Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-01-06
QUEER IDEAS OF FUN.
SAvAGES WHO LAUGH ONLY
WHEN SOME ONE us HURT.

SAvAGES WHO LAUGH ONLY
WHEN SOME ONE is HURT.
The Writings of Victim Under Torture
Send Them Into Frenzy Of Merriment--
Fearful Punishmcnts That Evoke YeIs of
Glee.
The laugh, which is now so closely
associated with good humor and
kindly feeling, originally implied
nothing of the sort. 1t expressed al
most the reverse. 1t was the crow OF
triumph over fallen foe.
Such is its nature still among saw.
ages of barbarous peoples, and its un.
expected manifestations are occasion
ally very startling. Dancing on the
body OF PROSTATE enemy is to them
hilarious business. The writhing of a
victim under torture is the funniest
thing imaginable. A new device for
tormentis clever jest. The inflicting
of a ghastly wound as some poor
wretch runs the gauntlet makes them
yell with glee. The things that
shock or horrify or disgust the civil
lied man are about the only things
worth laughing at from q sayage's
point Of view.
With the exception, therefore, OF
rough practical jokes, which may pos
sibly wrinkle his stolid features with a
momentary grin, the barbarian has no
appreciation of civilized humor. He
can't see where the fun comes in il
nobody is hurt.
This was curiously illustrated not
long go when q considerable number
Of Cinnamon went to a New York
theater to see burlesque performance
When the American part OF the audi.
ence laughed, the delegation from
Chinatown sat with faces absolutely
blank, but the moment any hint oil
brutality, tragedy or tears appeared on
the stage their heavy features lighted
and were wreathed in smiles. 1t was
a strange thing to witness, but it was
all in perfect keeping with the cruel
4 incftnnto r,f fho,r rooo
Even the knowledge that he is him.
self to be the next victim does not
spoile the fun of cruel spectacle for a
barbarian thoroughbred. Here is an
stance:
A number OF Siamese who had been
engaged in bloody revolt were cap.
tured red-handed and sentenced to
military execution. A platoon of SOL
diers was drawn up with loaded musk.
cts, before whom the doomed men
were led out in squads of five or six to
be shot, while those who were waiting
their turn stood by, under guard, look.
ing on.
When the first volley was fired, the
victims, torn by the storm OF bullets
leaped into the air with violent contor.
tions and fell dead. And this to the
poor wretches who were about to &c
through the same experience seemed
so fine a show and so excruciatingly
funny that they were fairly convulsed
with laughter.
Such is the humor of savages, and
such doubtless were the beginnings o
mirth the world over. Strange as i,
may seem, there are many hints of thi:
barbarous origin in the fun of the
most highly civilized. We no longer
laugh at really tragic occurrences, i,
is true, nor other and more humane
emotions are too strongly excited.
But if we chance to see q ridiculous
mishap which does not quite rise to
the dignity of tragedy-an accident by
which some one is greatly inconven
fenced and annoyed without being ser
iously injured-the remnant of the
savage breaks loose in us, and we laugh
till the tears come.
Why else are We amused when We
see we'll dressed man thrown sprawl
ing in the mud or deluged with dirty
water from an upper window or driven
to tree by cross dog or an ugly
bull? Why else do we so keenly en-
Joy the agony of man who has acci.
dentally pounded his finger nail, in
stead of the tack he was driving into
the carpet, or laugh at the unfortunate
who blindly steps on stray barre
hoop which fiips up and slaps him in
the face? Instances might be multi
piled without limit.
1t is noticeable that children often
laugh at things which do not amuse
adults, but, on the contrary, shock
and pain them. That is because the
child's inner sensibilitics are as yet inn
perfectly developed. He is still neal
the savage state. There is a very
prevalent sentiment to the contrary
but this is the fact.
In proportion as men become truly
civilized, however, their sense OF hu.
NOR becomes refined, and they revolt
at any suggestion of brutality. Yet
it is worthy OF remark that the gen
tlest among us are frequently amused
at picture or story representing
things the actual occurrence of which
would shock us greatly.
| THE yalue of the salmon mack al