DROPPING, A CONTINUAL. We find this ex pression in Prov. xxvii :15, where it is said : "A con tinual dropping in a very rainy day and a conten tious woman are alike." From the LXX we learn the sense to be "Drops of rain in a wintry day drive a man out of his house; in the same manner also does an abusive woman." When we consider the construction of the ordinary eastern house, the force of this comparison becomes evident. A %cry great number of them have simply roofs made of clay; so when it rains, and especially when rains are of long duration and violent, the clay becomes saturated, loosens. and allows the water to drop or pour down upon the helpless inmates. An oriental traveler relates his experience, which serves to il lustrate the proverb. He says: "Last night we re tired to rest in what appeared to be one of the best rooms which we have occupied during the journey; but at midnight we were roused by the rain descending through the roof, and were obliged to rise and seek shelter from the incessant dropping, in the corridor, which was better pro tected."
On the roofs of many of the houses in Syria are large cylindrical stone rollers which are used by the women, immediately after a shower, for the purpose of packing the softened earth, which is so easily soaked with the rain. This. however, scenic sometimes to make matters worse. Dr. Lepsius says: "Being overtaken try a sudden shower at night I took refuge in a house on Nit. Lebanon. Ere long the rain softened the mud on the roof, and began to pour down on the bed. One of the number was sent out to till up the crevices and draw about the stone roller. This only added to our misery by bringing down heaps of stone and rubbish. and I was compelled to beg the host to desist from the well-meant kindness." So the meaning of the proverb becomes very apparent