The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-02
4 Plea for Laughter.

Laugh and grow fas, Is the well
known homely adage. Do not under
stand me that mere state Of obesity i
especially desirable, but rather wish II
rebuke the evil effects upon the physical
system eHgendered in the persons ol
those whose lives are made up Of fret
fulness Of melancholy, Of sour-facee
bigotry, of leanness Of mind and sou
They are, indeed, to be pitied to whom
good humor and laughter are strangers
Il IS true that much that is coarse and
vulgar passes eurr mt among the coarse
and vulgar as humorous and worthy
ordinations. But hearty good humOI
is no more responsible for these yiolat
ions of good breeding than the govern
ment Is for the bogus coin palmed off BY
the dextrous counteFfeiter, which the
wisest are not always able to detect The
higher the cultivation of the faculties
the enlargement of the mental capacity,
the mere appreciate become genuine
wit and humor, and the more dIstasteful
all pretenses Of pretenders.
Men of study and close application TO
business pursuits need their frequent
seasons of relief; and humorous com
pany is better than physician for such
faded individuals The bow must be
unbent. reaction from study or business
must be experienced, otherwise all those
great efforts for success IN life or the at
tainment of wealth, knowledge or fame,
will prove an improbable undertaking
1t is as mournful a sight as can be con.
templated to witness these tired men OF
business, who aver want of time as
reason for not unbending from their
routine of occupation. Like the worn
out dray horse, or skeleton of the tow
path, they sniff the green fields OF enjoy
ment at Enthusiastically catching
a glimpse of a merry and well condition
ed steed cantering in freedom over the
fertile meadow, but perforee must keep
on their beaten track, under the weight
of their crushing harness, looking the
picture of brooding, calculating sorrow.
Some persons fancy unalterable gray
ity to be the distinguished characters
tics Of wisdom. They are afraid of COM
promising their dignity. In a merry
company they present the appearance OF
a red Indian whitewashed, and look OF
at the strange ways of their neighbors
without betraying even the faintest
spark of sympathy or intelligence. Plain
h speaking, they aver, they do not wish
to make fools of themselves" ! am in
clined to the opinion that We never see
a man afraid of making fool of him
self at the right season, without setting
him down a fool ready-made.
What world of humor there is before
US, if we are but eager to drink in from
The fountains of enjoyment. From the
extensive fields of literature we may
Gull flowers of rarest character, and as
our minds become stored with the hap
Diest conceits of rare and genuine iIumOr
sts, the pleasures of social intercourse |
become enhanced.
Good humor and laughter need encOur
lgement in the way of proper amusement.
{ our countrymen laughed more, they
would not only be happier but better;
md if philanthropists would provide
.musements for the people, they would
prevent, in a great measure, dissipation
md vice. There is much to admire in
he customs of the Germans, French and
Italians. They are less :ntemperate than
he English and Americans; and consid-
ring the limited intelligence and con-
racted spheres in which they are con-
ned by civil and religious despotism,
believe they are less vicious. How
ONES this? The laugh will answer that
,sps up from group after group-the
ance on the village green-the family
inner under the trees-the thousand
Jerry meetings that invigorate industry
v serving as a relief to the business of
IVTNIn,,k 4hnao- h,,aipa5p do
,ructive care; and it is from care, not
-om amusement, that men fly to the
ottle.
The frigidness of much of what is
illed "sociality" in these days is truly
bsurd, and to be deplored. H
"What will Mrs. Grundy say" is prae-
eally on the lips of too many persons.
be is the grim sentinel on the watch
,wer of society. If the average of pub
c opinion calls for occurrences, frigid
hollow sentimentality,
i'd mock philanthropy, watch well, ye
lat differ from the times how eagerly
~ will be denounced, secuted, reviled
nay, even prosecuted, for daring to be
variance with Mrs. Grundy.
Encourage then everything that pro
otes hearty, frank and honest mirth-
lness. Preserve your health. Live to
me purpose. Impart to Others the
neft of a CHEEKY example. Let us
Joy an innocent reaction, rather than
guilty one, since reaction there must
The bow that is always bent loses
elasticity and becomes useless.
Laughter turns the prose of our life
% poetry. 1t filings flowers Of sun
inc over the darksome wood in which
are travelling. 1t touches with light
en- our sleep, which is no more the i'm
E of death, but gemmed with dreams
It are the shadows of immortality.