Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-02
TIE YIcE OF cURIosrrK.

L DOSA4
to greater reprobation than that of Gu
riosity. Early tradition is full of allu
sion to it. The fate of "Blue Boards
wife," and the third Calendar in the
Arabian Nights" who has cause tt
lament the indiscreet anxiety which cost
him his right eye, are familiar to us
from childhood. Peeping Toms
fate is another legendary warning.
"Paul Pry is held up as an example
to be Stunned. Ancient mythology has
iFs tales of Cupid and Psyche, of Cepha-
ius and Procris. The Morse legends sen
81 the fate Of the woman who rashly
disturbed the grave Of hero to obtain
his sword, and war consumed by the
flames that sGrroan.eJ lie enchanted
blade. History an.ia,is! lie adj taeir tale
of warnings elainst too great T. desire to
know "the wherefore of every Why"
And yet the Nor woys.I be badly off il
no inquisi-;sa Peep .x..s;tad in it.
Great inventors anu discoveries are all,
IN one sense, full of curiosity. The de-
sire for knowledge, which Johnson
aYerred 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
cut long succession of travellers into
strange countries from Marco Polo and
Vaudeville down to the latest African
explorers. Curio sity 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
oblivion. Apples had fallen for thou
sands of years, kettles had dubbed for
centuries, but it was only when inquir-
ing minds like Sir Isaac Newton's, the
Marquis of Worcester's, and Watts OBJ
served them that the principle of grayi-
tation was discovered or the power of
steam understood. Socrates was not so
mistaken when he taught his disciples
to ask questions, aggrayating as the
habit must have b en- t. their fellow
citizens.
Without q esrt:,!i amount OF curiosity
nothing would evsr be learned. It was
The sight OF b OH q mathematical dia-
grams that gaze Pa cal his Crst desire to
study geometry; the strange figures
awoke the boys curiosity, and he be-
came anxious to know what they repre-
sented. Many similar tale might be
related of other geniuses. Curiosity of
this description becomes an enthusiasm.
No difficulty or danger will deter the
votary OF art or science from attempting
to solve the mysteries of his calling.
Many a physician has, like Guyon, Of
Marseilles, given his life to gain an in
sight into the dark secrets of disease.
Nearly every scientific discovery has
been bought, at some period, by life.
worn away by over-study, or more di-
rectly sacrificed through accident or ex-
pertinent. Deadly climates and un-
known perils do not check the ardor Of
the explorer. Vanderyelde, the cele-
brated sea painter, Icing in vesse.
during raging storm, caused himself to
be tied to mast that he might study
the effect Of sea and sky, and kept ex-
claiming, Marvellous, sublime" total
II oblivious of his danger. Leibnitz's
royal pa'roness is said to have expressed
herself as resigned to death, because
she would then laarn the answer. to
many questions Lil,llitz would never
reply to--uhi.'h Is e4rtsii II pushing the
love of i,squily IL the EXTREMIST verge.
HALF0RMATIo' s ca SEQ BIZ BID