, 1871-04-06
Social Fsrrets.

BTtxeen the two extremes of the peo-
pie who think the whole world is occupied
mainly with them and their concerns, and
the people who take it that no one no.
tices anybody very much and themselves
not at all, there is mean class people
who believe in the prying instinct az one
among others, and who, on the assnnp-
tion that ferreis exist, think it no shame
to lay false scents if put to it. And
these are the wispst of the three, for there
are ferrets among us--creatures who make
it their business to find out every ones
secrets, and get to the back Of every ones
affairs. What is an unrelated incident to
the simple onlooker who does not dive be-
low the surface is to the ferret fact as
easily read as an open book. He has the
mot d enigme. and can enlighten you if he
will, and perhaps does, and understands
to 4 hair'S breadth tie exact relation of
everything. He knows why Mrs. A,
bushes like June rose as she passes you,
with your wife ou your arm; be is quite
clear as TO the reasons. which made you
give up your appointment or break off
your engagement, and which shut your
QOOI udTu 8uu lN8t III luG IdC6 VI tu6 OAtlA-
fdes, your former nearest friends. Things
which are dark as night 10 the rest Of The
w6rld are as clear as MONDAY to your fer
ret; and il he is Of malicious turn, he is
moi e dangerous to his friends than a shell
with the fuse burning 6 But fortunately,
with many persons, the charm Of finding
out is enough in itscif, and the conscious
ness Of knowing more than their neighbors
itS own reward. Thus the love Of ferret,
ing and the habit Of gossip do not always
go together; though generally where the,
one is the other is not far Of. ~ a
There is infinite variety in the manner
of serretiug. Some watch you to prevent
your watching themZin' this case every
thing depending on who taxes the initia>,
tive; some ask you leading questions, to
which you must answer yes or no, if you
answer at aHLquestions to refuse 10 an,
swrr which would be as compromising as
direct admission; soins take you by sur
prise, and say suddenly, poiht>blank,
without warning or paraphrase, +" How's
your friend So;and So 20 then FIX their,
eyes on you h6ngiiiy to see you change
color; some watch you from under cover,
no ons participating and some ?, draw /" =
your friends, your very servants; some are
i'll natured and hunt you down If they
have got on yoaf track, telling. every one
they know that questionable little ansc-
dOte concerning you which You fondly
hoped was buried out Of the sight Of all /;
and some are influenced by the dramatic
instinct only, and enjoy your life's come
dy in box apart, without ever doing
you harm by telling; some pounce, and
some stalk Z; but. however it is done. it is
done, and more is known of the private
life Of every body than any one cares to
believe for his own part. ','r - :: .-
j 0fthe domestic order Of ferrets char
women and nomadic servants are the
Chief, aud carry their stories of family do
ings from basement to basement as they
carry off their perquisites. Half the gos-
sip which circalatrs without the possibili>
ty Of tracking it to its source-that vague,
nsbelous, Ownerless gossip which does so
much harm because it never assumes
definite shape, and can therefore never be
fairly fought-comes, with red ants and
black beetles, from the kitchen. And one
reason why it cannot be tracked is be-
cause ladies DO net like 10 confess that