Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-11-07
oLAugh and GROW Pst, !

extent" II should bo written on the
walls OF every mans dwelling. and
ons ofthoearlIeAl lessons IN ehIllhood,
Laughter Ii. In our estimation. an Ia.
estlmable bIesaIng-an indispensable
and glorious "InatI!utIon." Without
II. crime, and violence, and dyspepsIa.
and suicide. and murder. would run
rampant. Laughter Is the voice Of
good feeIing--the emblem Of good ma
ture, and health, and geneFosIty,-
Show ua q man who never laughs. md
we will show you a selfhsh narrow.
minded blsot--a regular curmudgeon
IA man who has cramped and dwarf
cd tho generous impuIsea Of nature.
tilllthey no longer exert an influence
upon his thoughts and actions. Such
an anomalous being would be like q
desert with no oasis. no cooling wa
ters. and no living thing. 10 a'ls ~
To ono and oil wa say, Laugh and
grow fat" Away with your lugu-
b,ious philosophy. Away with your
mouniul fault.dnding with tho uni.
verse 10 general, and your songs full
of false and siskly sentimentality. 4.
which would make Us believe that r.
ss''s "as Il. !: s,s.'s.ss sSsas.: 4 s,.ss; s.'s
We don't believe a world Of III Earth
Is no mort wilderness than II IL q
potatoe patch, Behold the wide and
beautiful landscapes spread around us
upon every handI What transcend-
ant loveliness. and lofty grandeur. and
varied beauties are seen thickly spread
about us, suited to every taste. Earth
a wildernesslo ID Mott Ia full Of all
good and beautiful things; It's land
scapes, aud rivers, and hills. and trees,
and valleys, and forests are the eyes
which God opens upon us. to show his
sublime perfection and his parental
kindness. The earth wilderness!---
The man who believes that is as self
ish as q miser. and as blind as an owl
in sunshineI
Earth is not a wilderness, neither is
''life pilgrimage Of pain, love-sick
bards and cynics to the contrary not
withstanding. That we have many
sorrows in life; that we must toll till
we are weary, and suffer pains and
disappointments. and see our fond
hopes go out in darkness, is as true
as can be, and almost every man
could swear to IT should he be called
upon in court Of justice; but what oI
shat? Is it a reason why we should
not enjoy the ten thousand pleasant
things we find around US, so capable
of being enjoyed? II a man has the
ague and fever every other day, and
shakes till his teeth chatter. and the
bed rocks beneath him, is that rea-
son why he should make himself and
every body else wretched the in
tervening days, when he dosen't have
his shaking fit? We contend not. He
ought. as a man Of sense, and from
selfish motives, If from no higher, to
have good time and enjoy himself,
and enter upon his shaking duties
cheered with thoughts of the good
time he had the day before, and the
anticipation of just such one the
next day. And SO with all sickness,
with all suffering. and all disappoint-
ment. We should never yield whit
Of that which is enjoyable to the mop
ing misery of aisanthropic sentimen'
tality. Away with i'll 1t deserves
no place in the e-he art Of a man Of or
dinary 81 nse anu brains. A man who
believes that life is a pilgrimage o.
pain. lAust have had chronic rheuma'
tism all his days, and chronic foolish
ness in the head. ~ nil.a rai
Some people seem to look upor
laughter as sin--one Of the sad fol-
lies of thoughtless youth. They de,
nouncc it, and attempt to crush the
gay, happy spirit that prompts it.-
Nothing could be more absurd or mis-
chievous. 1t is sin against God ant
human nature NOT to feel at peace witt
yourself and mankind generally. Car
there be any particular merit in look
ing sour, and feeling sour, and making
every one about you feel uncomforta
BILE? We say not. and we say, tina
God made us to enjoy life, and tn,
good things he placed here capable o
inspiring enjoyment. If he did no
intend to have us laugh, why did b,
give us sense of the laughabls, ant
so much to CRAFTY il? Will some Q
your lugubrious philosophers answe
that question? We think it will puz
zle them. M eeie.fl.a p
The truth is, men generally lool
upon the world through the spectacle
Of their own feelings and notions; AMI
the man who sees nothing to laugh at
or nothing to feel good over. is 80
all men miserable" and deserves com
miseration. To- him who commune
with God in the beautifulthings srount
him, the sorrows and disappointment
of life are only temporary, and sub
servient to the great prayer of graft
tude and thanksgiving which ever ari
ses from the heart. ie~
We believe in laughter. It does
man good. Have you not seen the hap
py effects Of good humor in the stage
coach. as you were jostled along owe
rough roads. amid hunger, and cold
and fatigue? One humorous soul will
make the whole load forget their mis-
cry, and laugh till they are at peace
Laughter is the best remedy for dys
pepsia both physical and spiritual, an
we say to one and all. Laugh an
grow fat nss sd e. Ast a f
Jim, what makes you limp So?
Limp l guess you'd limp IL yo
had walked between two rows Of bal
rel hoops as long as / have. Why
the outside of my legs are as raw .
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