Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-08
YALE. St. Clair County, Mich THURSDAY August g. $780,
THE BUsY-BOD

This peculiar creature, although an
adjunct of the human family, has been
great source of annoyance and distress
to the same, since the earliest histori-
cal records.
The popular modern conception of
this animal (Which, by the way, seems to
have been the ancient idea also, ,)is thin
visaged or hatchet-faced individual,
of the female persuasion, with long
nose, long chin, and longer tongue.
This last named member being the most
notorious part of the whole makeup;
not so much from its shape, size. length
or color, as from the character of its
emanations.
In Holy Writ we find frequent allu-
sions to this specie of animal. In Prov
erbs 203 Solomon says, 1t is honor
for man to cease from strife but every
fool will be meddling." And again,
Paul in his Second Epistle to the Thes-
solonians, 3-1l, speaks thus, For we
understand there are those among you
who work not but are as busy-bodies."
But in his First Epistle to Timothy,
5-13, Paul repeats himself in such a
manner that there is no mistaking, to
whom he refers when he speaks of
certain class of women who, "learn to
be idle, wandering from house to house,
and not only idlers, but tattlers, and
busy-bodies, speaking things which they
ought not" This class Of people also
meet with rather rough deal at the
hands of Peter in his First Epistle, 4-15
where he classilies them with thieves
and murderers in these words, "But let
no one suffer as murderer or thief or,
as busy-body in other mems matters"
1t would seem from these references
that this class of creatures were hardly
respected more in ancient, than in
modern times. Yet none would attempt
to hold that our modern article is any
less reprehensible or nauseating than
that of Paul's or Peters time. How
ever, the Ancients showed themselves
superior to the people of to-day in the
fact that they punished this class of
criminals with the utmost severity; in
many places making the conviction as
a busy-body a felony. The laxity of
modern law III this direction has caused
immense propagation until there is
scarcely q town, village, or hamlet, of any
size but can count its score or more of
busy-bodies. The writer having made
something of Il study of tins class of
social crime is convinced that people do
not become busy-bodies suddenly as a
general rule. OF course there is cer-
tain susceptibility or proneness to con-
tract this habit much more marked in
some than others; same as the tobacco
or whiskey habit. Yet most obtain it
by associating for some time with those
who are badly afflicted, who cannot
converse on any other subject than their
neighbors or some of their belongings.
and whose statements are only too
often tinged with malice, hatred, envy.
and other kindred attributes. Almost
before they are aware they find them
selves listening with pleasure to that
which they should repel with horror.
and soon they can carry choice bit of
scandal, Mrs. Grundy fashion, as easily
as the next.
1t is q lamentable fact that we have
few of these dispicable creatures in
this place. but thank Heaven only a
few; they can be easily counted on ones
fingers. But few as they are in num-
ber they are thoroughbreds in quality.
Everyone knows who they are; they
themselves know best of all and if this
little article should catch their eye, we
hope it will in measure reveal to them
the error of their ways. fany should
read this who are situated so as to be
exposed to the contagion take the
Golden Rule" for a disinfectant, and
remove yourself with all haste from
communicating associations.