The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-27
LAUGHING HIMSELF TO DEATH.

A Peculiar Affection That Has Befallen
a Solemn-Looking Man.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
"Ha. hs, ha! Ho, no, hol"
A solemn-visaged man Of middle age.
with an expression Of pain upon his face,
giving vent to continuous laughter so roll
licking and mirthful as to convulse those
who heard it, attracted general attention on
the ferry steamer Piedmont Friday Morn
ing The man occupied seat on the lower
deck near the lunch counter, and though
there seemed to be naught to excite even a
smile he sat holding his sides and laughed
and chuckled amazingly. He was poorly
dressed, about SIS years OF age, and wore a
long dropping mustache, which during the
intervals when he Mas free from apparent
merrlment gave to his face sad and solemn
look, totally at variance with the Joy
his hearty laughter appeared to tadisate
had complies possession Of his spirits.
81 am suffering with disease similar to
hysteria," said he after one of his cachinnA-
tory outbursts that shook his frame as il
with the ague. 81 don't know how it took
20 ssession Of me, but up to five years ago
was like other men. Nov I'm total wreck
and am slowly but surely laughing myself
10 death"
Another fit came on and the fellow gave
vent 10 such hearty peal of laughter that
large and curious crowd gathered about
and gszed at him in Gmazement. While he
was struggling to repress the sounds that
issued from MS lips look OF intense pain
spread over bis wrinkled face and tears
stood in his eyes.
People think I'm dunk" said he, re-
gretfully, when this spasm passed away,
''but do not drink q drop on the advice Of
my doctor. Ny name9 Well, my name is
Inhr
sas to see II | can't get over my trouble
here. You see it's mighty provoking to get
laughing 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 IL
my innards were being torn out o. me with
machine. A doctor in Kansas City ex-
amined me year ago and he says it is
spasmodic commissions. or something like it,
of the windpipe. A spiritualist doctor said
it was laughing spirit as possessed me, but
l don't believe in spirits. Wet, anyhow,
it's awfully bothersome. l can't go to
church, restaurants, or funeral without
laughing 6t to kill, and all the time I'm
doing it I'm wishing we're dead.n
The gloomy expression upon Mr. French's
face gave way at this juncture to one of ap-
parent JOY, for another sDasm had seized
him. 1t was an unusually long one In dura-
ton, and when the fit had passed away he
sighed heavily, as if in pain.
II remember some time ago passing a
house before which sbood hearse," said he
refiectively Il stopped to see the funeral
cortege, and just as the pall-bearers ap-
peared q ct took me, and 1 laughed until
was sore. A crowd gathered and / was
nearly mobbed before l could explain mat
ters. Another time l went to a church and
the preacher talked of the solemnity of
death and the vanities of this life, and Just
In the middle OF his discourse l felt the
laughing fit coming on. l got up In a
hurry but before 1 went ten steps you could
hear my laugh echo from wall to wall
They thought [ was crazy, and came near
being arrested. Another time"
French was interrupted by another
spasn, which continued until the Piedmont
was fastened co the wharf. Then, Gs he
took a Market street car, he said bitterly:
"A dime museum manager in Omaha
offered me $50 a week to travel with hin as
the champion laughing freak Of the nine
teenth century, and l think l will accept
the offer unless can be cured. May be, II
don't, | will eommit-ha. ha"
AS the car sped up Market street his ring
ing laugh was heard, but the secret of t6e
malady that is wearing his life away be
keeps locked in his breast, while men smile
pityingly upon him and say: "a light
touch Of snakes