the expression of emotion in man and animals-第33章
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e to imitate the peculiarities of some absent member of the tribe； it is very common to hear all in the camp convulsed with laughter。〃 With Europeans hardly anything excites laughter so easily as mimicry； and it is rather curious to find the same fact with the savages of Australia； who constitute one of the most distinct races in the world。
In Southern Africa with two tribes of Kafirs； especially with the women； their eyes often fill with tears during laughter。 Gaika； the brother of the chief Sandilli； answers my query on this bead； with the words； 〃Yes； that is their common practice。〃 Sir Andrew Smith has seen the painted face of a Hottentot woman all furrowed with tears after a fit of laughter。 In Northern Africa； with the Abyssinians； tears are secreted under the same circumstances。 Lastly； in North America； the same fact has been observed in a remarkably savage and isolated tribe； but chiefly with the women； in another tribe it was observed only on a single occasion。
Excessive laughter； as before remarked； graduates into moderate laughter。 In this latter case the muscles round the eyes are much less contracted； and there is little or no frowning。 Between a gentle laugh and a broad smile there is hardly any difference； excepting that in smiling no reiterated sound is uttered； though a single rather strong expiration； or slight noise a rudiment of a laughmay often be heard at the commencement of a smile。 On a moderately smiling countenance the contraction of the upper orbicular muscles can still just be traced by a slight lowering of the eyebrows。 The contraction of the lower orbicular and palpebral muscles is much plainer； and is shown by the wrinkling of the lower eyelids and of the skin beneath them； together with a slight drawing up of the upper lip。 From the broadest smile we pass by the finest steps into the gentlest one。 In this latter case the features are moved in a much less degree； and much more slowly； and the mouth is kept closed。 The curvature of the naso…labial furrow is also slightly different in the two cases。 We thus see that no abrupt line of demarcation can be drawn between the movement of the features during the most violent laughter and a very faint smile。＇16＇
A smile； therefore； may be said to be the first stage in the development of a laugh。 But a different and more probable view may be suggested； namely； that the habit of uttering load reiterated sounds from a sense of pleasure； first led to the retraction of the corners of the mouth and of the upper lip； and to the contraction of the orbicular muscles； and that now； through association and long…continued habit； the same muscles are brought into slight play whenever any cause excites in us a feeling which； if stronger； would have led to laughter； and the result is a smile。
＇16＇ Dr。 Piderit has come to the same conclusion； ibid。 s。 99。
Whether we look at laughter as the full development of a smile； or； as is more probable； at a gentle smile as the last trace of a habit； firmly fixed during many generations； of laughing whenever we are joyful； we can follow in our infants the gradual passage of the one into the other。 It is well known to those who have the charge of young infants； that it is difficult to feel sure when certain movements about their mouths are really expressive； that is； when they really smile。 Hence I carefully watched my own infants。 One of them at the age of forty…five days； and being at the time in a happy frame of mind； smiled； that is； the corners of the mouth were retracted； and simultaneously the eyes became decidedly bright。 I observed the same thing on the following day； but on the third day the child was not quite well and there was no trace of a smile； and this renders it probable that the previous smiles were real。 Eight days subsequently and during the next succeeding week； it was remarkable how his eyes brightened whenever he smiled； and his nose became at the same time transversely wrinkled。 This was now accompanied by a little bleating noise； which perhaps represented a laugh。 At the age of 113 days these little noises； which were always made during expiration； assumed a slightly different character； and were more broken or interrupted； as in sobbing； and this was certainly incipient laughter。 The change in tone seemed to me at the time to be connected with the greater lateral extension of the mouth as the smiles became broader。
In a second infant the first real smile was observed at about the same age； viz。 forty…five days； and in a third； at a somewhat earlier age。 The second infant； when sixty…five days old； smiled much more broadly and plainly than did the one first mentioned at the same age； and even at this early age uttered noises very like laughter。 In this gradual acquirement； by infants； of the habit of laughing； we have a case in some degree analogous to that of weeping。 As practice is requisite with the ordinary movements of the body； such as walking； so it seems to be with laughing and weeping。 The art of screaming； on the other hand； from being of service to infants； has become finely developed from the earliest days。
