FROM MY WINDOW.

Shannon News, 28 March 1922, Page 4

FROM MY WINDOW.

No. XVI.—LAUGHTER AND TEARS

(By “ETERA.)

“Shall we— Grumble? No, what’s the good? If it availed I wojuld. But it doesn’t a bit; Not it!

Laugh? Yes, why not? ’Tis better than crying-, a lot We were made to be glad, Not sad.

Sing? Why, yes lo be sure, We shall better endure, If the heart’s full of song All the whole day Long.”

Have you noticed how rare it is to find'a soul-satisiying laugh? Some laughs-are hearty, but too loud; others are. too penetrating; too high; too low; some give a feeling of insincerity, while others are so perilously near to tears that one hardly knows how they will end.

There is nothing more infectious than hearty, spontaneous laughter. I* know one family whose laugh was a tonic; every member had the gift of laughter although in this generation alone I remember of . two tragedies happening in the family. I heard ihem laughing once in a friend’s garden near at hand, and immediately wanted to go across and be in the nn: such is the power of laughter. If one hears “Jolly Good Fellow” being sung, one stands aloof, knowing that good manners do not allow one to “butt in” at another person’s party; but laughter is the clarion note to sociability, and you begin to smile in anticipation of joy to come while hurrying towards it. You may even commence to laugh without any apparent reason.

Why don’t we have schools for laughter? Deep breathing is practisd with beneficial results. I therefore think laughter classes would gain even more adherents, and think how the world would change if we developed good healthy “Ha, Ha’s” instead of the half-hearted “He He’s” that are so prevalent now! Once in my frivolous days I went to a gymnastic entertainment where a demonstration of deep breathing took place. One solemn exponent was in a straight line with my chair, and the jtempflation to make him laugh while “expiring” was too strong to resist. But his recreation was a serious matter, and not to be treated lightly, for not even his eyes smiled. Had the position been reversed, and he the spectator and I the “expiring” performer, I should have been one standing broad grin. But that is because I have less respect for the exhibition of deep breathing; which after all, only 'benefits one’s self, than , I have for a wood-chopping contest. For in the latter case there are chips ito be gathered afterwards to warm somebody’s cold toes; and chopped wood is an acquisition to every household; while deep breathing, like high thinking, does not always keep the domestic kettle boiling. * « * * *

I am still hurrying towards that infectious laughter I hear, although a side-step- to deep breathing diverts the current of thought, as a willow branch of a river interrupts the even flow of water, but makes lor variety When as kiddies we went boating we rejoiced to i.e able to call cut, “Snag ahead, snag ahead!'’ knowing that danger lurked there,, and its circumnavigation added excitement to a river that in most cases was addicted rather to fascinating shallows thin unknown depths. The meipoiy of this river holds all laugnter and no tears, although every member but one cf a fair-sized family fell into its wet embrace at one picnic-time or another.

: To laugh “at” a person or his belongings is no more connected with the true essence of mirth than a piece of broken green Dottle glass is with a real emerald.

One of the surest ways of breaking down an opponent’s argument is to reduce to an absurdity what is being propounded, for no one likes being laughed at. But a “crack” and laugh with a friend—that is an entirely different matter. It is the dusting brush of the soul, clearing away the cobwebs and leaving a clear room for renewed friendship.

##**•* Speaking of "cracks”—! found one in a hEtnd-mirror the other day. In the morning I felt sorry for myself and wondered whether I looked as ill as I felt, so without changing the doleful expression being worn, I gazed into a hand-mirror—and had to laugh heartily, for the countenance that usually fitted that mirror had grown too long to be accommodated, and would need “to be continued in our next.”

Now, there is a crack in the corner of the bevelled edge of that mirror,

which causes a broad shadow. How came it there? On second thoughts I remembered the mirror dropped to the floor one day. But it makes one careful.

Keep your lace with sunshine lit, Laugh a little bit. Gloomy shadows oft will flit, If you have (he wit and grit, Just to laugh a little 'hit.” * * * # ’ *

Has it ever been brought to your notice that nothing on earth can smile but man? Dogs get as near to it as possible, but their demonstration of quiet enjoyment is more by tailand tongue-wagging. Gems throw out reflected light, flowers brighten their surroundings, birds sing, hutonly man can smile. It is a light in the window of his face; and as 1f e soul shines through that window, the smile must come from the soul.

As for tears: they are of two kinds—those that bring refreshment in physical tiredness, when a “good cry” clears the atmosphere; and those that come from the heart and mind wherein lies pain and'sorrow. These more often-rdo harm rather than good. A rule that personal experience has proved to be helpful, and therefore to be followed, is to ask one’s self: “Are these tears of self-pity?” If the answer be “Yes,” then leave off at once. Why should we make our neighbours unhappy with our self-pity?

When those near and dear to us pass on to higher service, why do we weep? Not if we have learnt our religion aright and believe it is promotion to higher service and greater joy for them. Then, do we give way to tears because of the knowledge that our comfort and happiness are lessened by their absence? What then is this again but self-pity? Try, therefore to restrain your sorrow for the sake of those still near to you, and you Will gain comfort ; by helping others.

“Keep on lookin’ for the bright, bright skies, Keep a hopin’ that the dawn will rise,

Keep on singin’ tho’ the whole world

sighs, And you’ll get there in the morn in’! Keep on the sowin’ tho’ you’ve missed

the crops, Keep on dancin’ when the fiddle stops; Keep on faithful till, the curtain drops, And you’ll get there, in-the mornin’l”