The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-10-27
LAUGHTER is A DISEASE.
This Man Had 1t and Created a Sensation
at IL Funeral.

"Ha. ha, ha. IIo. no, ko." A sol
enn-visaged man Of middle age, with
an expression of pain upon his face.
giving vent TO continuous laughter sc
rollicking and mirthful as to conyulse
those who heard it, according to the
San Francisco Examiner, attracted gen
eral attention on the ferry steamer
Piedmont Friday morning. The man
occupied seat on the lower deck neal
the lunch counter, and, though there
seemed to be naught to excite even q
smile, he sat holding his sides and
laughed and chuckled amazingly.
He was poorly dressed. about 81
years of age. and wore long, dropping
mustaches, which during the intervals
when he was free from apparent mer-
riment gave 10 his face a 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 Il disease SINH
lar to Mysteries" said he, after one OF
his cachinnatory outbursts that shook
his frame as if with the ague. i
don't know how it took possession of
me, but up to five years ago | was
like other men. Now I'm 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 large and curious
crowd gathered about and gazed at
him in amazemcnt. While he was
struggling to repress the sounds that
issued from his lips look of intense
pain spread over his wrinkled face and
tears stood in his eyes"
people think I'm drunk" said he,
egretfully, when the spasm passed
away, but | do not drink drop, on
the advice of my doctor, Ny namef
Well, my name is John French, and
I've just come from Kansas to see if /
can't get over my trouble here. You
see it's mighty provoking to get laugh
ing fits every ten minutes in the dav
and to wake up at night chuckling tit
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 Il laughing spirit as pos
cessed me, but / don't believe in
spirits. Well, anyhow, it's awfully
bothersomc. l can't 20 to church,
restaurants or a funeral without laugh
ing fit to kill, aud all the time I'm do
ing it I'm wishing | 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 I'M
usually long one in duration, and when
the fit had passed away he sighed
as if in pain.
Il remember some time ago passing
house before which stood a hearse,"
said he re1ectively. Il stopped to see
the funeral cortege and just as the pail
bearers appeared fit took me, and I
laughed until | was sore. A crowd
gathered and l was nearly mobbed be-
fore ] could explain matters. 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 the discourse /
leIl lhe lduSniAS III come on. got
up in hurry, but before l went ten
steps you could hear my laugh echo
from wall to wall. They thought I
was crazy, and | came near being ar
rested. Another time"
a dime museum manager in Oma-
ha offered me $50 a 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, l will
commit-Iia, ha hal"
As the car sped up Market street
his ringing laugh was still heard, but
the secret of the maiady that is wear
ing his life away he keeps locked up
in his breast, while men smile pitying-
ly upon him and say: a light touch
of snakes.