Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1877 — Why Do We Laugh? [ARTICLE]

Why Do We Laugh?

When a boy appears on the street with a rat in a trap, with four or five terrier dogs aching to get hold of the sinful rodent, even a man in a hurry to call the doctor would halt for just a minute. Yesterday morning just such a picture was presented on Macomb avenue. There were a dozen boys and half as many men, and among the latter was a philanthropist. He said it was a burning shame to torture a poor rat in that way, and he offered the boy with the trap 10 cents to let his prisoner go. “Ten cents!” contemptuously exclaimed the lad, “ d’ye spoze I’d lose $5 worth of fun for 10 cents ?” “But it’s against the cries of mercy to kill the rat,” protested the citizen. “Git the dogs around here, ” commanded the boy. ‘‘ I won’t stand here and see one of God’s creatures toriured to death !” indignantly remarked the philanthropist as he started off. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many dogs and boys and clubs and yells permitted the rat to escape. He dodged this way and that till clear of the crowd, and then he overtook the philanthropist, climbed his leg, and came to a dead stop between the good man’s coat and vest. Six dogs tried to follow him, and ten boys were waving their clubs around screaming i&e Pawnee, When

the philanthropist realized the situation he made for a tree-box, rubbed his back once or twice against it, started to climb over the fence, fell back on the walk, and he was seeking to catch a street-car when some one called to him to take off his coats. He removed them, and the terrified rat leaped into the jaws of death. As tne philanthropist was getting into his dusty garments he wanted to know what the'crowd was laughing at, and one of the boys replied: M I thought it was fun to see a schoolteacher lick thirteen boys at once, but this beats it clear into Canada ! Cracky ! but didn’t your eyes hang out when you galloped across the bows of that sandwagon !”—Detroit Free Press.