The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-03-04
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The Nan Who Laughs.

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No man has once heartily and wholly
laughed can be altogether and irreclaima-
bly, bad. The man who cannot laugh is
only st for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;
and bis whole life is already treason aud
stratagem. The remark Of De Maistre
that Hthe wicked man is never comic" is
truly wise, as also is the converse, ''that
. truly witty man is never wicked" A
laugh, therefore, to be genuine must flow
from a joyous heart and clear and unfet-
tered conscience, Arehdeaeon Hare OBJ
serves that "some Of those who have been
richest In wit and humor have been among
the simplest and kindest hearted Of men;
and he instances Fuller, Bishop, Earle,
Lafontine, Claudius, and Charles Lamb.
This life, would be but dull and monoto-
nous existence were not the ordinary and
everyday intercourse Of society enlivened
by sallies ofwit and good humor, aud there
ie probably no enjoyment SO innocent out
of which we derive the same amount of
qualification and pleasure as good hearty
laugh. There is wisdom, then, in laugh
Philosophers and wise men may exercise
their risible muscles without fear of being
accounted fools. Laughter and smiles
have been favorite themes Of the poets,
who invariably use this metaphor when
describing nature in her most beautiful
and varied aspects Beauty is never SO
lolely as when adorned with smile and
conversation never sits easier upon US than
when we now and then discharge ourselves
in symphony Of laughter. 1t is difficult
at first to feel sat home" with compara-
tive stranger, however brilliant and learned
his conversation may be, until we strike
some mutually sympathetic chord. We
then know him to be human; he possesses
one vulnerable point through which to
reach his heart; aud if he be capable of
appreciating we may not unreasonably
conclude that he is also sensitive to other
and better influences.
There are probably more varieties of
laughter than Of any human operation.
The most notable is the roaring laugh,
round hearty, and boisterous. There are
also simpers, shifts, titters, giggles and
guffaws.ll Steels arranges the several kinds
Of laughter under the following heads =
"The Dimplers, the Smilers, the Laughers,
the Grinners, and the Horse-laughers.
The Dimple is practised to give grace to
the features, and is frequently made bait
to entangle gazing lover. This was call.
ed by the Ancients the Chain laugh. The
Smile is for the most part confined to the
fair sex and their male retinue. 1t ex-
presses our satisfaction in silent sort of
appreciation, and doth not too much disor-
deS the features, and is practiced by lovers
of the most delicate address. This tender
motion Of physiognomy the Ancients call
ed the Ionic laugh. The Laugh among
US is the common risus Of the Ancients.
The Grin by writsrs Of antiquity is called
the Synerusian; and was then, as it is at
this time, made use of to display beauti-
full set of teeth. The horse-laugh, or the
sardonic, is made use of with great success
in all kinds Of disputations. The prof.
cient in this kind, by well.timed laugh,
will battle the most solid argument This
upon all occasions supplies the want of
reason, is always received with great ap.
plause in coffee-house disputes; and that
side the laugh joins with is generally oh.
served to gain the better Of his Antagonist"
Some men laugh in marvellously comical
manner, while the slight alone of another
mans face is the signal for general uproar
It's a wellknown fact that laughter
conduces to health, BY accelerating circu-
lation and forcing the venous blood through
the lungs Celcus, one Of the oldest writ
srs on medicine, recommended comic rep
reservations to his patients as cure for
their various ailments. The physicians of
our own day are well aware of the benef.
cial results that follow when an invalid in
dulges in a good bona .fde laugh. Sterne
remarks upon this point 81 live in
constant endeavor to fence against the in.
irmities Of ill-health and other evils Of
life, by mirth, being firmly persuaded that
every time man smiles-but much more
SO when he laughs--it tdds something to
this fragment Of life" Laughter is also
conductive to longevity; and in this res
pect is similar to singing, reading, and
speaking aloud, which strengthen and in
vigorate the lungs. d - sua i5s
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