Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-25
Notes on Curiosity.

Probably no feeling has been held up
to greater reprobation than that of curl
osity. Early tradition is full of allu-
sions to it. The fate of "Blue Boards
wife," and the third Calender in the
"Arabian Nights" who has cause to
lament the indiscreet anxiety which cost
him his right eye, are familisr to us
from childhood. "Peeping Toms"
fate is another legendary warning.
"Paul Pry" is held up as an example
to be summed. Ancient mythology has
its tales of Cupid and Psyche, of Cepha-
lus and Procris. The Morse legends tell
of the fate of the woman who rashly dis
turbed the grave of hero to obtain his
sword, and was consumed by the flames
that surrounded the enchanted blade.
History and real life add their tale of
warnings against too great a desire to
know 1.-The wherefore of every why"
And yet the world would be badly off if
no inquisitive people existed in it.
Great inventors and discovcrcrs are all.
in one sense, full of curiosity. The de-
Sire for knowledge which johnson
averred to be common to every human
being ''whO is not depraved' is form
of inquisitiveness. Columbus was in
tensely curious regarding the unknown
world which he believed lay across the
unexplored, ocean. Curiosity has sent
out long succession of travellers into
strange countries; from Marco Polo and
Vaudeville down to the latest African
explorers. Curiosity has given to the
world scientific discoveries and valuable
inventions. Curiosity regarding the life
of previous ages has rescued interesting
documents and ancient records from OBJ
livion. Apples had fallen for thousands
of years, kettles had bubbled for centu-
ries. but it was only when inquiring
minds like Sir Isaac Newton's. the Mar
quis of WOrcester's and Watts OBJ
served them that the principle of gravi-
tation was discovered or the power Of
steam understood. Socrates was not so
mistaken when he taught his disciples
to ask questions. aggravating as the
habit must sometimes have been to their
fellow-citizens
Without certain amount of curiositv
nothing would ever be learnt. 1t was
the sight of book of mathematical dia-
grams that gave Pascal his first desire
to study geometry; the strange figures
awoke the boys curiosity, and he be-
came anxious to understand what they
represented. Many similar tale might
be related of other geniuses. Curiosity
of this description becomes an enthusi-
asm. No difficulty or danger will deter
the votary OF art or science from at
tempting to solve the mysteries of his
calling. Many physician has. like
Guyon. of Marseilles. given his life to
gain an insight into the dark secrets of
disease. Nearly every scientific discov-
cry has been bought, at some period, by
life. worn away by over-study, or more
directly sacrificed through accident or
experiment. Deadly climates and un-
known perils do not check the ardor of
the explorer. Vandervelde, the cele-
brated sea painter. being in avessei dur
ing raging storm. caused himself to be
tied to mast that he might ctudy the
effects OF sea and sky. and kept cxclaim-
ing: Marvellous, sublime" totally OBJ
lvious of his danger. Leibnitz's royal
patroness is said to have expressed her
self as resigned to death, because she
would then learn the answer to MANY
questions Leibnitz could never reply to
which is certainly pushing the love Of
inquiry toits EXTREMIST rge.-London
Globe.