New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-21
LAUGHTER.
Il Study of 1t, Not Too Serious.

AN Essay OK rs LAEGHTIEdRfM HTS Fo GSP rs
VAIJ-E BY James Sully. NJ A. LII y. "
tavo PIP. xvi, AL. Longmans. Green q CO.
.'If YOU tickle us do not laugh?' asks oh!-
lock. The query of the psychologist, for "holi
the investigation appears to have an irresistioie
attraction, is rather If you tickle US, why uo
we laughp" The idiom itself carries an uncoh-
scious argument. AS certain stimulus 10 inc
sense of touch results in the audible herdydi
of amusement IT must be that when the fancy
alone is attacked to the same end 1t mas oeeH
similarly affected. Our fancy was t1ckled' we
saw putting the mystery in words Of a derived
sense When Schopenhauer reduces the conol-
ton to a geometric illustration, symbolizing the
amusing bv the meeting of the tangent and the
curve of the circle. there is some doubt IN 'he
mind of the ordinary laugher whether the sense
of the ludicrous has been appealed to by the hs-
ure or by Schopenhauer. 1t is the merit OF TINS
discussion of complex problem that whlle ap-
preaching theories with due seriousness ana the
responsible alertness of the doubter. it touches
the gossamer wing of the merry sprite" With
out destroying it.
Side by side with the question of how the
laugh is caused goes the study of the changing
susceptibilities to this reflex action. The chllu
and the savage laugh at INSTRUMENTATION Oh
words in their own tongue. The older the man
does the appeal become. The sentiment OF hu-
NOR must not be looked for in the young.
1t is the prerogative of the years which have
boarded experiences and learned to reflect Nor
is it to be sought for in the youth OF the
world. That humor is-in its clearesL anu
fullest utterance at leaSt-the possession OF
modern times. the period ushered IN ny the
appearance of he great trio, Radicals CerVailleS
and Shakespeare, is explained by saylns ma,
like music. it ats itself into the ways OF our ne"
spirit.
Even at one time in tie world. different peo-
piles being distinct in their temperamentaf en-
dowment will vary in their sen7e Of fun
An amusing Irish or Scotch story, that is
TO saw which is produced for home consumption
seems to be redolent of the whole temperament,
mind and character of the people 1t is TINS
comnlexitv of the sentiment which makes the
amiabe effort to illustrate the humor OF oIiteI
peoples by published selections patheuc ~
tility. How can one expect, tor example, tHe ~
binary Englishman to get into touch with thdt
fine product of chds fun, quick fancy, aleTI
c,-,,7nathv oren heartedness. and a deep brood
ing sentiment which meets him in the hu1nor OF
the Irishman? II is enough TO remember no"
he is wont to laugh his superior laugh at an
Irish bull as if this were necessarily an uncon-
scious ''howler" whereas it may be. in reality,
a charming expression Of & most amiaple tralt
of character.
That the possession of the sense Of humor'
which turns the current coin Of calamity over
and smiles at the DIVERSE is a most desirable
gift. hardly needs to be demonstrated Yet Mr..
s,,,,x,s remarks on this alternating service form
a charming passage in his book The correction
or our one sided view of things comes home IN
the experience of the Scotch professor whose
disguised caddie remarked: ANYBODY can teach
Greek. but govt needs held
We may no doubt feel hurt Just for mo
ment when al a concert, we see a Dig nat IhIuSL
itself between our eyes and a face winch mas
held them captive, wearing look OF the tragic
muse as it leans yearningly over the violin from
which il seems like a mothers face, TO draw the
sobbing tones. Yet even as the nerve smarts,
we may half seize the glorious a5surdty OF the
hat and its holdings. Social pores are
vexations which. perhaps ought not to be called
petty. HumC-ous persons one suspeGts, are
specially exposed to their attacks since they are
a tolerant folk. preferring on the WhoIe 10 suler
than to hurt others. But here, also. the huIloI-
Gus have their remedies 1t sutices, for exam
pie to reflect for short moment on the droi
1athos of the circumstance that persons, be-
tween whom and ourselves we find no attaching
60 attantions The aggressive self-as-
sertion Of the olutocrat Win ms puy s ,1e
sort of stare and the rest, may wound LOT nan
a moment; but laughing soace comes on the
heels of worry; for there is quiet pleasure IN
looking back and discovering the clumsy con-
str1Iction of the vulgar ''snub," and in any case
a playful half glance at higher measures OF
worth restores the equanlmlty'
On the other hand. the absence Of readiness
to see the comic has hal its uses. The author
questions whether Rousseau would ever have
made his picturesque and instructive attack on
civilization if he had been great laugher.
Would Dante and Milton and the other build
ers of the vast and sombre architecture OF verse
have achieved their task II the Laughing mp
had been pulling vigorously at their coat talls!
Let those who laugh, therefore, be ready,
not only from an enlightened seII-ihlereSl' pGt
from, Incoming esteem for alien virtues, to al
Low, the .agelasts' their place in the world.
Il NAV he that he whole hearted choral"
lauphter of a nerrier day has gone from us,
and Mr.. Sully. little sadly, finds nothing "un-
reasonable in the death of all the more joyous
and refreshing mirth.' But the persistence OF
wholesome laughter does not lack promise There
are new tones of quiet reflective laughter. he
saws developing in the literature OF more than
one country, and he does not belttie ms thought-
full and pleasing discussion by attempting 10
prophesy-