The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-13
THE LAUGHING GAS EXHIBITION.

We derived much amusement from the exhibit
ton on Friday evening, by Mr.. Cotton, of the
marvellous effects of the exhilirating gas. AS a
guaranty of its perfect innocence Mr.. c., himself,
was the first to nhae it, and, under its inspiring
| influence, let off most magnificent torrent of
eloquence. His speech was, however, as short
as it was sweet and was followed by moment
airy stupor but the experiment produced no pain,
| as Mr. Cotton, and number of others who came
forward and tested it, declared. We remarked,
that the effect was much greater upon adults
than upon boys, and produced much stronger
emotions. We would advise any young fellow
who has any foolery in his head about the girls,
not To- take the gas in public, as he is apt to let
out some things that he would prefer keeping to
himself and the lady. One lad, for instance, said
mournfully, wish was married" and dwelling
upon every word, as if he were uttering the most
cherished wish of his heart. Nearly all danced,
two sung Coon songs, and two or three others
sawed the air." as Hamlet says. But one
showed fight, scientifically; yet without mani
Testing any bad feeling. We presume the gen.
teman is an amateur of the art of pugsm.
| Upon the whole, the exhibition was calculated
to produce a.pleasing reflection in the philosophi
cal spectator. Of dozen specimens of human
| ity, which were turned wrong side out, if we may
SO express it, no decidedly bad thing was found
harbored in them; but, on the contrary, many
good cnes-as, for instance good humor, gallantry,
love for poetry and eloquence, and last though
not least, sound Wing principles.
| Mr.. Cotton appears to us to be modest and
respectable young gentleman, and, as he inform
ed the audience, has acquired his chemical know
ledge during his attendance upon course Of
medical lectures, not yet completed, at Philade-
phia. We were sorry TO see disposition mani
tested by specialized gentleman to turn the ex-
hibi,ion into rdicule, and thereby discomfort the
exhibitor and annoy the spectators; the effort,
| however, was attended with but little success. as
every body, except the specialized gentleman,
| seemed to be really pleased with the "show." "
The spectacied gentleman sat rather in rear Of
the company, on the left-band side-partculars
which we mention, that we may do no injustice
to any other specialized gentleman. From the
self-suficient air of thespectacled gentleman, we
have no doubt he takes himself to be "a man of
the world" but we humby think he is mistaken.
| A man who has seen the world, and imbbed its
wisdom, however hollow of heart, would never
insult the feelings of even Snowman and
a man of the world " would never seek to make
himself conspicuous at a !" show to the annoy
ance of others, who in their simplicity might be
pleased with the exhibition. We venture to say
tha in oc' nc a
brown coat, flash craval, and silk gloves, could
not be from North Carolina, as has been limited by
some and most unequvocay do we caoeat the
aspersion upon that noble State, that the specta-
cled gentleman has been sent here in charge of
| her Federal relations. 1t was our misfortune to
] specialized gentleman materially interfered with