Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-11-11
NUMBER 10.
.NQUlSlTiVENESS.
The Gossip and the Meddler. Whose
Questions Are Offensive.

The GOA4fD nnQ inc MeuOAcTs ~ ho9S
Questions Are Offensive.
Whether inquisitiyeness is to be rated
as q Virtue or us vice depends very
much upon its purpose and upon the
extent OF its exhibition. 1t Is quite
commendablc. in the young who ara
simply seeking useful information. 1t
Is Impertincnt In the mature who are
trying to crafty their curiosity or to
find food for gossip. Children are
sometimes encouraged to ask questions
In all almless way and become null
sances because Of their inquisitiveness.
although the child who asks questions
IntellIgently and for the purpose OF &C.
qulr1ng knowledge is interesting and
deserves the encouragement OF an
swers and explanations.
The inquisItiveness Of the gossip and
meddler Is Of very different kind and
Ia always offensive. The meddling
gossip does not seek useful informa-
ton and may not intend any harm.
Sometimes lie or she asks questions
with no aim whatever. but simply as
matter OF bad habit and to maintain
conversation. More often, however,
the inquiaitive person Of mature years
ia q malicious gossip. That which he
or she learns Is repeated, with varia-
tons, sometimes with the purpose, al
ways with the effect, OF creating con-
troversies and embro!ling mutual
friends. Tic most trivial matters are
made the subject Of exhaustive in
Quiry. II two accounts do not exactly
agree, attention is called to the varia-
tons. with implications that some one
has told an untruth. Such matter, of
no Importance one way or another, Is
magnified until 1t is made cause for
serious dispute. Inquisitiveness Of
this kind Is extremely reprehensible.
1t is generally malicious, but where 1t
has no bad purpose 1t Is no less malev-
client In It's effect This form Of in
quisltivenesS Is generally, in part at
least, the result of habit and can be
avoided by any one who is disposed to
avoid 1t. The inquisitlveness Of the
child or of the uniformed seeking USE
full knowledge deserves to be encour-
aged as long as it is legitlmately exer-
cised for good purposes. The inquisi-
tiveness Of the malicious gossip should
never be satisfied.
The Individual should also keep
guard upon himself. that he may not
grow into the habit of asking aimless
or awkward questions or Of seeking
information for which he can have no
proper use. He will thus avoid becom-
Ing an idle or malicious gossip, and he
will keep his mind free Of trivial mat
tiers and open to receive useful infor-
nation There Is good reason to be-
lieye that the mind Of man Is Of limit
ed capacity. 1t can retain only GER
tain amount of impressions. 1t Is well,
therefore, to select the matters with
which 1t is to be filled. The man who
knows all the gossip Of the neighbor-
hood, the private affairs Of his ac-
Quaintances, the ages of all his friends,
the scandals Of society, and so on, sell
dom exhibits any other knowledge.
He has filled his mind with trivial
ties, misusing the inquisitive faculty.
He is Paul Pry and as such despised
Of all men. But inquisitiveness prop
erly employed in moderation may be
used to add to ones useful informa-
ton. 1t is the chief stimulus to scien-
titic achievement Men ought to ask
questions Of their fellow men and OF
nature, but only to acquire legitimate
information and with good purpose.