The Penn's Grove record., 1893-06-23
THE QUEsTIoN-AsKlNG HABIT

Like most other things, curiosity may
be either a virtue or a vice. With its
proper use wa have no pre- ent concern.
We are only TO consider one Of its most
disagI eeaLle manifestations.
The English have an old proverb to
the effect that those who ask no ques-
lions Will be told no lies. It would be
well To bear this surly old proverb ever
In mind when tempted to make idle In
duiries. There are so many reasons
why ~retlcence Is wise and right, and the
knowledge OF the truth might be harm
full, and the temptation to evade or deny
the truth Is very strong to those whose
p~ollteness makes 1t difficult for them to
refuse to answer even an impert!nent
question.
We have no bad motives when asking
Mrs. A. how she became acquainted
with Mrs. B.; we may not, In fact, care
much about the matter; but it has oc-
cured to US to wonder how, why, and
! where a lady Of such elegance and fash
ion as Mrs. A. should have become so
intimate with the humble and unattract-
i've Mrs. B. that the one can rarely be
met without the other.
So far no harm has been done. As
we have asked no questions, no mischiev-
Gus slrmises have been set aAolt, and
no rudeness hes been committed. 1t
may be that neither women would Oh
ject to making known the origin of
their friendship; but 1t also may bs that
to tell iC would be to fold a long
story OF sorrow or misfortune.
Every one detssts the scandal-monger,
but his occupation would be gone with
out the aid OF the %ques:ioner. The lat
ter's motives may be innocent, but the
results Of this vulgar impert!nence are
often disastrous. Every one who feels
in himself a rising inquiry In regard to
the private affairs of others should
crush 1t. Parents should use every eff
fort to divert the natural curiosity OF
their childr en- mo useful and ~elevating
channels.
A little girl eight years stood squarer
ly before q Visitor cf her mothers, he
large blue eyes staring unf2lteringly
while she asked as if the answers were
her due:
you were awav from home last
Whom did you go to seer Did Mr.. M.
go with you? Why didn't he go2 Why
did you stay 80 longp'
And 30 on and on. The visitor mean
while making frantic efforts to main
lain o conversation with the child's
mother, who herself had q most painful
time Of it, divided as she was between
her curiosity, which was keen rs
that of her child, and a half perception
of the impoliteness of the ~jnterrogatory.
AS soon as possible the call was brought
to a close, and the visitor escaped, con-
graduating herself on her SIX III in avoid
ing q direct answer to The one telling
question. "What did you 60 to New
York for?" which had b.en repeated
again and again during the ''bad quar-
ter-hour," In which she had felt herself
to be au unwilling witness under a
cross.examining lawyer or more than
usual ability.
Having returned to her own hone,
Mrs. NJ. began examining herself in Ie-
gard to her own methods with her chill
dren.
"Have I ever suffered them,'' she de-
handed to h r elf, "to ask questions in
regard to matters which do not concern
tliemg" A low voice sounded in her
heart with rainful %clearness: "Yes, l
have, and worse. I have myself, in
their presence, often made inquiries,
more, or less direct, about things with
which 1 had no personal interest, and l
have many times expressed an idle cur.
iosity about tie actions and affairs of
my neighbors. There Is hardly a day
in which | have not asked useless and
ever impertinent questions
Of my own family ard intimate friends,
even If I had not been thus impolite to
chance acquaintance"
If more Of US listened as frankly to
the accusations of conscience, the num-
Der Of Ill bred questioners would speed
lily diminish. II is worthy OF note that
some of the most persistent Paul Prys
OF society resent most strongly the eff
forts Of Others to lift the veil Of their
own lives. Is 1t that they know to be
untrue the excuse of 'feeIing a friend
IL Interest" which they allegef for them.
selvesP A friendly interest receives
condolences with pleasure and guards |
them with care. 1t neither demands
nor reVeals-B1zQr.