_High spirits； cheerfulness_。A man in high spirits； though he may not actually smile； commonly exhibits some tendency to the retraction of the corners of his mouth。 From the excitement of pleasure； the circulation becomes more rapid； the eyes are bright； and the colour of the face rises。 The brain； being stimulated by the increased flow of blood； reacts on the mental powers； lively ideas pass still more rapidly through the mind； and the affections are warmed。 I heard a child； a little under four years old； when asked what was meant by being in good spirits； answer； 〃It is laughing； talking； and kissing。〃 It would be difficult to give a truer and more practical definition。 A man in this state holds his body erect； his head upright； and his eyes open。 There is no drooping of the features； and no contraction of the eyebrows。 On the contrary； the frontal muscle； as Moreau observes；＇17＇ tends to contract slightly； and this smooths the brow； removes every trace of a frown； arches the eyebrows a little； and raises the eyelids。 Hence the Latin phrase； _exporrigere frontem_ to unwrinkle the browmeans； to be cheerful or merry。 The whole expression of a man in good spirits is exactly the opposite of that of one suffering from sorrow。 According to Sir C。 Bell； 〃In all the exhilarating emotions the eyebrows； eyelids； the nostrils； and the angles of the mouth are raised。 In the depressing passions it is the reverse。〃 Under the influence of the latter the brow is heavy； the eyelids； cheeks； mouth； and whole head droop； the eyes are dull； the countenance pallid； and the respiration slow。 In joy the face expands； in grief it lengthens。 Whether the principle of antithesis has here come into play in producing these opposite expressions； in aid of the direct causes which have been specified and which are sufficiently plain； I will not pretend to say。
＇17＇ ‘La Physionomie；' par G。 Lavater； edit。 of 1820； vol。 iv。 p。 224。 See； also； Sir C。 Bell； ‘Anatomy of Expression；' p。 172； for the quotation given below。
With all the races of man the expression of good spirit appears to be the same； and is easily recognized。 My informants； from various parts of the Old and New Worlds； answer in the affirmative to my queries on this head； and they give some particulars with respect to Hindoos； Malays； and New Zealanders。 The brightness of the eyes of the Australians has struck four observers； and the same fact has been noticed with Hindoos； New Zealanders； and the Dyaks of Borneo。
Savages sometimes express their satisfaction not only by smiling； but by gestures derived from the pleasure of eating。 Thus Mr。 Wedgwood＇18＇ quotes Petherick that the negroes on the Upper Nile began a general rubbing of their bellies when he displayed his beads； and Leichhardt says that the Australians smacked and clacked their mouths at the sight of his horses and bullocks； and more especially of his kangaroo dogs。 The Greenlanders； 〃when they affirm anything with pleasure； suck down air with a certain sound；〃＇19＇ and this may be an imitation of the act of swallowing savoury food。
＇18＇ A ‘Dictionary of English Etymology；' 2nd edit。 1872； Introduction； p。 xliv。
Laughter is suppressed by the firm contraction of the orbicular muscles of the mouth； which prevents the great zygomatic and other muscles from drawing the lips backwards and upwards。 The lower lip is also sometimes held by the teeth； and this gives a roguish expression to the face； as was observed with the blind and deaf Laura Bridgman。＇20＇ The great zygomatic muscle is sometimes variable in its course； and I have seen a young woman in whom the _depressores anguli oris_ were brought into strong action in suppressing a smile； but this by no means gave to her countenance a melancholy expression； owing to the brightness of her eyes。
Laughter is frequently employed in a forced manner to conceal or mask some other state of mind； even anger。 We often see persons laughing in order to conceal their shame or shyness。 When a person purses up his mouth； as if to prevent the possibility of a smile； though there is nothing to excite one； or nothing to prevent its free indulgence； an affected； solemn； or pedantic expression is given； but of such hybrid expressions nothing more need here be said。 In the case of derision； a real or pretended smile or laugh is often blended with the expression proper to contempt； and this may pass into angry contempt or scorn。 In such cases the meaning of the laugh or smile is to show the offending person that he excites only amusement。
_Love； tender feelings； &c_。Although the emotion of love； for instance that of a mother for her infant； is one of the strongest of which the mind is capable； it can hardly be said to have any proper or peculiar means of expression； and this is intelligible； as it has not habitually led to any special line of action。 No doubt； as affection is a pleasurable sensation； it generally causes a gentle smile and some brightening of the eyes。 A strong desire to touch the beloved person is commonly felt； and love is expressed by this means more plainly than by any other。＇21＇ Hence we long to clasp in our arms those whom we tenderly love。 We probably owe this desire to inherited habit； in association with the nursing and tending of our children； and with the mutual caresses of lovers。
＇19＇ Crantz； quoted by Tylor； ‘Primitive Culture；' 1871； Vol。 i。 P。 169。
＇20＇ F。 Lieber； ‘Smithsonian Contributions；' 1851； vol。 ii。 p。 7。
With the lower animals we see the same principle of pleasure derived from contact in association with love。 Dogs and cats manifestly take pleasure in rubbing against their masters and mistresses； and in being rubbed or patted by them。 Many kinds of monkeys； as I am assured by the keepers in the Zoological Gardens； delight in fondling and being fondled by each other； and by persons to whom they are attached。 Mr。 Bartlett has described to me the behaviour of two chimpanzees； rather older animals than those generally imported into this country； when they were first brought together。 They sat opposite； touching each other with their much protruded lips； and the one put his
