Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-06
4 CHAPTER ON LAUGHING.

A CHAPTER ON LAUGHING.
eAnd Laughter holding both his sides''
If you were to ask learned physi-
clan to explain to you the peculiar sem
sation termed laughter, it is probable
he would astonish you with an crsdl-
ton, ending IN the sage conclusion that
he knows nothing more about the mat
ter than that it is very natural emo
ton of the senses, generally origina-
ting with good joke, and not unire-
quently Terminating in a fit OF indl-
gestion. If he happen TO be las there
are many priggish quack, it is not
unlikely he would add as a sequel, that
it was a most injurious and unmanner-
ly indulgence, particularly favoring a
determination Of blood to the head,
and decidedly calculated to injure the
fine nerves Of the facial organ! If on
the contrary, he should be good fol-
lower Of Galen, he would not fail to
pronounce it the most fearful enemy.to
his profession, as being altogether in
compatible with physic and the blues,
and, by way of illustration, he might
go so far as to read chapter of Tom
Hoods best, i'll order to prove the
strength Of his position.
Laughter-good, hearty, cheerful
hearted laughter-is the echo of hap
| py light that relieves the dark picture
Of life.
We laugh most, when we are young;
the thoughts are then free and nntet-
tered, there is nothing to bind their
fierce impulse, and we sport with the
passions with the bold daring of inno-
cence. Smiles and tears, it has been
observed. follow each other like gloom
and sunshine; so the childish mirth
treads on the heels of sorrow. 1T was
but yesterday we noticed little urchin
writhing apparently in the agony Of
anguish: he had been punished for
some trivial delinquency, and his little
spirit resented it most gloriously.-
How the young dog roared! His lit
tie chest heaved up and down: and ev-
cry blue vein on his pure forehead APP
parently bursting with passion. Anon
conciliatory word was addressed to
him by the offended governmente; a
smile passed over the boys face: his
little eyes, sparkling through cloud
Of tears, were thrown upwards: short
struggle between pride and some 9TH
CIR powerful feeling ensued; and then
there burst forth such peel of laugh
fer, so clear, so full, SO round, it would
have touched the heart of stole!
Our natural passions and emotions
become subdued, or altogether chang
ed, as we enter the world. The laugh
of the school-boy is checked by the
frown Of the master. He is acquiring
wisdom, and wisdom Eye Gods, how
dearly Doughty is incompatible with
laughter. But still, at times, when
loosened from its shackles, the pining
student will burst forth as in days gone
by; but he soon has no longer the cue
and action for passion he then had; the
cares of the world have already min
gled in his cup, and his young spirit is
dropping beneath their influence. The
laughter Of boyhood is merry carol;
but the first rich blush has already pas
sed away. The boy enters the world
full Of the gay buoyancy of youth
He looks upon those he meets with as
the playmates Of other hours. But ex-
periencc teaches him severe lessons;
the natural feelings Of his heart are
changed; he may laugh and talk as for
merly, but the spell, the dreams that
cast such halo round his young days,
are dissipated and broken.
There are fifty different classes Of
laughers. There is your smooth face
polite laagher, your laughter by rule.
These beings are generally found with
in the precincts Of court, to whose
conduct they shape their passions as a
model. Does his lordship says bon
mot, 1t is caught up and grinned at in
every manner till, the powers Of grim
ace expanded, his lordship is pleased
to change the subject, and strike diff
ferent chord. And it is not astonishing.
Who would refuse to laugh for a pen
sion Of two hundred a year? Common
gratitude demands it.
There is then, your habitual laugh
ter, men who laugh by habit without
rhyme or reason. They are generally
stout piggy faced gentleman, who ca,
hearty suppers, and patronise free-and-
easys. They will meet you with a
grin on their countenance which, be-
fore you have said three sentences, will
resolve itself intoa shipper, and termi.
nate finally in stentorian laugh