The Columbus journal., 1884-01-02
THE MORAL VALUE OF LAUGHTER.

There is a sober side to the subject of
laughter, though sober-sides do not
usually observe it. Nor is it without a
positive moral value, as might be pre-
sumed, from the fact that nc other nat
ural physical movement of the human
frame is without its assigned purpose.
Laughing is not to be sneezed at any
more than sneezing is to be laughed at,
as an established function of nature.
We should rather inquire what is their
definite design amid the intricate move
mentS of life.
A medical writer of high authority is
publishing. IN one of our scientific jour
mails, a series of articles upon The
Remedies of Nature In suggesting
relief for certain diseases, especially
asthma, he declares that ''EeXt to out
door exercise, the best corrective is
conversation, laughing and singing"
He adds that laughter is 4 peptic
stimulant, while silence and brown
study favor dyspepsia, asthma and
sleeplessne>s." "A piece of good news
is worth bushels of aSthma-weedS.'
And o say we. Send On your bs;hels
of good news. las cold waters to a
thirsty soul, so is good news from a far
country"
Now laughter is evidently designed
to wake up things generally. and set
everything to moving lively in that i'm
portant region where the main physical
operations of life are going on. There
is evidently a little engineer stationed
somewhere under the fifth rib, on the
right side OF tine human frame. When
anything striking or funny meets the
eye or starts in the mind. the bell-rope
that goes down to him receives L sudden
jerk from the pilOt-hOuse in the brair.
and he turns on the steam. At once the
chest begins TO blow lis bellows rapidly;
both sides have TO Join in whether they
want TO or not, ever until they ache;
the heart receives an impulse and wakes
up %throbbing rapidly: the lungs expand
and contract with considerable violence;
the bronchial tubes lose their strinSency;
the eyes twinkle; the mouth draws back
and opens; a gurgle and a gasp or two
follow; then the air is filled with many
q merry ha. ha. and the asthmatic
patient finds his breath again. All the
parts of the human system have been
let out for a run. like the boys at re-
cess, and after having a good romp
and cheerful, active exercise. for a few
minutes, come down to regular business
again.
Now we can not see why it is not
everybody's duty to laugh. just as much
as TO eat and drink, and take any other
kind ofphysical exercise. Indeed, the
liver, the spleen. and other mysterious
organs, seem to have the function of
laughter appointed for some special use
in their Eealthful movements, and its
neglect entails disorder and disease
upon them. For laughter oils afresh
the wheels of the body, with its stimu-
lating effect. chaseS away that terrible
enemy of strength and peace dyspepsia;
and if physicians are true, d;spels sleep
l~essness, with its painful and dangerous
consequences.
To ..laugh and grow fat is an old
proverb that night suggest wisdom to
US, for We are made 10 laugh. But
there is a class of morbid Pharisees who
affect a lofty contempt of laughter and
mirth as undigniiied and triiling, and
unworthy the character of sober-minded
men. Their multiplied sorrows have
deadened the energy OF their vital DOW
ers; life's burdens have o~utweighed its
pleasures, and their organic apparatus
gravitateS toward n suspension of its
functions. The handspring has lost its
tension, and they are already half dead.
All because they are neglecting a
physical exercisa appointed for the re-
lief Of their decaying m mbers and
faculties.
Let them wake up, take the fresh air
in a rousing walk, Join in the merry
laughter of the children, whoSe b~uoyant
spirits display the health;ul activity of
their bodily system, play with the dog.
III and jump rs much as their old
bones will let them, and their morbid
ness will take lasting flight on the merry
wings of laughter.
Or let them take a good horseback
ride through the woods and fields. and
they will laugh in spite of themselves.
Laughter thus possesses a moral quail
ty. For our moods are too often the
reflection of our physical conditions.
No man can be a free, arnes servant
of God, filled with love to his Master
and sctiye goodwill to his feilow-men.
who doesn t keep his laughing appa-
ratus polished up and in good working
order. He will be filled with ~jealousieS
and envies and all discouragements, if
ne does not laugh betimes. This is no
Joke; it is a solemn fact
We need not indulge in un-
timely or uproarious laughter. But
there is q time to laugh: and when the
lime comes, ii is our Christian duty, Tor
the sake of our bodies, minds and souls,
to laugh to the best of our ability-to
lauxh thoroughly, heartily, and clear
down to our boots. II we don't feel
like it, we ought somehow to work
ourselves up to it.
being happy is talent that can be
D1liFated. The gift Of coefining the