CHAPTER XV. 



LAUGHTER AND WEEPING. 



THERE are certain modes of expression of the feelings that 

 deserve special consideration from their having hitherto 

 been generally considered essentially or peculiarly human 

 as confined exclusively to man. Of these the most interest- 

 ing and important is laughter. 



But, in. the first place, as regards man himself, it is not 

 generally borne in mind that there are whole races who do 

 not laugh, and that in those who do laughter is not neces- 

 sarily or always associated with, nor does it proceed from, 

 a perception of the absurd or ridiculous. The American 

 Indians and the Cingalese Veddas are illustrations of races 

 that do not laugh. And we know, on the other hand, as 

 well as the poet, that there is the laugh 



That speaks the vacant mind 



that means nothing, that is utterly inane and apparently 

 causeless that characterises the human idiot, lunatic, or 

 fool. 



As regards the lower animals, it can be shown that 

 certain of them possess, on the one hand 



1. The facial, vocal, or other muscles, including the 

 diaphragm, that are concerned in the physical phenomenon 

 of laughter in man ; and, on the other 



2. The emotions or ideas which in man give rise to 

 laughter. 



It is obvious that if it could be shown that the lower 

 animals are devoid of the muscles whose action creates the 

 expression or phenomenon of laughter, what has been called 



