The Red Cloud chief., 1881-05-12
A LAUGHING FAMILY.

" tDu u AEc"IF fuOTt0
10 Stay Periodic Laughter-Taies Told by
the NeIghbors-
Straight across the Delaware from
here, and back among the hills which
run parallel with the river for many
miles, lives a family concerning whom
the strangest stories are told. The ia
Their and son are farmers, and all live
in a large, substantial house. a few
yards from the road to DOylestOwn.
They are all chronic laughers, having
an affection of the muscles of the mouth
and throat which compels them to give
vent to apparent merriment at stated
intervals. The malady first appeared
IN Ia father about ten years ago. He
was usually a very quiet man, enjoying
fun, but manifeStinS his enjoyment
without much noise. He was seated at
the dinner table one day in the spring
of the year, eating steadily and not en-
gaging in any of the conversation which
the other members of the family were
carrying On. Suddenly, without any
cause, he burst into a loud fit of laugh
ter SO extremely different from his ac-
customed laugh that all were attracted
by it at once. When asked what was
the reason for his sudden outburst he
made no reply, but continued his merri-
ment. Some of the boys thought he
had Mysteries and pounded him on the
back, but it did no good. After a few
moments he made motions for pencil
and paper and wrote that he was unable
TO control his risibles and asked them to
send for a doctor.
THE NATURE OF THE MALADY.
The rural physician came, but could
give no remedy that stopped the laugh
ter. Peal after peal of what sounded
like the heartiest kind of fun came
from him, and nothing would avail to
prevent if. The doctor finally came
TO the conclusion that he was the vic
tim of a nervous attack, and, leaving a
nervine, departed. The father con
tinued laughing until about shutdown,
when he suddenly stopped and fell on
the floor, completely Frustrated. die
soon grew better, however, ate a hearty
supper and spent the evening much as
usual. No signs of a return of the odd
trouble appearing, he went to bed and
was o on fast asleep. Along about two
clock in the morning. however, his
wife was awakened by his laughter. and
the same symptoms manifested them
selves as on the afternoon previous.
He kept it up until seven O'Clock, laugh
ing loud and strong. At seven
o'clock the noise suddenly ceased
and did not return again until
dinner time. Thus it continued, re-
curing each day shortly after noon
and in the night about two O'Clock, and
has ver since. AS the weeks passed
he grew SO accustomed to the disease
that he was caused very little %inconven-
fence by il. He did not get tired out,
As at first, and soon was able to 90
about his work-sowing seed and plant
ing corn, digging vegetables and wa
tering cattle-while laughing immOder-
ate!y. He could not talk while under
n of the spells, but carried a slate
and pencil around with him. after the
fashion of a deaf and dumb person.
III LAUGHTER SPREADS.
The trouble vas very regular in its
coming and going and only occasional
ly broke forth at unlooked-for seasons.
ONCE the old man was taken in church,
just when the minister was exhorting,
this hearers in the most solemn strains
and spoiled the effect of the discourse,
besides disturbing the equilibrium of
the clergyman. Another time he was
found by of his neighbors along the
road, lying beneath a bag of flour,
laughing at a terrific rate. He has
been taken while driving home from
the mill and the suddenness of the
sounds frightened the horse, causing it
to Il away and dump the man and
part of his load out in the road. For
eighteen months the father was the only
one OF the household afflicted with the
malady. Several of them had COM
planned from time to time of an incli-
nation to join the father in the laugh,
but hone of them did so until nearly two
years after he was taken, when Susie,
the youngest child, suddenly burst into
a similar fit during one of her fathers |
attacks. From that time on she has
laughed at about the same hours her
fatherdo One by one the remaining
members fell victims to the strange |
complaint, until three years ago there
was but n left free, and that was
Charles, the Oldest son. His long ex-
emption led him to believe he would
escape the contagion. Bat he was mis-
taken. and it is said he had his first at.
tack while petitioning for the hand of a |
Harrisburg damsel. So frightened was
the lady by the queer behavior oil her
sutton that she al from the room, and
Il was weeks before the proper explana-
lions could induce her to see him apain. !
She is now n of the family here, and, !
escaping the malady, never minds the
hideous chorus of laughter which twice
a day resounds through the house or
grounds. 1t is regarded as rather
strange that none of the neighbors
should have caught the infection. but |
such is the case, although many of them
mingle constantly with the family.
TRYING TO STOP 1T.
Everything possible has been done TO
alleviate or remove the malady. but
without ~perceptible effect. Several
eminent physicians from the leading
cities have visited the home and grown
exceedingly interested in the case.
They all confess themselves bafled by
the malady and want one or two of the
family to 60 to the city, where they
a receive constant treatment. This
they steadily refuse to do. Their
peculiar trouble, so noticeable and odd.
has made them very sensitive. and they
will not travel where they will be sub
lected to public scrutiny and remark.
They 60 to church or the store in the
village close by. and attend social
gatherings occasionally in the neigh
bornood in the evenings, but only
among lifelong friends. People within
a radius of a few miles are so accus-
toned to the thing that they never
mind it or mention it Consequently
very few people outside of the imme-
date vicinity, and the physicians who
have attended them, are cognizant of
the circumstances. People passing the
house, especially in the summer time.
nave been filled with curiosity by what
they saw and heard, and have carried
accounts to distant places. These re-
ports are very vague. for the passers-
gy nave no definite idea of the matter.
Lney only knew that it looked remark
aoiy strange to see a father and his sons
". IN a held blowing and sowing MANY
4oUA N