Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1921-07-01
THE MIRTH CURE
(By DIR. Frank Crane)

| 1 " " WV
grandest of all is the Mirth Cure,
1t keeps well in any climate,
is guaranteed under the pure
food and drug law, doesn't cost
a cent, and has helped others,
Why not you?
The formula is found in the
writings of the wisest man, who
was a Jewish king and a philos-
opher, He said:
"a merry heart doeth good
like a medicine. -
Note--he did not say a merry
wife, though she certainly does
good. perhaps he had too many
wives and was afraid he would
be asked which one.)
He did not say a merry hus-
band, though he helps some.
Nor did he say merry children,
nor a merry house, nor a merry
occupation, nor any such thing.
For his wise old eyes saw too
deeply into life to make the mis-
take of supposing that circum-
stances are the root of joy. He
knew that the real fountain of
mirth is the heart.
If you have a merry heart it
makes no difference what may
be your position, whether you be
a tramp on the road, a scrub
woman in an Office building, a
brakeman, a street car conduc-
tor, a merchant man, or even a
college president. You are an
electric light in the fog Of human
dependency, sunshine breaking
through earth-sorrow clouds, wa
ter to parched souls.
Did you ever hear the story of
"The Happy Mans Shirt?' 1t
is an old one, but one of those
that ought constantly be retold.
There was once a king who
was smitten with sadness and dis
gust of life. He had gorged at
all human pleasures, could no
more be amused and now was
like to die.
They called in the soothsayers
and medicine men, but none
could suggest a remedy. At last
they sent to an old hermit who
lived in the wood, who said:
"The case is simple. Let the
king sleep all night in a happy
mans shirt, and he will be heal
ed.
Whereupon the king ordered
that the palace be searched, a
happy man be found and his
shirt brought. But no happy man
could be discovered in the palace.
Then they sought through the
city and then throughout the
length and breadth of the king
dom, but no man could they lay
hands upon who would declare,
without reservation or secret eva
sion of mind whatever, that he
was entirely happy.
A little group of the kings
courtiers were returning home
disconsolate, and as they rode
along the highway they espied
beggar sitting under a tree, play
ing with the autumn leaves, and
smiling to himself.
''Hola!' they shouted. care
you happy9''
"Surely'' replied the beggar-
man.
why, you're nothing but
beggar! You don't know where
you are going to get your dinner,
do you?''
"Oh, no. But it isn't dinner
time yet. I had good break
fast"
Then they told him of the
kings plight and besought him
to give them his shirt forthwith,
adding that it should be returned
to him with gold pieces.
At that the ragged man lay
back on the grass and laughed as
if he would expire.
Come" said the royal at
PENDANTS, eve have no time for
trihing. Off with your shirt, or
we will jerk it off"
Hold hard, gentlemen" said
the beggar, striving to control
his mirth. "That is just what l
am laughing at. l AMT GOT
NO SHIRT"
So they went and told the king
that but one happy man could
be unearthed in all his realm,
and that one was shirtless.
And the king had sense enough
to perceive that happiness does
not depend on the shirt you
sleep in. nor the bed on which