The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-10
CURIOSITY.

Great Lecture by John b. Cough, De-
Iivered Before a Large and Enthusi-
asttc Assemblage, at the Academy Of
Music, Last Evening.
ESPECIAL REPORT FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH
Philadelphia welcomed with enthusiasm last
evening the return to this city of that eloquent,
soulstirring, andlmirth-pr provoking lecturer, Mr..
John B. Cough. The announcement made
that he would again appear before "Qua-
ker City" audience last evening, drew out one
of the largest assemblages of the people that has
yet gathered within the walls of the Academy
of Music. Even the topmost circle, which, from
its height seems ethereal, was we'll filed, and
the lower circles and parquet were made one
compact mass of humanity by the constant
arrivals throughout the evening.
The subject eff the evenings discourse was
one well calculated to please, as in its varied
phases it applied to all hearers to greater or
less degrees TO some very torCibly, by the plainly
apparent sensations in certain parts of the au-
dience. Curiosity was the theme, and its
manner of treatment by the distinguished
Orator-the eloquent apostrophes, the humor-
GUS anecdotes, the graphic life-sketches, and
lHdicrous delineatons-was received with roars
of applause and peals of laughter, which made
the echoes of the Academy ring loud and long.
George W. Eddy, Esq, in q few pertinent
remarks, introduced Mr.. Cough to the audience,
who, after quiet was restored proceeded to de-
liver his lecture, of which we give but an
ABSTRACT
Ladies and Conference.-The subject, as an
nounced is "Curiosity." The dedutuon of the
term curiosity is the disposition. to inquire
to investigate, and seek for knowledge 1t is
the desire to crafty the mind with new objects
of interests and all their connecting circum-
stances. 1t is inquisitiveness, the element of
our nature first to be developed at the dawning
OF intellect; il is the innate desire to know
The child, as it first reaches out its tiny hand to
touch an object, inquiries, 'What is it?n and in
quick succession come the questions, ''Why is
IT." where has it come from? ?" "What is it
made for?n And so it goes on making Its inqui-
ries and asking for Information. An unsuitable
curiosity takes possession OF the mind at the
dawn of lite, and that desire ever holds
dominion over all, not only during the earliest
periods of existence, but seemingly to
Increase with years and hold greater sway. The
feeling of the want of knowledge is the prompt
ing to inquiry. Sterne says: Curiosity seems
woven into the frame of every son and daughter
of ADAM" and it is of this curiosity that in
tend to speak tonight, taking the term in lis
broadest meaning, and its highest, its noblest
its grandest significance. If it were not fol
this spirit of Inquiry, If men were content
without desire to investigate, the progress O
the world would stand still and ambition woulC
die, Bulwer says: ''It is glorious fever, thi!
desire TO KNOW anu luOueu thSIe Is, ana eve
should be, cultivation OF this element of GU
natures to use it to our profit and eleva
tion. vet there is another extreme, an,
one much INDUCED in-that isl the debase
ment and abuse of this element to un
worthy ends In great minds curiosit
is the grand and only incentive to the discover
of important and useful inventions, which wi
aid vastly the progress of civilization aud ind
vidual comfort. In minds somewhat inferior
il wholly adopted to and taken up with mint
ing other peoples business, and meddllng wit
others affairs, and peddhng gossip gratis.
We owe all our stimulus to curiosity All "
know OF the natural world its structure, il
geological formation, its origin-ot the HEAVIER
shining bright above us-studded by night wit
twinkling lights-the deep blue expanse by da
and the snowy, ,heeuug clouds which move acro
it-or of the wondrous earth beneath us-aU oil
knowledge OF the arrangements of the uniVers
we have gained by inquiries incited by ins
table curiosity We are born with this desil
TO know and investigate, and 10 satisfy th
longing we will overcome all difhculties.
Curiosity subtle and unseen, raised by r
Yoors Of discoveries, increased by informati,
gathered from aHcient writers, and from loI
and earnest conversation with his brother ma
ners-inspired Columbus with the belief of I
existence of the unknown continent which
deteTmined 10 find. No disappointment, thou
MANY and grievOus, could move him nom
great object, no dangers could divert MIN trC
bis great purpose. In six years trom the vi
when the desire for the tuldlment OF this p
iect 6lled his soul, he started out with hns thu