The Washington herald., 1915-08-30
BY ORIsON SWEET MARDEN.

BY ORISON SWEET MARDEN.
There is good philosophy as well as
and grow fat
The man who cannot laugh. and
laugh heartily, is abnormal He has
not had healthy, natural existence.
A tendency to see the humorous side
of life is an evidence of sanity.
Laughter is natures device for ex-
ercising the internal organs and Civ
ing us pleasure at the same time. 1t
sends the blood bounding through the
body. increases the respiration, and
gives warmth and glow to the whole
system. 1t expands the chest, ana
forces the poisoned air from the least
used lung cells. 1t brings into har-
monious action all the functions Of the
body. More of US should use it as a
table sauce. Nothing is more effective
in stimulating the digestive processes
A merry laugh is contagious. Be
cheerful. and you make everybody
around you happy, harmonious, and
healthfuL Perfect health, which may
be destroyed by AZ piece of bad
news. by grief, or anxiety. is often
restored by a good hearty laugh.
Laughter is as natural a form OF
self-expression as music. or art. or
work of any kind. 1t is a normal fac
ulty, without the exercise of which
no one can be healthy. Unless you ex-
press yourself in writing. IL you are
an author, or in song, IL you are a
singer, or on canvas il you are an
artist. you feel pent-up, cramped. shut
in with yourself. II you do not ex-
press yourself you become abnormal.
morbid: you lose your strength. pow
er. and become a weakling. People
who do not laugh, who do not give
free expression to their fun-loving
faculties have this same pent-up feel
ing. They become abnormal. morose.
and often suicidal Laughter is foe
to pain and disease. and a sure cure
for the blues" melancholy. and worry.
Many peoples lives seem to be set
to a minor key at the start. They go
through the world with long, sad
faces, and they cannot understand how
anyone can look on life lightly. They
seem to have lost the sweetest part
of themselves. Everything interesting
in them has evaporated.
Happy, healthy children teach their
elders a lesson in the art of joyous
living Like young animals, they
bubble over with life and JOY. Play
is as natural to them as breathing.
Normal children are not sober, sad.
nor serious: nor are normal adults.
There is always some cause for this
condition-great sorrow, misfortunes.
failure. abnormal living, vicious prac-
tlCeS. disease. ulsopts .
or an over-vaulting ambition, cous:sA
with colossal selfshness People was
make stepping stones of others, who
climb on others misfortunes. who de-
veIop enormous selhshness. greed or
a grasping nature often kill their In
nate love Of fun and play. But what
ever the cause. IL is always abnormal.
Take life too seriously. and what
is IL WORTH" asks Goethe. IF the
morning wake US to no new Joys. IL
the evening bring US not the hope or
new pleasures. is 1t worth while 10
dress and undress? Does the sun
shine on me today that ] may reflect
on yesterday?-that l may endeavor
to see and control what can neither
be forseen nor controlled-the destiny
of tomorrow" 1t is hard to determine
which Is most destructive OF peace
and happiness-thinking Of the mis-
takes and troubles of yesterday or
anticipating those OF the morrow. BY
keeping our minds riveted on the past.
or constantly projected into the fu.
ture, many of us miss forever what all
are seeking-happiness- Today only IS
ours. for good or i'll. to be made glad
or sad. as we Will.
Laugh and your troubles and disap-
poiptments will fall from you. as
clouds are dispersed by the sun.
Laughter and good cheer make love
of life, and love of life Is hait OF
health.