Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-31
LMTTER FROM WILLIAM PENN.
NUMBER sRvRH.
WAsmNoroN. pecember 30. lsGl


If curiosity is not an element Of human |
nature, il is an element of human weakness. !
1t may be found taking captive many sound
minds, and often leading men into the by
places Of the world, where suspicion and
doubt find room to rest and concentrate
their influences. II is all folly to charge
upon woman all the superabundance of
curiosity. Men are as prone to indulge in il
as women, and with less successful results
MS a general rnle
am led to remark thus, from the fact that
already the inquiry has gone out from the
bosom of curiosity, on mission Of discove-
ry as to who William Penn" is. Sitting
in my quiet little room few days ago,
was rather pleased with IL very innocent
guess as to this remarkable parsonage,
by gentleman who is not a bad judge of
talent MS well as character. Although he
did not come within ten thousand miles Of
the reality, his attempt was quite tlattering,
inasmuch as he selected as his William
Penn man of much mental culture and no
little political experience. Although seem
! ingly engaged in conversation while in his
presence was nevertheless led immediate
ly 10 ponder upon the strange fact that, with
u little prudence, man might travel through
this world and make himself respected upon
a much smaller amount of mental than pc
cuniNry capital. But, after all, is it not more
the exercise of good common sense than
college sense that makes man intelligent,
and his intellectual qualities admired Is
not the man who studies nature most close
ly, better prepared to take life and the world
us he finds it, and sail down its current more
smoothly, than he who gives himself up ex-
clusively to the requirement of book know
ledge TO know when to speak is as I'M
portant as TO know how 10 speak and for q
man to know how and when TO hold hls
tongue, is mark of highest wisdom.
know that the PRINTER makes many mer
smart whose intellects have been sOrely
neglected by nature and education. know
too, that speeches arc not unlrequently de
livered first and made HfteTward and thai
talent is as deeply embedded in typos cast
us in nm orators sconce. BuI still, was moi
altogether prepared to bear witness to thu
fact that intelligence which comes from
every day observation could he so summary
recognised as possessing any degree of wha
the world calls talent. l throw ont thes,
suggestions only because of their persona
application to whoever feels it TO be within
l his province to understand them.
] But guessing will never discover, beyon,
peradventure, the William Penn" of you
columns. His position is not distinguished
II enough for that and while may not tel
, who he is, may inject this uninterestin
letter with historical outline Of who h
v was.
T. William Penn was n staid and steady oil
English Quaker gentleman with Dutch bloc
4 coursing in his veins He first saw the lieh
e of day in the city Of London two hundre
= and seventeen years ago. He was somewha
/ distinguished for his piety and unostent.
tion, and was quite rich in worldly goods, ha,
ing been the proprietor of two small patcht
: of ground, now known as the States of Penn
d sylyania and Delaware. lie was somewhl
b eccentric, which caused him TO be not
. amiably dealt with by his father as he coul
k wish. On one occasion, he was turned Ell
tirely out from beneath the paternal roo