The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-20
A REAL GOOD LAUGH.
IT is MORE BENEFICIAL THAN A DOSE
OF MEDICINE.

Yet the laugh Tint Jars or ChilIa Is
Heard More Often Than the Genu-
inc, Spontaneous Expression of I'm
feiEHed Enjoyment.
Laughter makes good blood.-Italian Proverb.
1t would be sadder and drcarier
world were there no laughter. and yet
the real thing is only too rare among us.
There are the laugh that cheers and the
laugh that chills, the spontaneous ex-
preston of unfeigned enjoyment, Of
hearty gladness, of real joy, as opposed
to the faint smile of simulated pleasure,
the hollow, mirthless laugh that tries to
drown the misery of an aching heart, the
harsh, grating sound that accompanies
the triumph of malignity.
What is so joyous, so inspiriting, as the
happiness of little children, which finds
boisterous expression in their ringing
chilling, as the outbursts of reckless lev
ity that nightly jar upon the ear in the
streets of our great cities!
Nothing is more characteristic Of the
human being than his laugh. 1t has been
called "the cipher key whercwith we de-
cipher the whole man." The schoolgirl,
in her transition state, whose faulty man
ners are more often than not born Of
nervousness, is given to tittering behind
books and exchanges chuckles in corners
with her dearest friend over matters
which are, as a rule, kept secret. The
society miss" whose social standpoint
is open to question, is far too refined for
q hearty laugh, even if her dressmaker
had allowed room for it, SO she singers
behind her fan something like the school
girl, and her companion of the masher
tribe emits shrll, cackling sounds, pro-
vided his collar permits and he is not
feeling too langud to be amused.
Perhaps one of the most trying laughs
is that of the nervous person. Such n one
greets you with the same stereotyped
sound upon all occasions. Whenever you
meet, you know the nervous, mirthless
laugh will be heard before you Gun eX-
change a word, and, whatever be your
mood, it will rccur with painful per-
sistence throughout the interview.
There are those who always want to
laugh at the wrong moment, and what
CHASTITY sensation it is when the TRACE
dy of q human heart has been partly
unveiled before you, and, because it con-
tains that fatal touch of comedy that
tresIs so closely on the heels of Tragedy.
it Is all you con do to choke down that
mad, hysterical impulse to laugh.
The loud guffaw of the perpetualiy fun
ny man, who thus announces the fact
that he has made what he cabs joke,
is apt to produce bad rather than good
blood, just as the meaningless, ceaseless
ripple of some inane feminine laughter
gets OH the nerves and induces q morose
desire for solitude.
There are the birds of evil omen who
croak their way through life-the pes
simist, the hypochrondriac, the bored
and blase of both seXes-who are too
cynical to be amused, and those who,
posing as profound critics, fear any show
Of enthusiasm, lest it should be mistaken
for ignorance that is easily pleased.
These do not laugh.
Laugh and grow fatw says rare Ben
Jonsou, and there is contagious cheeri-
ness in the hearty, somewhat wheeZy
laugh of our stout, comfortable friends.
They seem to have no awkward corners
either in mind or body, and their ire
pressible good humor acts rs mental
tonic on their surroundings. Carlyle
tells us that mo man who has once
heartily and wholly laughed can be al
together, irreclaimably bad" and expert
ence teaches us to trust those with an
honest, hearty laugh.
How different is the jeer OF mockery,
the callous sneer of cynicism which turns
some cold with rage and drives others to
the verge of violence, or the rude laugh
ter reserved for the moment when your
back is turned and you can no longer
see, but only hear, and draw your OWL
conclusions.
The happy gift of humor can soften
many Il black look and silence many en-
angry word by Il laughing reply that has
an honest ring in it. But it must be the
right sort of laugh. The least touch OF
contempt brings home the calling fact
that the angry man is making himself
ridiculous, and an excessive hilarity be-
trays want of sympathy with the cause
of his anger. 1t is the laugh that comes
from Il kindly heart. unwilling to give or
take offense, that acts like charm III
restoring equanimity to the ruffled breast.
We know that with children unbridled
laughter is often the forerunncr Of tears,
and in later life laughter is akin 10
weeping, and true humor is as closely
allied to pity as it is abhorrent to deri.
the emotions, making them susceptible
of n sudden revulsion of feeling il but a
word, look, memory awaken a respon-
sive chord.
To the human race alone has laughter
been accorded as an expression OF de-
light, and, though we talk of the laugh
ing hyena and our dogs seem to smile
with their eyes to the accompaniment Of
wagging tails. we may listen in vain for
anything common to the rest of the ami
NAL creation that corresponds to our ac-
copied method of expressing amusement
and lightncSs of heart.
The hollow, metallic laugh of the par
rot is but Il nockery of true mirth. 1t
is 4 mere imitation, painfully like the
:augh of some human beings i'll its very
emptiness. 1t is no expression Of real
feeling. 1t is more like the triumphant
chuckle of an evil spirit than the whole
some laughter that makes good blood"
1t Is from the sound mind in the sound
body that we get true mirth, the sun
shine of life, the oil that eases the wheels
of human intercourse. 1t comes from
those who laugh with and not ut their
fellow creatures. 1t Is the privilege OF
reason, the proof Of kindness, one CT
the joyous notes In the psalm of life. 1t
must not I've excessive nor III timed, lest
It lose the sweetness OF sympathy and
becogU tefic1ls bX reiteration; lest It be
legradEJ from the rank OF health Civ
ing medicine TO take its place among Dox-
ious drugs and mental frritants.-St.
Louis Republic.
No Need to Cross.
~ III