The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-25

RELIGION is serious subject, ana has
nothing about it inherently humorous.
Humor j. a cheer. which has no essen
liaIlv religious characteristic. Inefe
is. however. 10 Inconsistency in the re-
ligious beng humorous, aud IN the hu-
u0rous being religious. Every tribe ana
nation has some kind Of religious type
i'm IFS nature. and humor, more or less
marked. is almost striking universal
human possession. La spite 81 the ldl-
osvncracies of each race. through whlte.
yellow. black. red and brown complex
ions. there can be detected ilciai eX-
pressious. iudicatiugat lines either de-
/ voutness or visibility.
Humor is developed in mankind at
an earlier period of life than religion.
Infants early learn 10 smile. 10 COO. ana
to laugh. Modern mothers fail 10 ap-
prrclate the advantages they now en-
low IN amusing their children. Eve
and the earlier mothers had no Mother
Goose" literature from which to draw
whlle entertaining their family Hooks.
Each had to be an authorizes Of dOggerel
RHYMES and little ilctious TO satisfy IN
fantile longings and IJllltles. Mothers
no longer need be p0etcsses. for litera-
turs teens with nursery jngles.
As merrimcut Is such distinctive
ou,iitv Of "a umc n life which has been
described as akin 90 the kingdom Of
God. surely. when becoming aman and
uniting away childish thing. 10 Is not
essential 10 eliminate from the charac-
ter am innate gift which gave zest 10 la-
uoceDce. and " hich caa give JOY TO ma
thrifty. without terminating manhood
or weakening lhc character oil woman
hood.
There is " time to weep, and tine
( to laugh; lime to mourn atu liine 10
larce." There afe some people, how
ever. who are 30 circumspecuvely rchs-
ions that they only ,eem TO thiHk ara
talk of the weeping and mourning
times. GravesiOnlan IN their assumed
reclitude. and dcath-beiical i'm then
dispositions. they pass through me
mere bundles OF Uumagnellzed solemn
itcs. more difficult 20 cope with than
any volume Of theological dogmas pro-
mulgated 10y Pope or CALVIN. 81
periiciaIly guided by their Biblical
study. they are as miserable sinners a.
are those who only think OF laughing
land dancing times. and give little o.
no heed 10 weepiugs and m0urning5-
The Psalmist. with poetic license, even
calls upon iuanimaie nature 10 feJ7ice
let the floods clap their hands; !el
the hills be joyful together.
There is too little Of tue religion !,
the world, and too little OF genuine
humor. Both ara wanted in yastel
greater quantities in order 10 elevate
mankind. Religion Is not handicappe
bv q melaucholc iLcubus-the BiDl'
teaches cheerfulness. Biblical cheeriui
ness and human gaiety have a natura
aflipation Tor one another, and readily
assimilate. Nlatriculatlng III the scho0
of numor i'm the tirs, months OF his exist
ence. mau should never forget his almi
mater. and never allow his name 10 b.
dropped from the roll of merriment.
la eyangehzing the nations, humof
lists should be the allies OF the Gerry
IN adding sunlight TO daylight. IN
halo around the clergy should be prac
ticaIiy colored, the delicate and darke
shades of pure light being exquisite.
blended and harmOnized. SanctlmOn
iousness is as lethal to religion as ia
poisonous microbe is to the humal
frame, ard pulpit dlscourses unbrighI
ened by joylulness are as unfit for nour
ishment Us are bacteriabzsd water o
milk.
Some one has playfully and truth
f,ilv said that the outside Of hOrs
is very good for the inside OF a man.
So is laughter, in its time and place. i
GOOD laugh. a wholesouled, beart
laugh. is as good for the inside Of MA
a, a horseback not or canter. II ranb
with the best tones IN the pharm'
copmia, "A merry heart doeth good hk
medicine; but broken spirit dIii
the bones. DIR. G.. NJ. Smith, IN Ne'
York Observer.
H..