The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25
Although He's a Comedian
Lew Fields Prefers to Laugh

Laugh or weep" Which dye pre-
fer" said Lew Fields. who is appear
Ing in step This Way" n, The Shu-
bert Theatre. Some solemn folk
would probably be painfully hurt II
they were accidentally ore Il TO laugh.
Indeed. there are rot "A few ok who
lind their Joy in tears,
Vow. WA.ic a great number of poo
p'c find recreation ia d~SCourS!nG upon
their woes, my hu- ness IN life IS To
make poopS laugh In ancicn; times
just as | max" a business of pro-
Vohing laughter to-inN-therc were
good, honest people VINO made "A l!v-
.nc 10y weeping. There were profcs-
r!oudl mourncrs, and when relatives
could not sufficiently express their
lImcptation over tn. demise of some
relative who he'd died and left them n
lcqucst they would hire these vcnal
retailers of IA groans and tears.
Sohh.ug souls ike the poor-we have
always with rs.
Tho earnest student Of the drama
is. however, inclined to elevate his
nose when asked to At through "A per-
Torrance which has no other r"Com-
mcnddt!o,. than that the auditor is
treated to Il hearty laugh. which "A
merry philosopher once DESIGNATED a.
being one Of the chief delights If lifc's
east Co~ntcnd!ng. unjustly. that the
sands of life run as fast though the
hour glass he set in the sunshine of
prosperity as in h gloomy shade of
affection. According to the scrcaminc
Of the sincerely solemn. no drama.
outside nj tho l~achrymnsc and ligi-
lrious five act tragedy, has any place
on the stage, that the humorous and
frol,csomc is permitted I o exist only
as a hobby horse for the foolish and
as "A haby's rattle for the unwisc.
These sorry souls arc pcrpetually con-
tending that laughter is less e~lcvating
than weeping With them. too, al
that is Old Is golden, all hat is new
Is guilt. L.amcntinE the indeccncies ot
modern farce. they SIGH for the old
comedies, which. while sharply lane
ing the hclnous ulcers of the hour.
made n laughing stock Of innocence
ana "A Joke Of virtue. or. as expressed
10y Lord Littlcton. plain good sense
like n dish of solid hcS and mutton
IL proper only for peasants; but Il
Layout Of folly, wei! dressed with shlrI
sauce as wit, is fit 10 he served upon
an cmpcror's table
with these morosc unfortunatcs nj
that is lamcntnhlc is lovely, nil that 4,
divcrtinG il disgusting; 20 weep h'av.
ems choicest pleasure, to laugh, AZ
altogether absurd and pnerilc paStime
Even admitting that Harry H.. Smitl
Is tho Shakespeare. and the barre
organ the Bayreuth of the many. what
the sensible playgOer most desires l.
"A good hearty laugh. Life is so hard
business Is so urgent, cares are ST
pressing. that We look TO the thcatr,
for surceasc, We go TO that play
house which promises n hearty laugh
az Il remedy for the ills that the iicsl
freshcd and forget for the noncc IN,
burdens of life, ana fully satisfied FOL
the time being tina, laughing is thu
proper WAY to pass the time
cit is the opinion of others, however
that our state here below Is 81
wrctchcd and miserable that II car
never lie sufficiently lamcntcd; and So
for laughter amidst so many sorrows
dangers and fears must he Consid
cred as downright insanity. TIL
opinion, indeed, VAS held by IN" wiScs
of kings: Laughter said nc, is mad
ness 1t Is we'll that there are hu
few wise kings.
Laughter, a philosopher inform
us, In the one great and glorious dis
tinguishing characteristic between ma