South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-19

him. He Is under constant tension 70
conform to the standard of civiIiza-
ton he has attained. Because this
tenseness is the result OF social condi-
tons. gradually he has developed a
social sense to afford him brief respite
from the strain, and so sense of hu-
NOR has developed in civilized man.
sense of humor is thus the pana-
cea which man has invented in order
to make civilization itself bearable.
Primitive man laughed and smiled as a
result Of sudden muscular relaxation,
but civilized man laughs and smiles
chiefly from sudden relaxation of men
tai tension
Why people laugh has been a subject
that has interested the philophers
since the time of Aristotle, but IT has
taken the modern psychologists to de-
velop the theory that a sense of HUI
NOR is the antidote that civilized man
has invented TO make il possible for
him to endure civilization They say
a sense of humor is merely ability to
recognize slips and lapses of our fell
low-beings from the culture which
binds us. II affords us recreation from
the strain of our social efforts 10 see
others make slips and lapses- We
have struggled so many generations
toward a higher civilization and cul-
ture that it is with glee that we see
the cogs of culture slip a notch We
experience a subconscious satisfac-
ton that gives us sudden mental re-
Taxation which results in laughter.
Stubbing Toe
Brings Laughter.
The simplest illustration Of the sub
conscious satisfaction we get out Of
social lapses is shown by the laughter
which invariably greets a man who
stubs his toe and goes sprawling on
the street. We may claim to be above
such crude expression Of humor, but
there is not a man living who has not
at some time Involuntary shouted
with laughter when he saw some one
fall. 1t is funny because we are all
of us under more or less of a strain to
maintain an upright position when we
walk abroad Uprightness of position
is an acquired position for man. and
subconsciously we have TO pay atten-
ton to keep from stumbling. stepping
ON banana peels. getting knocked over
by vehicles. and we exert ourselves TO
stay on our feet for aside from the
danger Of getting hurt, it offends our
dignity to be seen in an unconven-
tional position.
The great appeal that the comedy
of Charley Chaplin affords comes from
this instructive impulse of laugh at
lapses from conventional positions.
He falls over backward. he pitches
downstairs or his chair gives way and
sends him SPRAYING. and shrieks OF
mirth from the audience greet each
misfortune.
The wind catches a mans hat and
blows it down the street and as he
madly pursues it every onlooker is
amused 1t gives them momentary re-
Taxation TO see him so unconventinn
ally engaged, and although the onlook-
ers do not realize il there is revived
old racial memories OF a time when
men were not encountered with hats
and consequently did not have 10 pur-
sue them madly as the wind blew.
But physical lapses and slips are by
no means the only ones which make
civilized man chortle with glee. Men
tai and moral ones afford even greater
amusement
Thousands OF jokes nave been based
on Observation-Disclosures. and they are
always sure OF laugh because OF their
universal appeal. Every one knows
the effort IL is TO concentrate attention
al all times. so il is with delight that