Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-08-15
ABOUT LAUGHTER.
Many Different Sariettc.-t oa,a,er
ciaI Value OF u Good lauph.

thrtl" TrihIn"
\ laugh may CONVEX all manner Of
sentiments yoy. s'orn. or anger u may
lie the most mus cal or most liscof liant
OF souuls, the most delightful or the
mo I horrible which can fall upon our
ears. Contrast the happy laughter Of
merry children W tn the gihhoring cry
of the maniac, or the hoir- laugh Of n
defiant criminal the musical ripple oi
cultivated mirth with tie roifs of "a
tipsy crowd at fair
\ really musical laugh IL, perhaps
ra' er than really musical voice. The
giggle, the snigger. the half, hokol
la1rh are common emo iph but how
seldom do we hear that melolous
soun |, the laugh in its perfection. u
should not he shrill. nor too loud, nor
too long. IL should not bear an,
double meaning. any hidden sarcasm
in its mirth II shonld Not bc So
DO sterous as to exh iust tho laughter
and deafen the listeners.
Peg Wellington is said to have been
celebrated for the music of hci
laughter on the stage most
difficult accomplishment. for nothing
except. perhap sneelc IL harder
to counterfeit than laugh There are
many variet cs Of laughs. There IN the
musical, cultivated. AMI extremely rar,
one, pleasant e. listen to ~ n chime oi
bells. There IN the glad. II ,omcw hat
shrill, mcrrimcnt oi children. the hap
pincNs Of which condones il noi.e.
There is the loud guilaw of the ,ul
gar, and the laughter which appears
likely t. tear tho laughcr IN pieces,
auSirg him to wipe his eycs after th,
explo is over. There Is the laugh
of embarrassment, when SHY pcrson
Mt loss what t. say next, remarks to
he" as Artemus Warl describes II
There is the schoolgirls gigglc: and
the 'ch' o'boy's snigger. as he reflect,
on some recently perp tratcd. but still
recolle,icd, pie of mischief Thor,
is the chuckle Of the sue e~slnl man
All these bear some family resem
blance to each other. they all IN their
degree, express SEN nsations of pleasure
There are darker descriptions ol
laughter There are laughs more cut
ting than the bitterest speeches NOR,
alarming than the cruelcst threats
Satirical laughter is most offensive. 4
laugh can convey contempt which word.
would fail To express
Is any one proof against hcing an
move bv ridi u!c? Even dog IL on
slbe when he is laughed ut. and resent,
the impcrtlnence Some animals arr
indeed quite AS cnstive to deris on u.
human beings. The laughter OF the
underbrel, |, which iinds open amuse
ment in tic MINOR troubles of their
neig' bars say the ridiculc lavishe on
sea- 'ick arri ais Mt pier, or on haplcss
foreigners in an alteration with cab
man. or an old gentleman who fall,
down II sli le also ranks among laughs
offensive.
Then there is the laugh of incredul
ity. When Tom goes to his rich old
uncle. full Of glow ny descriptions nj
the perfections Of tho lady TO whom h,
is engaged, or Of the appointment
which he @ poets To obtain. does th,
old gentleman damp his nel,hcws ar
dor by long harangusp No, he onl,
gives a dry laugh: and Toms hopes Il
a check fall rapidly.
Too rare laugLers are as unpopula,
as to, ready ones. \ teller Of good
stories never forgivcs the man who
does not laugh at his joko- MANY
persons have male their fortunes u,
laughing at 'udicious moments. az.
plauding some poor Jest. or becoming
convulsed with mirth ut . dull pun.
To be duly arpreciative Of his patrons
wit WAS an important part of the duty
of a hangcr-on. With what read,
laughter are schoolmastcrs = wi,tirisms
received by his class
There is story of q dramatic
author. whose play had been accepted.
being requested 10 make sundry altcra.
tions to suit the taste Of tho actors.
Among other changes tho manager
sugges'e that "A laugh" should be In
troduced in the conclusi, OF n speech
of an out goinr pcrfcr ner; 1T ould
give him n better exit" The sutho,
plea led that 10 adm this alteration n
would spoil the whole dialogue. but the
manager wa urgent still Think II
over and do what you can. u =
position IN the theatre demands IT,
When laugh. are thus priIe I u IL not
won 'erful that persons who rarely use
their r.siblc muscles are unpopular.