Some Women Proverbs.

Otago Witness, Issue 2451, 6 March 1901, Page 70

Some Women Proverbs.

The proverbs of all nations are exceedingly severe upon mothers-in-law. The numerous proverbs that apply to the many shortcomings of v-omen in general apply still more particularly to mothers-in-law. "He who loses a wci-ian and a farthing will miss the farthing" — especially if th:it woman is one's own familiar mother-in-law. "A man of straw is wcrth a woman of gold"— especially if that straw man happens to be the golden woman's son-in-law. "A woman and the Evil One arc at the bottom of all mischief" might apply more particularly to mothers-in-law, from the fact that they of all women have the best chance of collaborating with the Evil One in schemes of mischief, for are they not consigred by their sons-in-law many times a day to* such places as the Arch Fiend is supposad to inhabit? A Spanish proverb says that "a wonan should be from home three times — when she is christened, when she is married, and when she is buried." Here at last we Lave a paying tliatdosg £Q.t apply to mothers-iu-law,

for all agrpp rhat they should be from h ,me whenever thfy are not good-tempered, tolerant, discreet, and amiable — that i&, of course, always.

Proverbs levelled at mothers-in-law are common in all languages. "Drunken mothers-in-law should have full casks of wine" — so that their days should not be too long in the land. "May he who has a mother-in-law see her die soon " is another expresdi.m of filial affection which leaves no doubt ' f tl c high estimation in which the person uihUt discussion is held. In short, there is apparently no redeeming quality in a mother-in-law, and the proverbs that sing the praisQ6 of women in general obviously do not apply to her. An essay on "Proverbs in favour of mothers-in-law" must needs be very short. It would be framed after the style of the small boy's famous treatise on '"Snakes in Iceland," and would consist of the most exhaustive treatment of the subject in three words: "Theie are none!"