Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-07-23
5Aiseellmap.
A Time To Laugh.

can that belong to an artful nature?
Possibly it may. We have never
known but single instance in which a
good, sweet and wholesome laughter was
insincere and in this case it was, we
suspect, more habit contracted in soci-
ETY. than real taint of disposition.
There may be silly laughter, and
much of it, but there is fully as much
silly sobriety. A boy that laughs at
nothing shows kind of exuberancy of
nature. But man who will not laugh
upon just cause manifests lean and
barren nature 1t is what musicians
call ciphering-as when one touches a
key on the organ and the pipe does not
sound.
Mirth and merriment have bad name
among sober folks, but so do sober peo-
pie among the merry. Each pities the
other. One because his opposite does,
and the other because he does not laugh.
We take sides with-well, for the time
being, we take sides with the Fraternity
of the Laugh.
If there be sin, it must inhere in the
manner of doing it, and not in the quail
ity of the mirth. That it is the inspira-
ton of the mind and not mere muscu-
lar and animal chuckle, is shown by the
fact, that animals below men do not
laugh. They are not highly enough en-
dowed. They have no souls, no moral
sentiment, little complexity of mind, out
of which arise those curious junctures,
or crossings of ideas, which awaken
laughter.
An animal is not immortal, Eve are
told.) and cannot laugh. A man is i'm
mortal, and can laugh. As long as flesh
predominates, laughing is impossible !;
add soul and the creature begins to
laugh 1t is a superior attribute. 1t
comes along with conscience, hope and
faith, and if it will only keep their COM
pany, laughing will always prove a
means of grace.
We are displeased with the low and
unworthy functions sometimes apologet-
ically assigned to it. 1t is good for di-
gestion, it is said; it is moderate exer-
cise-as if, like a sneeze, it was purely
physical phenomenon But laugh is
born of thought; sneeze of only a
tickle. Sneezing is an affection of the
nose and parts adjacent. But laughter
is the child of the soul. Itsprings from
the immortal part, and the whole body
is but an organ of expression. Every
true laugher knows that, when he has
laughed till he coughs, till tears run
down his cheeks, till his sides ache with
shaking, till he is deaf, in short, till the
body has exhausted all its means of ex-
pressing delight, that the idea, which
caused all this tumult has not exhausted
itself, nor has it been satisfied with the
inarticulate expressions of laughter. 1t
| is the soul that laughs first and most
and the body reverberates the echoes
Laughing is good for digestion. But
this is the least and lowest of its good
offices.
1t is soul cleanser. 1t cannot en-.
dure shams. 1t loves good-humored
ways among the thoughts; and when
conceits have slowly turned to deceits,
and partial and unfair notions are chok.
ing up the soul, and unworthy feeling:
are depositing SCOT along the souls pas
sage, genuine laugh is like fire in q
foul chimney. Certain sorts of shocks
explosions, confagrations seem to bt
needed, from time to time, in the mind
The faculties grow numb and become
stiff. The soul like we'll, collects me
phitic gas, and needs burning straw to be
thrown down till it is driven out. Ii
boyhood, a sound whipping has a won
derful stirring effect. We never enjoyed
it; but. after it was all over, we tool
hold of life with new zest. 1t was Q
transient cuticular regeneration a rous
ing piece Of news, the ecstacy of great
Joy, or the shock of an excessive sorrow
giving to the mind lift upward; and il
one has the stamina of good health these
rude revolutions and shakings prove tc
be admirable alternatives. But they are
not good for daily use. The mind need;
to be reused and shaken every day, with
out too severe a blow. Laughter doe;
it. 1t topples down a mans sham dig
nifty. 1t makes his foolish pride give
way at least for the moment. 1t sweep:
away all pretences and make believes
and pitiful social distinctions. In an
unexpected uproar of laughter at genu
inc wit or humor, every man in the room
is on level, and a flush of good fellow
ship goes round. Even Obstinacy, thai
old curmudgeon of the soul, yields lit
tie.
Sobriety, too, is q good thing. 1t i
tho firm crround throuph which lauphte