The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-09-21
CAPITAL sINS--CURIOSITY.
"The ovei curious are not over wise"
MaSSinger.
81 loathc that low vice-curiosity,"
ByTOu.


has given us the "Scvcn capital sins" G.P.
r. James, the eminent English Novelist, has
given us the "Passions." In the works of
neither, do we believe Curiosity has been in
cluded. Considering whether we should
hitch it to James "Passions," or add it to
Sues "Sins," and make eight, We have come
to the conclusion to adop the latter course,
so after this, there will be eight Capital Sins,
and CURIOSITY not the least one of them.
There is nothing more loathcsomc and
disgusting, than to hear people inquiring
about this thing aud that-thjngs with which
they have no kind of business.
IL wonder" says one, III Mr.. so and so,
msrrics rich and says anothcr-"Do you
know if he is steady it seems to me the last
time | inquired somebody told me hc was
dissipatcd." Now if father or mother has
daughter to be married to the young man,
these inquiries are not only appropriate, but
Very proper. But from IN idle curiosity, to
try 10 pry into this, and pry into that, is not
only ungcntecl, bat absolutely disgusting.
Shakespeare gives this definition of the
word Curiosity" - 4 strong desire to see
something novel, or TO discover something
unknown, either by research or inquiry e: 4
desire to CRAFTY the senses with 4 sight of
new discoveries inqusilivcncss"
Taking this, then, for our text, we pro-
coed with our discourse
Paul, the apostle Of our blessed Saviour,
teaches rs follows -
"And though bcstow all my goods TO
feed The poor, and though give my body to
be burned, and have not charity. it profteth
me nothing.
"CharitJ sufiercth long, and is kind Char
ity enyieth not yaunteth not itself, is not
pulled ups &c"
Water rnd oil cannot comminglc, neither
can Charity aud Curiosity. Dissimilar in its
teachings, the good precepts of the former,
are oyerthrown when brought 10 juxtaposi-
tian with thai sfter.. Curiosity depravcs the
| senses, blunts that sensitive ard cnnobling
spirit, which is prone to aspire higher
Where would have dwclt charity, curiosity
holds dominion. Wcrp this all, il would not
;seesso bad ; but, in the like ratio rs curiosity
33ei7swincs itself around our affections, so sure
iSdocs charity flee away. The lamb and the
wolf cannot dwell together.
Charity, rs the Apostle saith, is not the
bestowing Of ones goods TO feed the poor.
Nay, Charity is made up or compounded Of
more generous ingredients. The heart
which is spontaneous in its action to good
the heart which does not solicit the ap-
! plausc of men tho heart which is soft and
tender, capable of feeling, like unto the a.
nonyn'ous brother alluded 10 by Peter, when
he inquired of Christ If n brother offend
seven times. should his brother still forgive
him! Our Sayiour's reply WAS II say un-
! TO thee, not until seven times, but until sew.
enty times scyen." TRiS is Charity
! 1t is true there are number of persons
who from the effect Of habit, indulge an idle
curiosity for instance, 4 desire to know who
this person is, and who that. What did
| Mrs. A. give you for dinner! or "Did Mr.. A.
ask you to call again 2" This, though harm.
less, is very foolish, and conveys to one OF
mature Judgment. and ripe intellect, the
knowledge of weakness in such tn inquisi.
! tive inquirer. There is a curiosity however,
which produces injury. We may term ii the
twin brother of scandal This is n desire to
learn everything, so as 10 have news to tell
to the next one. We will give an immagin.
ary instance. Two gentlemen are convers-
ing together, discussing the merits Of some
lady, who is to marry Mr.. Il. after lit
/ tie while they speak of Miss C., and about
this time, one who is bursting, almost, with
/ curiosity, rushcs up TO know what in the
/ world John and Peter can be talking about
he hears them mention the name Of Miss. C.,
but John and Peter, not liking the intrusion,
| ar about TO part, and MS a finis to the con-
yersation, Peter casually remarks -" tell
| you, John. Il. will make first rate husbandr'
The small crowd disperse,A our over Gu
nous man, circulates the report that Mr.. T..
IN going 10 marry Miss. Che heard Peter
say so. base f'lsehood. because he is to
marry Miss We could give a number OF
instances, but this--although we never heard,
probably, ofan exactly similar casc--wilI an-
swer. It conelusiveIy follows, that much
mischief may result from the fools blabbing
what he himself did not know.
There is yet another class, who delight in
hearing all they can. They would like to
know if Miss so and so did not act rudely at
the Party or If Mr. so and so did not get
drunk when he left home" Were these in
quiries propounded from spirit Of Charity
or Friendship, it would be laudable, instead
ofbeing condemnable. But, most generally
the case, the persons who make these in
qulries, are the very ones who would wish
them answered In the Affirmative or. other
wise, the very persons who wish to know,
so they caa circulate the news. Emphati-
eally and undeniably retailers Of Slander.--
These inquiaitive persons have hearts Ike
mill stones when charity iried 70 step up
70 the door and ssek aamiitsncs-- Curiosity
kioked her out. ssSas
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