Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-08
FOLLY s STUPIDITY.

These terms, although frequently confound
ed, are by no means SYNONYMOUS. A block
head is preferable to fool, and a fool is not al
ways a bockhead.
Narrowness of intellect, protracted childish
ness Of mind, the total absence OF ideas, or the
gift of chasing them; this we call stupidity.
Folly, on the contrary, is the pcrversity Of Q
vain-glorious mind; hetoppery that would pass
for grace; the ponderoslty that will be thought
light; the superciliousness and presumption
that decides upon every thing, without being al
the pains TO understand H.
Fools amusc us, but it is at their own ex,
pense; we humiliate them, and deliver them
over, without pity, 10 the lash OF ridicule.-
Biockheads also afford us entertainment, but
they are neither dcspised nor humilialed and
we are as little tempted 10 reproach them with
their idoism, as we are to upbrald deal OF
blind man for the infirmity under which he la,
bors
We sometimes hear foolish sayings that a,
muse US almost as much as witliclsms. "Whcn
will your lady be conhned?' inquired Louis
xiv. of a cour,er. "Sire, as soon as your ma
iesty pleases." replied the courter-whose IL
lie to stupidity surely none will dispute A
foreign princess not very conversan: with the
French language, once inquired whether she
ought to say aayai or naUeau (nGval.) 81 be,
lieve, Madam" replied a petl-mailre, with
great self-sufficiency, "we say naUets" turnips.)
This was the answer OF fool.
The generality Of blockheads utter only com,
mon-pace SeliSeS, but some have occasionally
let fall very piquant absurdities, which have
been thought worthy Of being recorded. After
D. cipa'c hp1v rpt,,ar pI that
his will he had expressed a desire to be buried
in Port Royal "Iha, he would never have de-
sired during his lifetime" exclaimed an idiot
with the utmost gravity. A wit might have
said the same thing, but he would have said II
with different accents and, in thing Of this
kind, certainly.
''C'est Ia facon de la fare
''Que fait tout"
The question, "Fhat is the difference be-
tween fool and blockhead?" was once intro
duced in a company of wits and blue-stockings.
Various opinions were given, but none that met
with general appreciation, until charming la
DIV, who had the misfortune to be united to f.
nishcl fool, furnished the solution Of the prob
lem, with the peculiar felicity which is the cha
racterislc Of female wit ga blockhead," said
she, "may sometimes be tolerated, but fool
never we sometimes pity the idiot, but we al
ways make ourselves merry at the expense OF
the fool:-the former sometimes amuses us with
his naiyeie, but the latter always disgusts with
his impertnencee You may rely on what tell
you; for since | have been compelled to live
with fool, have learnt duly to appreciate the
value al a bockhead.
1t is one distinguished mark Of stupidity,
that ii admires every thing. This is quality
offensive TO none, but agreeable to maryland,
indeed, forlorn hope to thousands, who seek
in vain forthe admiration of'the discerning few.
A presumptive evidence Of folly is the Law
ishing of admiration and censure always nal
apropos-a quality by no means SO amiable as
the former, as being too apt to clash with our
favorite opinions and darling conccits.
A blockhead pretends to nothing more than
he is. Not so the fool;-he puts forth claims,
and some times the most ridiculous ofc!aims.
And what moral shall we draw from all this?
Letus court the society of the man Of sense,
tolerate the idiot, and avoid the fool.