The “Menagier,” which was first published by the Baron Jerome Pichon, is a collection of counsels addressed by a husband to his young wife, as to her conduct in society, in the world, and in the management of her household.  The first part is devoted to developing the mind of the young housewife; and the second relates to the arrangements necessary for the welfare of her house.  It must be remembered that the comparatively trifling duties relating to the comforts of private life, which devolved on the wife, were not so numerous in those days as they are now; but on the other hand they required an amount of practical knowledge on the part of the housewife which she can nowadays dispense with.  Under this head the “Menagier” is full of information.

After having spoken of the prayers which a Christian woman should say morning and evening, the author discusses the great question of dress, which has ever been of supreme importance in the eyes of the female sex:  “Know, dear sister,” (the friendly name he gives his young wife), “that in the choice of your apparel you must always consider the rank of your parents and mine, as also the state of my fortune.  Be respectably dressed, without devoting too much study to it, without too much plunging into new fashions.  Before leaving your room, see that the collar of your gown be well adjusted and is not put on crooked.”

[Illustration:  Fig. 60.—­Sculptured Comb, in Ivory, of the Sixteenth Century (Sauvageot Collection)]

Then he dilates on the characters of women, which are too often wilful and unmanageable; on this point, for he is not less profuse in examples than the Chevalier de Latour-Landry, he relates an amusing anecdote, worthy of being repeated and remembered.

“I have heard the bailiff of Tournay relate, that he had found himself several times at table with men long married, and that he had wagered with them the price of a dinner under the following conditions:  the company was to visit the abode of each of the husbands successively, and any one who had a wife obedient enough immediately, without contradicting or making any remark, to consent to count up to four, would win the bet; but, on the other hand, those whose wives showed temper, laughed, or refused to obey, would lose.  Under these conditions the company gaily adjourned to the abode of Robin, whose wife, called Marie, had a high opinion of herself.  The husband said before all, ’Marie, repeat after me what I shall say.’  ‘Willingly, sire.’  ‘Marie, say, “One, two, three!"’ But by this time Marie was out of patience, and said, ’And seven, and twelve, and fourteen!  Why, you are making a fool of me!’ So that husband lost his wager.

“The company next went to the house of Maitre Jean, whose wife, Agnescat well knew how to play the lady.  Jean said, ‘Repeat after me, one!’ ’And two!’ answered Agnescat disdainfully; so he lost his wager.  Tassin then tried, and said to dame Tassin, ‘Count one!’ ‘Go upstairs!’ she answered, ‘if you want to teach counting, I am not a child.’  Another said, ’Go away with you; you must have lost your senses,’ or similar words, which made the husbands lose their wagers.  Those, on the contrary, who had well-behaved wives gained their wager and went away joyful.”