ing the silent apparition of the
atskill Mountains that If they had
a sister what fine wife she would
make. No doubt this very feeling
was at the bottom of the sympathy
e eryone felt for the vagabond Rip
when. according to all Justice, 1t
should have been width hi ill-used
Katrina