The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-04
4 Laughing Family.
TIE STRANGE MALADY WHICH AFFLTCTs
FAMILY ALONG TIE DELAWARE-FBUTT-
LESS EXPORTS TO STAY PERIODIC
IAUGHTER-Tt LES TOLD BY
THE NEIGHBOES.

LESS Exports TO STAY PERIODIC
LAUGHTER-TtLEsT TOLD By
THE NEIGHBOEs.
A Frenchtown. -. J.. correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Times writing under date Of
February 26th, tells rather queer story, as
follows:
Straight across the Delaware from here and bslL
among the hills Which run parallel with The river
for many miles lives family concerning whom The
straugest stories are told The father and sons
farmers and all I've in large substantial house.
a few yards from the road % Doylestown. They are
muscles Of the mouth and Throat which eompeIs
them TO give vent 10 apparent merrimcrt az stated
intervals. The malady nrst appeared in the father
about ten ycars ago. He was usually very quiet
man, enjoying. JON, but uauiiesting his enjoyment
without much noise. he was seated az the dinner
table one day in the spring Of the year. eating
steadily ana not engaging in any ~ the c0uyefsa-
tion whicn the other members Of the family were
carrying suddenly. without any cause. he
hurst into loud it Of laUghtcrso extremely differ
ent from his accustomed laugh that all were at
tracted by IL at once. When asked what was the
reason for his sudden outbu-st he made no reply,
but continued his rnerr.rncut some Of the bows
thought he had Mysteries aud pounded him the
back, but 10 did 10 good After a few moments he
made motions for pencil and paper and wrote that
he was unable 90 control bis rsibles and cd q en-
to send for doctor.
TIE NATURE OF THE NALADT.
Therural physician came but could give no rem
n hat soundei Ike The bear.rst kiTd of Inn ear-,c
from him, and nothing would avail TO prevent f.
The doctor finally came 10 the conclusion that he
was the victim Of a nervous attack. and, leaving
until about suudown, when he suddenly stopped
and fell on the foor. completely prOstrated- lie
spent the evening much as usual. No signs Of a
return OF the odd trouble appearing. he went 10
O'Clock in the morning however. his wife was
awakened by his laughter, 3ud the same symptoms
ous. He kept it up until O'Clock, laughing loud
and strong. At o'clock the noise suddenly ceased
Il continued, recurring each day shortly er noon
nd in the night about o'clock and has ever since
disease that be was caused very little iucuuveni-
ence by it, He did not get tired out a. at arst
and soon was able 20 20 about his work-sovy NJ
seed and planting corn, digging vegetables and
watering the cattle-whilc laughing immodcratcly.
he could not talk while under one Of the spells
but carried a slate and pencil around with him az
ter the fashion % deaf and dumb person.
TIRE LAUGHTER sPEEADs
The trouble was very regular in Its coming and
going and only broke forth at unlocked
just when the minister was exnortiug his hearers
in the most solemn strains, and spoiled the effect
OF the discourse. besides disturbing the ffrur
OF the clergyman. Another time he was found by
one ef his neighoors along the road. lying beneath
a bag OF nOur. laughing at a reTrihc rate. He has
been taken while driving home from the mill. and
the suddenness Of the sounds frightened the horse.
causing IL 20 away and dump the man and
part OF his load cut in the road. For eighteen
months the father was the only one Of the house
hold afflicted with the Inalady- Several Of them
had complained from time u time OF Inclination
70 join the father in the laugh, but none Of them
did so until nearly two years after he taken,
when Susie, the youngest child, suddenly burst
into similar it during Of her fathers attacks.
From that time or she laughed at about the same
,,o-1bars eli ,i.t57-,s 70 tI,r sty.,,s ~, =
I'll three years ago there but one left free and
ION LED rim 70 Sciieye he would escere he con a.
gion. But he was mistaken. and iJ IS said he had
alf u L5S e. fsrl5 ~ ss sI ,ls an I, y
by the queer behavior OF her sujtor that she ran
from the room aud IL was weeks before the proper
explanations could induce her 70 see him 4sstln-
She is now one gi the family here and, escaping
the malady. never minds the hideyus chorus o
3 laughter which twice a day resOuuds through the
is As rrI
that none OF the unighbors should have caught JLC
. infection but such i the case. although many o
. them mingle constantly with the family
TRYING TO sTcF II
. or remove the naiady. but without percepu5le cl
feet Several eminent ph ysic ans from tie leading
cites have visited the home aud grown exceeding
I ~, f.fc-.sf.d ,1 the case They an confess them
selves hatlcd boy the malay and want one or -Ni
Of the family 70 20 the city, where they Re
fuse TO do. Their peculiar trouble 70 nptt- cable
and o. B. has made them very sens tive, ana they
VIII not travel where they viii De subjected 70 pub
lie scrutiny Ind -euarE. They - % church or th
store in the village close ~. and attend socia
. gatherings occasionally ia the neghboTho1I il
& the evenings, but only an ug lifelong friends
People within radius OF a few miles are 50 aceus
tore 10 the I'M ny that the never mind il OF men
. tnu 1t. CcusegU UeurlE very few people cuts lie o.
( the immediate vicinity. and the physicians VIII,
f have attended them, are cl-nizaut gf the c-reum
stances. People passing the house especially iI
the summer time, have been rlleL with cur. 1zI-y
. hv what they saw and hearI ana have carried &C
counts 10 distant places. These reports are YER
vague for the passer-by have had no definite ide.
. OF the lnattcr They only knew Jhat 30 looked r.
Z marzlhly strange 20 see fslHe- and his sons on
. IN field. VlCwIug ana sowing many rods aUa-;
. vet each one laughing rs though lie had heard tn
best Joke u the world Curious stories are told u
F the travellers who went that way. Several year
ago two young men came from Dog -tstJTl 60 az
tend party At ErWiuna. summer resort ON Ia
FeuusE lyauis side. lev miles below here. lt W.
. a warm night and they did not start back UlL
. late. Ihey drove past The house OF tho iaughlu'
/ family seen after the regular attack had begun
. The Windows were an open and every sound c4ub
. be clearly heard. As the young men apr--lele
they heard the most uuearthly noise their ear
had ever received It seemed lIEe prrls-- pan
demoniuu, and they felt sure they must hlv
f struck the entrance 90 the lower regions IN
. horse took fright and nearly r-E away with then
{ Coming % Tie conclusion that, a. tEc least. Ia
+ place was haunted. they hurried home, and III
next morning spread the news. Parties were tCrU
. Ell to Investigate the matter. hEf none Ci Ilel
. solved tie subject El-I Informed ug a man Ia IL
. village near hand As % the nature of the case
They were urged u remain ret.celt about the mat
ter and have done
THEIR TfEzENL gDErTTIGE.
The years of iurcssEtHt laughter have TOLD some
what the faces OF the family. Gut not go as 20 o
. very noticeable. There scores ut lines ELuc
the eyes AID above the checks, caused 5F the draw
. ing up OF the sh ia. Then their mouths have Do
como wider anu they keep them closed with dlth
. Guilty. The most marked result OF the ulseaS1
f however. IS In the voice. The entire family tai
in the same tone, resembling As nearly as any thin
E the voice Of an alto singer Males ami female
have the same infection aud information Nos
OF them have more OF less trouble with their eye
3 several having become very uCEr-S GIFTED I'll