Mas vale mana que fuerza by Manuel Tamayo y Baus

From English Preface: "PREFACE No apology need be offered for the introduction to American schools ofanother selection from the works of so eminent a dramatist as ManuelTamayo y Baus (18291898).The proverbio here presented, while one of his less pretentious works,was produced when Tamayo was at the prime of his dramatic power andpopularity, and well exemplifies his consummate skill in the teaching of amoral lesson by the ingenious and artistic handling of a situation chosenfrom the commonplaces of everyday life.Mas vale mana que fuerza was first presented at the Teatro de laZarzuela in Madrid, November 26, 1866, less than six months before theinitial appearance on the same stage, May 4, 1867, of the author'smasterpiece, Un drama nuevo.The situation treated in Mas vale mana que fuerza was suggested by aoneact French comedy entitled La diplomatie du menage, by Mme. CarolineBerton, which was first given at the Theatre Français, January 6, 1852.Otherwise, Tamayo's work is entirely original.With the exception of orthographic changes made in conformity with thelatest rules of the Royal Spanish Academy, the text is that of the fourthvolume of Obras de D. Manuel Tamayo y Baus, published by the Sucesoresde Rivadeneyra, Madrid, 1900.The piece is well adapted for reading in the second year of high school,or in the latter part of the first year course in college, aftercompletion of selections in an easy Spanish reader."