Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-25
ANIMALS THAT LAUGH.
MONKEYS THAT INDULGE IN THE
MOST BITTER WEEPING.

The Wounded GiraF-A Rat Story.
Pigs and Geese.
Some writer's have endeavored to show. on
the authority of that famous philosopher,
Hobbies, that man is the only animal that
can laugh; but there seems to be difference
OF opinion on THAI subject; and in the fol-
lowing quotation give the reader the benefit
of the doubt: There are animals that both
laugh and weep. There are, on the con-
trary, races Of men like the American In
dams and Cingalese Veddas, which do not
| laugh. Two essentials are needed in order
to produce the physical phenomenon of
laughter in man-frst, facial, vocal or other
muscles, including the diaphragm; and, sec
ond, the emotions or ideas which give rise to
laughter.
Certain animals possess both these essen
tials. The gorilla possesses the facial mus
cles, and Darwin claims that various monkeys
have them All the nanlmalia, in common
with man, have the diaphragm, which is ca
| pable Of rapid relaxation and contraction as
well as spasmodic action. The chimpanzee
is said to smile. The smile of the titi monkey
| is playful one The dog can both smile
and grin, whether affection or pleasure,
| hypocrisy or cunning dictate Dogs dis
tinguish the different kinds of laughter; they
note distinction between that which is good
humored and that which is sarcastic. They
| are sensitive to ridicule, yet not unfrequently
try to produce laughter in man, and deep is
their modification if they fail. Romanes
tells US of Skye terrier that tried to amuse
his master and provoke bis laughter by GER
tain tricks it had taught itself, and was
sulky If its efforts proved fruitless. An
r,for in, h.
gardens showed every sign of pleasure when
its practical jokes excited mans laughter,
and Rev. DR.. Wood records the instance of a
games like leapfrog and tag IS much as the
boys did themselves.
BIRDS THAT LAUGH.
The parrot is a capital laugher He laughs
at his own practical jokes. White, Of Sell
bourne, speaks of the heartiness Of laughter
in the woodpecker. A pet rnagpie of Jesses,
he says in that Incompatible History of
Selbourne," had laugh that was so hearty,
joyous and natural that no one who heard it
could help Joining in it. There are tales of
certain swallows who on the successful issue
of a practical joke played by them on O cat
seemed each 70 set up a laugh at the disap-
pointed enemy very like the laugh of a
young child when tickled. Miss Cobbe says
the goose has, perhaps, the keenest apprecia-
ton OF humor of any animal, unless it be her
owni arch enemy the fox. And she Illus
trates this assertion by the narrative of u
practical joke played on number Of pigs by
flock of geese. The poor porkers were
caused to run the gauntlet down lane of
geese biting at them with their bills, simply
to brighten them, and that the geese might
enjoy the terror and sqnealing Of the pigs.
Zone of my horses,n says Baker Pasha,
tout Of pure amusement, kicks at the men
as they pass, and having succeeded several
times in kicking them into the river, he per-
ssveres in the fun, believe, for lack of other
enjoyment"
There is a certain hyena which, from the
popularity OF its cry, is styled the laughing
hyena, and IN Australia there is q bird-a
kingfisher-which is called for similar
reason the laughing jackass. Its notes
strongly resemble a rude, powerful laugh.
The great African traveller, Livingstone,
speaks of the African brown ibis, whose cry
Is :. loud ha ha hal
As It is true that certain animals possess
the physical qualifications for laughter, so
also is it correct that they possess all the APP
paratus for shedding Tears The dog, horse,
elephant, bear, cat, dCukey, mule, various
deer SOLO, chimpanzee, mandril, It'll, or
other monkeys or apes, cattle, camel, giraffe,
shed tears under emotions Of grief and sor-
row.
The parrot does not shed tears, but pos
sesses the kindred power of sobbing. Chin
panzees viii weep at dread of punishment,
monkeys and elephants on account of disap-
pointment or modification, the Cingalese
elephant on account Of captivity and confne-
ment, the It'll from fear, terror or fright,
the stag at bay and Gagged rat from despair,
certain monkeys because they are pitied and
the young soko, says DR.. Livingstone, out of
mere .pettisEness or noncompliance with his
whimS.
TEARS FROM A CAAIEL'S EYES.
Mrs. Burton says she has seen in the Syrian
desert ''tears roll down caInels cheeks with
thirst" Some one speaking of mule Grip
pied by two inch nail IN bis foot "His face
was the picture of pain and despair. Tears
streamed out of his eyes" DR.. Livingstone
records the instance of young soko, which,
if not taken up IN the arms like child, when
it desired and appealed to be so carried, en-
gagged in the most bitter humanhke weeping.
DR.. Boerlage shot female (mother) ape in
Java that fell mortally wounded from tree
clasping the young one in her arms, and she
died weeping.
A giraffe, wounded by rife shot, was
also found to have tears trickling from the
lasheS Of his dark, humid eyes. Gordon Cum
ming, the African traveller, speaks of large
tears trucking from the eyes of dying ele-
plant Some Old rats, finding young one
dead by drowning, wiped the tears from their
eyes with their fore paws Instances might
be enumerated without limit TO show that
certain animals have both the physical re-
quirements for grins and tears, and are sIls-
ceptible TO the same emotions that cause
tears and laughter in man.
1t may be said with certainty that the
animal kingdom easily distinguishes friends
from foes Cruelty to animals is forbidden
by the laws Of God and by the laws Of man.
All living things shrink from physical pain. |
Birds and beasts show great affection for their
offspring and viii run dangerous risks TO
protect them from the assaults OF their /
enemies but whether or not they have that /
sense and sensitiyeness which viii cause them I
to laugh when pleased and weep when diSap- /
pointed and hurt, is a question which | shall /
not assume the province Of deterEnining.- |
Philadelphia Call
To Make Him Feel at Home.
Newly Arrived Englishman ito newshoy1- /