Kind to the Living.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2983, 5 August 1898, Page 3

Kind to the Living.

If only people would give to the living some of that which they bestow so lavishly upon them when they are dead, what a different world this would be ! Even a little of that which is sculptured on the cold marble mould, if breathed from the warm lip, would have made many a one happy for life. Oi.e of the superstitions of tlie Seneca Indians is that they can send their love by a bird to their dead ones. When a maiden dies, they imprison a young bird until it first begins to sing. They then load it with kisses and caresses, and set it at liberty over the grave of the maiden who had died, be lieving that it will not fold its wings nor close its eyes until it has flown to the spirit land, and delivered its preeioubuiden of affectum to the loved and lost ; and it is not uncommon for Beveral birds to b. 1 loosed over the same grave. B'lany and many a husband and wife, many a brother and 6ister, would give all they have if only they could send to their dead ones an expression of love which ; might have been so easily made in life. How many sons and daughters would now Bend messages unsaying many things which should never have been said, and saying many things which were, alas ! left unsaid ! Let the song birds of soft lookß, of soft words, fly now — now we know that they can reach their destination and we shall have this advantage. ILHeagfi Through I*s i'e. " 1 presume if we lauuhed more we should all be happier and healthier," says an authority on this matter. True, we are a busy and a very practical people. Most of us probably hud more in this life to bring the frown than the smile. But neveriholess, it i« a pity that we do not laugh more. Physicians have said that no oilier feeling works so much good to the entire human body aa that of merriment. As a digestive, it is unexcelled ; an a means of expanding the lungs, there is nothing be*-ter. It keeps the heat' t and face young. It is the best of all tonics to the spii its. It is, too, the most enjoyable of all sensations. A good laugh makes un better friends with ourselves and everybody a'ound us, and puts us into closer touch with what is best and brightest in our lot in life.. 'By laughing we do not mean the silly giggle indulged in by some women and So many girls. There is no outward mark which demonstrates the woman of shallow mind so unmistakably as that of giggling. There is ho sense in the giggle ; nri benefit to be derived from it..: It makes a fool Qf-the person herself, and renderseveryone about her uncomfortable. But just as the gk'gle is the outcome of a '"small mind, the hearty laugh' ~Fs the reflection of a healthful nature. VV'hat we want is more good laughers in the j world— not more inane gigglers.