Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-11-20
TIE PHYSIOLOGY OF LAuGHrER.-Anyv ounc q

LIE PHYSIOLOGY OF LAUGHTER.--Any young gen.
lieinah who can laugh at will, is certain of favor.
ape reception III socicty-paIticularly when the
weather is muggy.-Laugitcr is, therefore, a social
virtue prudent accomplishment an open letter of
introduction. 1t is not necessary to be funny i'm
order to be able to laugh Some men lanoh Iike
potatoes. without knowing it. Then faces are
sculptured ordinations. The permanent grin how
ever, pals upon the eye and at last begins to
out ones popularity, and t. look solemn aud hi
deous as the dismal sphynx. Laughing is rood bv
virtue of its suddenncss 1t is in its unexnec,ed
appeals to the nerves that its power chiefly lies II
does thoughtful person good to be taken by sur.
PRISE and to be tckled into hearty laugh against
his Will. 1t makes him feel as hc would after ba
wing been electrified. 1t awakens him. forces his
blood to circulate, makes him open his eyes, look
about him, and talk. The greatest mystrcy of
laughter IS ITS comnuncativencss. Set one or two
gong, and the whole circle, although thew know
not why, fail into the yeiu. You laugh at lauob.
ter and laugh tho more because you know then
less OF what you are laughing at Much po
tency Is there i'll the association Of IDEAS
Awkward things make one laugh, if the mind
happen to be directed into a different channel at
the moment, and the awkwardncss comes upon
you suddenly. There is nothing laughabe in see.
ing man thrown from his horse; yet if he be
pitched into the mud, and his hat rolls off into the
kennel, and his heels thrown up into the air.
ike the heels OF the bodcss nondescript on the
Manx haifpennies, you cannot help laughing
ihere Is no grace IN such an accident to make it
dgIceaDie 10 The Inauguration and to save il from
ridicuie. From peculiar construction of the sem
satiVe membranes, sonfe people laugh more than
Others, and young people laugh the most because
anmey nave fewer drawbacks upon the faDcy
lhlhgs as they arc, five learned TO analyxe them
are not objects for laughter; but until we grow
FAMILIAR with realities, we laugh at them MS if thev
were merely ideal, and set up for amusement 70
W wen deceived is the happiness of life, SAYS the
Dean oil ST. Patrck's, and those who ore tho most
deceived laugh the most, and by the same reason.
ing, those who laugh the most are the bappicst
but laughing is devsablc into many, inany
inooes. Mrs Jordan used to laugh over her who'll,
lace. 1t began in the dimples OF her Inns and
spread over the checks and forehead like snpsb;nn
until tho entire countenance became inspired Thai
was laugh to make you stop with admiration and
SUSPENDED pen breath, and feel happy. But you could
hardly laugh al it or with it, 1t was too beant;fI
u captured the senses, and filled the heart with
that sort OF JOY that docs not express itself in lnL
ter Somc people laugh convalsvely, shooting ont -,
noIs" like that of pistol, and instantly reSpsing
oack into silence and gravity. 1t is a great uues
ton whether they enjoy their Laugh like the rest of
The world, or wlictbor they do not enjoy il more
by Keeping 1t within, ond all to themselves O.
therS' again. laugh through their tecth spreading
their lips like the byona and emitting h,.sinT
sound that resembles the fryingeof eggs There
may be physical necessity for such a laugh but
unless there be- it is very incxcusable. There are
persons who will avail themselves of any excuse
tor showing their teeth and who laugh for No ntber
earthly reason. They must be thinking of their
teeth the whole timo, and not of the Jest provoca
tive a lat person, who laughs zealously laughs
WIN MS great b1g body. The tub undulates and
heavcs, and the whole man shakes with LAUGHTER
down TO the calves OF his legs II is like the bolster
Gus rejoicing of a corporation. man who desires
a vivid reputation will throw himself back into his
char to laugh, if the fun ovcrpowered him,
nat is mere russo, like that of pretty girl be-
Dind her tan; or tho sta2o laugh that consists of
twisting The thumbs into the sides and bending the
Oody forward dc If il suddenly seized with
pans, and nttcring clicking noise in the corner
OF TIN" mouth. Nobody ever laughed until thov
were black in the face, although chat is esteemed
inc last point of visibility. ANY one NAV I.ugb
until they are red in the face; hut the laughter that
is The most searching makes the face pale. When
a person always laughs in the same way they never
laugh with sincoriiy for the same way Of laughing
- no more applicable TO the different degrees of ir
Ita ION lhan tho same way Of showing the sense of
pam IL laugh always the same, is to laugh by
'"e' ana the gamut may he played over on all oc
C'Siohs' III Is pleasant TO be gifted by nature with
Sueh exquisite sensbility that ones laugh varies
WIN the subject Variety is much admired in laugh.
o' ~ wen as IN every thing else; but il must not be
STUDIED or IT will DO liable TO suspicious; it must
come OF itself, FREQ, natural, and characteristics
i"oHd laughing is dangerous TO women besides
0eing dIsagreeable to their friends. Woman should
never laugh much or loudly. They are supposed
10 be more patient and enduring than men; and as
9shucness IS their especial Charm, they should
augn softly iowly, unsteady, and not az if they
saught all tho broad points Of him and carricaturs
= hey should be thought TO leave some touches of I
.h' loso undiscovered, for it is the weakness OF |
~, Fe~ 10 desire the aseendency, even in trifoE
'eh'ie'nen always affect sometime IN reservation