The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-10-26
LAUGHTER Is A DISEASE.
This Man Had It and Created q Sensation
at Funeral.


@Ha, ha, ha! Ho, no, ho!" A SOL |
emn-visaged man of middle age, with |
an expression of pain upon his face, |
giving vent to continuous laughter so [
rollicking and mirthful as to convulse /
those who heard it, according to the I
San Francisco Examiner, attracted gem
eral attention on the ferry steamer
Piedmont Friday morning. The man |
occupied seat on the lower deck near |
the lunch counter, and, though there |
smile, he sat holding his sides and |
laughed and chuckled amazingly.
He was poorly dressed, about 55 !
years of age, and wore long, dropping
mustaches, which during the intervals |
when he was free from apparent mer-
riment gave to his face sad and sol
emn look, totally at variance with the
joy his hearty laughter appeared to
indicate had complete possession of
his spirits.
Il am suffering from a disease SINH
lar to Mysteries" said he, after one OF
his cachinnatory outbursts that shook
his frame as if with the ague. 81
don't know how it took possession of
me, but up to five years ago l was
like other men. Now Pm a total
wreck and am slowly but surely laugh
ing myself to DEATH"
Another fit came on and the fellow
gave vent to such hearty peals of
laughter that a large and curious
crowd gathered about and gazed at
him in amazement. While he was
struggling to repress the sounds that
issued from his lips a look of intense
pain spread over his wrinkled face and
tears stood in his eyes,"
"People' think I'm drunk" said he,
regretfully, when the spasm passed
away, "but I do not drink drop, on
the advice of my doctor, My nameP
Well, my name is John French, and
I've just come from Kansas to see if l
can't get over my trouble here. You
see it's mighty provoking to get laugh
ing fits every ten minutes in the day
and to wake up at night chuckling fit
to wake the dead. It's downright
painful, and every time these fits come
on it seems as if my innards were be-
ing torn out O. me with machine, A
doctor in Kansas City examined me a
year ago, and he says it is spasmodic
convulsions or something like it, of
the windpipe. A spiritualist doctor
said it was laughing spirit as pos
cessed me, but don't believe in
spirits Well, anyhow, it's awfully
bothersome. can't go to church,
restaurants or funeral without laugh
ing fit to kill, and all the time I'm do
ing it I'm wishing l were dead"
The gloomy expression upon Mr..
French's face gave way at this juncture
to one of apparent joy, for another
spasm had seized him. 1t was an un-
| In nd hor
the fit had passed away he sighed
as if in pain.
81 remember some time ago passing
house before which stood hearse,"
said he refiectively. 81 stopped to see
! the funeral cortege and just as the pail
bearers appeared fit took me, and |
laughed until l was sore. A crowd
,, gathered and was nearly mobbed be-
fore could explain matters: Another
; time / went to church and the
,, preacher talked of the solemnity OF
! death and the vanities of this life, and
: Just in the middle of the discourse
,, felt the laughing fit come on. got
up in a hurry, but befpre went ten
; steps you could hear my laugh echo
, from wall to. wall. They thought
was crazy, and came near being ar
rested. Another time"
"a dime museum manager in Oma-
ha offered me $50 week to travel
with him as the champion laughing
freak of the nineteenth century, and
think will accept the offer, unless
: can be cured. Maybe, if don't, will
g commit-Ha, ha, hat!
g AS the car sped up Market street
4 his ringing laugh was still heard, but
g the secret of the malady that is wear
t ing his life away he keeps locked uI
V in his breast, while men smile plying
n ly upon him and say: "a light touch
O of snak eSo