CHAPTER X.

LAUGHTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL: HUMOUR.

Definition of humour • 297

Characteristics of humour • 298

Intellectual basis of humorous sentiment • 300

Humorous contemplation as binocular • 301

The field of the laughable for the humorist • 302

Modification of the conative attitude in humour • 304

Complexity of humour as feeling • 305

Problem of fusion of dissimilar feelings • 307

Facts explained by our analysis of humour • 310

Variations of humour with race and nationality • 311

Temperament and individuality in humour • 313

Humour as enlarging range of laughing activity • 315

The finer detection of the amusing in character • 315

The appreciation of unfitness of men to circumstances • 317

Character-study as a pastime • 318

Laughter as permeating sphere of serious • 319

Effect of kindliness in extending range of laughter • 320

Scope for amusing form of self-scrutiny • 321

Laughter as mode of self-correction • 322

How humour aids a man in dealing with others • 325

Laughing away the smaller troubles • 326

Service of humour in the greater troubles • 328

Humorous contemplation of social scene • 330

Amusing aspects of the fine world • 331

The journal as medium of amusing self-display • 334

The social spectacle of the past and of the present • 337

Humour in contemplation of social scene in seasons of stress • 337

The manifestations of war-temper as humorous spectacle • 338