Brought to Terms

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Couple by couple, a party of henpecked husbands, with their wives, call upon Mr. Brown, another who is domineered by his wife. Upon their entering Brown's residence, we note that each overawed husband is likewise overweighted with his muchly multiplied progeny. Now, the object of these ladies calling on Mrs. Brown is to discuss the woman question, and the ways and means wherewith to rule their husbands in a manner even more effective than they have hitherto done. With utter lack of ceremony, our gentlemen friends, still carrying their children, are unceremoniously rushed into a room adjoining that wherein the meeting is to be held. They are dejected at the treatment thus received, and while the wives are in debate as to the proper procedure to further intimidate their spouses, one of the gentlemen conceives an idea whereby, he tells his co-mates, he can subjugate these termagant better-halves. His friends are all excitement as he makes his hurried departure through a window. He rushes to the city rat-catcher's place nearby and purchases a trap full of rats, and immediately returns to his now semi-delighted friends, exhibits his rats, then cautiously opening the door between the two rooms, lets the rats escape from the trap among the still altercating and debating women. Of a truth, pandemonium is the result. The wives, horrified, with skirts drawn tight and ankles doing a Comanche war dance, such as was never danced before, rush to their husbands, beseeching them to exterminate the pests. At first, husbands are indignant and refuse, but upon further pleading agree to shoo away the offending creatures. The husbands having accomplished the wives' salvation, are now looked upon with respect by their mates, and lead the way home. Needless to say, the wives carried the children, for the rats had won the day.