He was a man round of face and al
most spherical of figure, who clung to
a strap and swayed with the crowd as
the car rounded the turns. In bis free
band he held a humorous weekly
which he read between sways. And
as he read he laughed. Not a dry
cackle or a low chuckle, but a whole
some laugh, which seemed to start
somewhere near bis shoes and gather
volume and tone as it rose through
his body and finally emerged from his
parted lips. Some gazed at him with
a kind of subdued horror expressed In
their eyes, as if he bad Intruded on
tbelr private case of blues But the
majority looked upon blm with envy,
and that envy called attention to- a
common human failing all too common
for the good of the race. We are In
cllned to look upon wholesome laugh
ter. especially in public, as a sign ol
reprehensible vulgarity. But then wbj
the envy? Perhaps because the man
seemed to be enjoying bimself after.
his own fashion, and though his fash.
ion might be wrong, the enjoyment
might be all right. There is some
thing . refreshing .about wholesome
laughter, which Is contagious, and it
is probable that those' who beard the
fat man laugh Went -to their work In
better spirits. In that' case he per
formed a real public service, and be.
