Year: 1873

Inc Gray HdTc tHc BCtlos HOISC-


In answer to a correspondent who
asks the origin of the above prOyerb,
the New York Observer gives the fol-
lowing story:


The well known proyerbial saying
originated from the following eireum-
stances: a gentleman Of a certain
county in England, having married a
3 young lady OF considerable fortune,
and at the same time possessed of
many other charms, found not leng
after marriage that she was OF q high,
domineering temper, and always con-
tending to be mistress both of him
aud his family; therefore he formed
the resolution of parting from her.
Accordingly he waited upon her fatE-
ers and told him that lie foQnds bis
daughter of such s temper that he was
heartily tired of her, and IL he would
take her home he would return every
penny of her fortune. M


The old gentleman, having inquired
into the cause of his complaint, asked
him why he should be more disquieted
at it than any other married man,
since it was the common case with
them all, and, consequently, no more
than he might have expected when
he entered into the married state. The
yonng gentleman desired to be excused
il he said he was so far from giving
his assent to this assertion that he
thoHeht himself more unhappy than
any other man, and his wife had 3
spirit no way to be quelled, and most
certainly no man whs had q sense Of
right or wrong could ever submit to
be controlled by his wife. "SOn,p said
the old man, ''you are but little ae-
.quainted with the world IL You do not
know that all women govern their
husbands, though not all, indeed, by
the same method; however, to end all
disputes between us, Will put what !
have said upon this 10 proof, if you
will try it. l sgl. fiu 18ri


s'I have five horses in my stable;
you shall harness these to a cart, in
which / shall put a hundred eggs; and
IL in passing through the country,
and making strict inquiry Into the
truth or falsehood of my assertion,
aud leaving a horse at the house of
every man that is master of his fami-
ly himself, and an egg when the wife
governs, you shall find your eggs gone
before your horses, ! hope that you
will then think your own case not 1n-
common, but will be contented to go
home and look upon your own wife
as no worse than her neighbOrs- If,
on the other hand, your horses are
gone first, will take my daughter
home again and you shall keep her
fortune.p Ilf .f-.l I...51


This proposal was too advantageous
to be rejected. Our young married
man therefore set out with great eager
ness to get rid, as he thought, of his
horses and his wife. At the first house
he came to he heard a woman with g
shrill and angry voice call to her hgS-
band to go to the door. Here he left
an egg, you may be sure, without
making any further inquiry. At the
next house he met with something Of
the same kind, anu at every house, in
short, until his eggs were almost gone,
when be arrived at the seat of q gem
tieman of family and figure in the
country. He knocked at the door,
snd inquiring for the master of Lhe
house Wns told by a servant that his
master was not stirring, but if he
pleased TO walk in his lady was in the
parlor. The lady with great camplai-
lsance desired him to be seated, and
said if his business was urgent she
would wake her husband, but had
much rather not disturb him. "Why,
really, madam said hes "my BUSH
ness is only to ask question, which
you can resolve as well as your hus-
band, if you will be ingenious with
me; you will doubtless think it odd,
and it may be deemed impolite for
anyone, much more a stranger, to ask
such question; but as q wager de-
pends upon it, and it may be some ad-
vantage to yourself 10 declare the
truth to me, hope these considera-
tions will plead my excuse, 1t is,
madam, my desire to be informed
whether you govern your husband, or
he rules over yOu.n "Indeed, sir" re-
piled the lady, "this question is some
what odd; but as think no one ought
to be ashamed of doing their duty /
shall make no scruples to say that l
am proud to obey nay husband in all
things, but if a voman's word is to be
suspected in such q case, let him an
Iswer for noe, for here he comes"


The gentleman at that time enter
ed the room, and, after some apollo
gies, being made acquainted with the
business, confirmed every word his
obedient wife had reported in her own
favor, upon which he was requested
to choose which horse in the team he
liked best, and to accept it as pres
ent. ~ flt %. d..


A black gelding struck the fancy Of
the gentleman most, but the lady de-
sired he would choose the gray mare,
which she thought would be very fit
for her side saddle; her husband gave
substantial reasons why the black
horse would be the most useful 10
them, but madam still persisted in hei
claim to the gray mare. "What,
said she, "and will you not take her
then? But / say you shall. for ON


sure the gray mare is the better horse. y


"Well, my dear" replied the husband
'sif it must be sO--" "You must take
an egg,n replied the gentleman carter,


sand l must take all my horses back


again and endeavor to live happily


with my wife," elaaff
i