Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-25

his exit. Just then a pet monkey seized
the sick mans spectacles and night cap
hoped on the bed and made a face al
the crowd. 1t was too much for them.
The whole party, including the invalid.
broke into a laugh; the swelling burst,
and the patient was all right again.
| The wise man says that a. word ''fitly
spoken" is like apples OF gold In pictures
OF silver. Moreover. an ili-timed joke. a
foo.-born jest, to heavy heart, is not in
sptly compared to vinegar TO the
teeth. or smoke to the eyes, or anything
else that is Ill timed. out of place: that
makes man fighting mad" or at least
to abhor the offender. In these cases the
propounder of the funny thing has all his
fun TO himself. To the victim. his laugh
ter and voice are like jangling bells,
creaking wheels, OF a man practlcing on
French horn next door. that stirs the
inEermost and most original devil that
Is in US; especially so when the funny
thing Is favored with malice or mean
ness.
The words Of a man Of sense are all
the reverse of these last. Kindness and
good cheer have a thousand ways OF
showing themselves. They give light to
the eyes. They give a pleasant glow to
the countenance. Like the graces OF
young Nourmahal. they brighten all over.
Chances, tones, and gentle motions charm;
ana the dear souls are not aware of the
influences they are shedding Good
humor. kindness. and honor will make
the commonest word or the highest jest
acceptable. The bright and honorable
soul and spirit of the thing gives it value
and responsibility. The motive gives 1t
life and character.
Made up of wholesome and salutary
elements, good cheerful words, and
pleasantries, are very necessary things:
always, and everywhere beneficial-only
they must be in season.
soft answers are known TO turn away
wrath. And an amiable and timely plea
santry will utterly disspate bad humor
and Ill temper, and smooth the way TO a
settlement.
In very truth a good, honest, hearty
laugh bespeaks and guarantees a good,
honest heart. 1t is the ring of the true
metal. 1t is comparable TO the very
most beautiful music. II is stirring and
inspiring. Some men and women can't
laugh The noise that they make in the
NhOAl DctidyS lucdNHeSS ana SelUSnneSS.
An honest laugh is health to the soul
and marrow TO the bones. mean
smoker or a CHASTITY. superficial smile
ehills US through and through makes n
man mad. A gentleman not long since
made tour OF great watering places and
was almost bewildered at the splendor
or the equipments and equipages of the
wealthy. One thing, however, struck him
painfully. The people all looked grand
proud, magnificent and all hat; but not
one OF them seemed TO be capable Of a
pleasant smile or an honest laugh. Their
cast-iron countenanees were I'M
adjustible to either
In very truth there Is no charity so
acceptable and always in
season as kind words. And a good Joke,
that takes man out Of his ruts, changes
the current of his thoughts and infuses
a little good humOr and cheer into his
animal spirits, may be the saving CT his
body and soul-and business troubles |
or may rescue him from a miserable |
quarrel, that he is prepared for and set |
On. A good. hearty unprofessional, I'M !
natural laugh, shakes us /
all up, knocks the little imps out OF their |
lurking places in our system, puts them |
10 flight, and sets our whole machinery |
n good working order-puts us in a
good humor in spite of everything. 1t Is
The wise man says:
q splendid tonic.
"A merry heart doeth good like medi-
cine,
But broken spirit drieth the bones"