The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
JOLLY GOOD 1AuaHEza.
one Dsse Of II better ma. I,oAs -

JOLLY 8OOO kAU8k4G08s
one Dsse Of It better ria. Lo1s -
Medicine.
Laughter makes good blood.-Italian Pruvefb.
Il would be sadder ana drearief world
were there no laughter, and yet the real
thing y only too rare among NJ. There
that chills, the spontaneous exprsssion Of
unfeigned enjoyment, Of hearty giadness,
Of real Joy, ~ opposed to the fAiut smile
Of simulated pleasure, the hollow, mirthe
less laugh that tries to drown the miSary
Of an aching heart, the harsh, grating
sound that accompanies the triumph Of
malignity.
What II % joyous, % inspiritirg, Is the
happiness Of little children, which hnds
boisterous expression in their ringing peais
Of laughter. and what 30 sad, 70 chilling.
as the outbursts Of reckless ievity that
nightly jar upon the ear In the streets OF
our great cities?
Nothing u moro characteristic Of the hu-
man being than his laugh. II has been
called '.the cipher key wherewith 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 titterfng behind
books and exchanges chuckIes In corners
with her dearest friend over matters which
are. as a rule. kept secret. The society
miss" whose social standpoint ID open To
question. Is far too refined for q hearty
laugh, even II her dressmaker had allowed
room for 1t, so she singers behind her
fan something like the schoolgirl. and her
companion Of the masher tribe emits shrili,
cackling sounds, provided his collar per
mits and he is not feeling to languid to
be amused.
Perhaps one OF the most trying laughs
Is that Of the nervous person. Such a 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 can ex-
change a word. and, whatever be your
mood. 1t will recur with painful per
sistence throughout the interview.
There are those who always want to
laugh at the wrong moment, and what
CHASTITY sensation 1t is when the tragedy
OF human heart has been partly uL-
yelled before you, and. because it con-
tains that fatal touch Of comedy that
treads SO closely on the heels of tragedy.
1t is all you can do to choke down that
mad, historical impulse-to laugh.
The loud guffaw of the perpetually
funny man, who thus announces the fact
that he has made what he calls a tsae. is
opt " pIOuuCt DdQ IttucI ludn 6uOQ pt<of,
just as the meaningless, ceaseless ripple Of
some inane feminine laughter CRATES on
the nerves and induces a norose desire for
solitude.
There are the birds Of evil omen who
croak their way through life-the pessi-
mist 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 enthus-
iasm, lest it should be mistaken for ig-
norance that is easily pleased. These do
not laugh.
Laugh and grow fat!" says rare Ben
Jonson, and there is a contagious cheeri-
ness in the hearty, somewhat wheezy laugh
Of our stout. comfortable friends They
seem to have no awkward corners either ;
good :aumor acts as mental tonic on their
Carlyle tells US that mo
man who has once heartily and wholly
laughed can be altogether. irreciairnably
bad" and experience teaches US to trust |
those with an honest, hearty laugh.
How different is the jeer of mockery, |
the callous sheer Of cynicism which turns |.
some cold with rage and drives others to ,
the verge Of violence, or the rude laughter |
for che moment when your back ;
Is turned and you car no longer see. but |
1uiy near, anu uraW your own cOncluklOnS.
The happy gift of humor can soften |
many a black look and silence many an |
angry word By laughing reply that has |
an honest ring in 1t. But it must be the |
right sort Of laugh. The least touch Of !
brings home the CALLING fact |
that the angry man Is making himself /
ridiculous and an excessive hilarity be-
rays want Of sympathy with the cause
If his anger. 1t is the laugh that comes !
rom kindly heart. unwilling to give or
AXE offence. that acts like charm In re-
toring equanimity to the RULED breast.
We know that with children unbridIed
aughter II often the forerunner Of tears.
md in later life Laughter Is akin to
weeping, and true humor is as closely
llied to pity as 1t is abhorrent to de-
ision." 1t softens the heart and quickens
he emotions. making them susceptible of
sudden revulsion Of feeling If but a
FORD, look, memory awaken a responsive
hord
To the human race alone has laughter
cen accorded as an expression Of de-
ght. and, though we talk OF the laughing
yena and our dogs seem to smile with
heir eyes to the accompaniment of wag-
ing tails, We may listen in vain for any
hing common to the rest Of the animal
reation that corresponds to c-r accepted
,ethod of expressing amusement and
ghtness OF heart.
The hollow. metallic laugh of the par
OF is but a mockery Of true mirth. 1t
s a mere imitation. painfully like the
,ugh Of some human beings in its very
mptiness. 1t is no expression OF real
ceiling. 1t is more like the triumphant
buckle of an evil spirit than the whole
ONE Laughter that makes good blood"
1t is from the sound mind in the sound
ody that we get true mirth, the sum
hine of life, the oil that eases the wheels
I human intercourse. 1t comes from
hose who laugh with and not at their
elbow creatures. 1t Is the privilege OF
eason, the proof Of kindness. one Of
he joyous notes in the psalm Of life. 1t
must not be excessive nor ill tfc.ed, lest
lose the sweetness Of sympathy and
ecome tedious by reiteration; lest 1t be
egraded from the rank of a health Civ
lg medicine to take its place among nox-
ous drugs and metnal irritants.-St
.ouis Republic.
rwo PRINcEssEs FROM INDIA.