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Alfred Guy Kingan L'estrange History Of English Humour

Vol I Part I

History
English
65820 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
0

Few Of The Blessings We Enjoy Are Of Greater Value Than The Gift Of Humour. The Pleasure Attendant Upon It Attracts Us Together, Forms An Incentive, And Gives A Charm To Social Intercourse, And, Unlike The Concentrating Power Of Love, Scatters Bright Rays In Every Direction. That Humour Is Generally Associated With Enjoyment Might Be Concluded From The Fact That The Genial And Good-Natured Are Generally The Most Mirthful, And We All Have So Much Personal Experience Of The Gratification It Affords, That It Seems Superfluous To Adduce Any Proofs Upon The Subject. "Glad" Is From The Greek Word For Laughter, And The Word "Jocund" Comes From A Latin Term Signifying "Pleasant." But We Can Trace The Results Of This Connection In Our Daily Observation. How Comes It To Pass That Many A Man Who Is The Life And Soul Of Social Gatherings, And Keeps His Friends In Delighted Applause, Sits, When Alone In His Study, Grave And Sedate, And Seldom, If Ever, Smiles In Reading Or Meditation? Is It Not Because Humour Is A Source Of Pleasure? We Are Not Joyously Disposed When Alone, Whereas In Society We Are Ready To Give And Receive Whatever Is Bright And Cheering. The First Question Which Now Presents Itself Is What Is Laughter? And Our Answer Must Be That It Is A Change Of Countenance Accompanied By A Spasmodic Intermittent Sound--A Modification Of The Voice--But That We Cannot Trace Its Physical Origin Farther Than To Attribute It To Some Effect Produced Upon The Sympathetic Nerve, Or Rather The System Of Nerves Termed Respiratory. These Communicate With Every Organ Affected In Mirth, But The Ultimate Connection Between Mind And Body Is Hidden From Our View. [more]

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Alfred Guy Kingan L'estrange History Of English Humour

Vol I Part II

History
English
19652 Words
Ages 18 and up
2
1

Few Of The Blessings We Enjoy Are Of Greater Value Than The Gift Of Humour. The Pleasure Attendant Upon It Attracts Us Together, Forms An Incentive, And Gives A Charm To Social Intercourse, And, Unlike The Concentrating Power Of Love, Scatters Bright Rays In Every Direction. That Humour Is Generally Associated With Enjoyment Might Be Concluded From The Fact That The Genial And Good-Natured Are Generally The Most Mirthful, And We All Have So Much Personal Experience Of The Gratification It Affords, That It Seems Superfluous To Adduce Any Proofs Upon The Subject. "Glad" Is From The Greek Word For Laughter, And The Word "Jocund" Comes From A Latin Term Signifying "Pleasant." But We Can Trace The Results Of This Connection In Our Daily Observation. How Comes It To Pass That Many A Man Who Is The Life And Soul Of Social Gatherings, And Keeps His Friends In Delighted Applause, Sits, When Alone In His Study, Grave And Sedate, And Seldom, If Ever, Smiles In Reading Or Meditation? Is It Not Because Humour Is A Source Of Pleasure? We Are Not Joyously Disposed When Alone, Whereas In Society We Are Ready To Give And Receive Whatever Is Bright And Cheering. The First Question Which Now Presents Itself Is What Is Laughter? And Our Answer Must Be That It Is A Change Of Countenance Accompanied By A Spasmodic Intermittent Sound--A Modification Of The Voice--But That We Cannot Trace Its Physical Origin Farther Than To Attribute It To Some Effect Produced Upon The Sympathetic Nerve, Or Rather The System Of Nerves Termed Respiratory. These Communicate With Every Organ Affected In Mirth, But The Ultimate Connection Between Mind And Body Is Hidden From Our View. [more]

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