Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-06-08
The Healthfulness OF Humor.

a wise physician, who never studied
medicine, says that laugh will cure
anything. from hypochondria to the
mumps. believe it. If aman can get
up enough vitality TO laugh he is in a
fair way to throw off disease. The only
way that health is ever restored is by
vital reaction. Drugs do not repair the
system-they only produce the proper
conditions under which it may repair it.
self. And laughterdoes this better than
drugs. 1t is itselfpart of the restorative
process. IL StirS the blood and wakens
up the slumbering forces of life, and
SEND the very thrill of health along the
benumbcd and feeble nerves. Come to
us with cheer, We faithful servitors of
the sick, and We shall wake us from the
very slumber of death. How many
sinking ones have been saved by the
blessed influence of a laugh!
But there is n sickness of the mind
which Is ministcrcd to by humor. as
well rs sickness of the body. The
soul has pulses that need quickeninU.
The man who is not susceptible to gen
uine humOr, or who shuts every avenue
against it, is in n fair way TO become n
hypochondriac and a suicide. The hui
man mind needs the enlivening influence
of laughter. l believe that every man
ought to have ut least three good
laughs day, TO keep him in moral
and intellectual health; and | would
have these laughs come, if possible, at
the table. Three times Il day we all re-
lax the active powers of the mind and
body, and seek to refresh and recuper-
ate the energies by food and pleasant
conversation. | think the latter is
almost rs much an energizer as the
former, because it brightens and warns
and strengthens the mind, Just rs the
FOOD ministers to the body. We must
have healthy minds as well as healthy
bodies, in order to be Mt our best. The
man who has n depressed feeling
mentally, can hardly enjoy the highest
physical vigor. Table humor is one of
the most healthful things in the world.
And how natural it is, when the mind
is in its normal condition. very
provision of nature for the happy assim-
ilation of bodily and mental vigor at the
same time. If one of the family has a
good story, or a pleasant bit of news.
or little personal quip coming to him
in moment of relaxation, does he not
save it in his memory, like bit of unin-
vested capital. until the hour when all
are gathered again about the table? He
will not waste his treasure by expend-
ing 1t before the time. When he in
vests he wishes to be as large a share
holder as possible in the general mirth.
And he gains double share of profit by
holding his contribution until the right
time. 1t is appreciated to the full,
blessing both him who gives and him who
receives. The mind is lightened, and
perhaps cleared of little depressing
cares by its influence; pleasure and sur
prise, twin elements of humor, Send n
Hush to every cheek, and brighten every
eye. IL quickens both mental and
physical appetite, and puts the whole
system in better condition to receive
benefit from food and rest. Humor is
certainly most healthful when it is en-
Joyed Mt the proper season, and there
could be no more fitting season than the
times OF natural rest and refreshment.
There are some people who are al
ways bubbling over with humor, in sea-
son and out of season-everythino is
turned by their Midas touch to sparkling
merriment. What unconscious physicians
these people are! 1t doeth one good like
medicine to hear their voices, and to
see their funny faces, always running
over with laughter, like a mountain
spring. The healthiest and the longest
lived persons almost always have tang
OF humOr in their makeup. There is
something wonderfully preventative in
laughter. a man who can not laugh il
Ike tree from which the worms or the
winds have stripped all its leaves. 1t
soon grows feeble and sapless, and dies
before its time. The healthy tree lauobs
with Its myriad leaves for generation
after generation, sound at heart and
beautiful to look upon; and when it dies.
the woodman cuts il down, and finds the
allotted number of rings in the firm
white wood, and a core as sound and
sweet as the sapling's. So it is with
the man whose disposition is one of SUM-
shine and laughter. He lives merrily.
and dies cheerily, and the world is bet
ter Tor him. His memory does not pass
away, like that of the sour, glum mis-
anthropic. There may be grander
things about n man than his humor. but
there is nothing by which he will be re-
membered so long. After his wisdom
and his learning are forgotten. If he
ever laughed, that laugh will be his
memorial 1t win 60 ringing on, when
every other utterance has died away.
Happy are they who indulge in happy
iaughter.-PaHt PastHor, IN Chicago
interior.