Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1894-08-30
LAUGHING 10 DEATH.
The Peculiar Addiction which Has BE-
fallen solemn-Loolsing Man.
nHn. In hal 1Io no hol

The Peculiar Amction which Has BE-
fallen "a solcmn-Loolslng Man.
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A solemn visaged man of middle
age, with an expression o. pain upon
his face, giving won't to continuous
laughter so rollioking and mirthGul Us
to convulse those who heard it ut.
tracted general attention on the ferry
steamer Piedmont.
The man occupied seat on the
lower deck near the lunch counter
and though there seemed to be naught
to excite even smile he sat holding
his sides and laughed and chuckled
amazingly. He was poorly dressed.
about So years OF age, and wore
long dropping mustache, which dur
ing the intervals when he was free
from apparent merriment gave to his
face a sad and solemn look, totally at
variance with the joy his hearty
laughter appeared to Indicate had
complete possession of his spirits,
i am suffering with disease sim
liar to hysteria," said he to San
Francisco Examiner reporter after
one OF his cachinnntory outhursts
that shook his frame as II with ague
Il don't know how it took possession
OF me but up to i've years ago was
like other men. Now | am total
wreck and am slowly but surely
laughing 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 amazement While he was
struggling TO repress the sounds that
issued rom his lips look of intense
pain spread over his wrinkled face
and tears stood in his eyes.
People think m drunk, = said he,
regretfully when this spasm passed
away but do not drink u drop on
the advice of my doctor My name?
. Well, my name is John French. and
I've Just come from Kansas to see If
cant get over my trouble here. You
see it's mighty provoking to get
laughing fits every ten minutes in the
day and wake up mt night chuckling
fit to wake the dead. It's downright
painful. and everything these fits come
on it seems as If my innards were
being torn out o me with machine.
"a doctor Of Kansas City examined
me year ago and he says it is
spasmodic conyulsions or something
like it OF the windpipe A spiritualist
doctor said 1t was a laughing spirit
MS possessed me. but don't Believe
In spirits. Well, any how. it's awfully
bothersome. l can't go to church
restaurants o. u funeral without
;aughing fit TO kill and all the time
I'm doing it I'm wishing were dead. y
The gloomy expression on Mr..
srenchs face gave way at this juno
'ure to one Of apparent joy, for an.
Ither spasm had seized him. It was
IN unusually long one in duration,
and when the ct had passed away he
ighed heavily as If in pain.
i remember sometime ago passing
house before which stood a hearse "
aid he refectively. Il stopped t.
zee the funeral cortege. and just a!
he pail bearers appeared fit tool
ne and laughed until l was sore.
crowd gathered, and l was nearl!
nobbed before could explain mat
.ers. *-r~.re
another time l went to churcl
and the preacher talked OF the sol
Smuity of death and the vanities o
this life, and just in the middle OF hi
discourse felt the laughing fit com
ing on. got up in hurry but be
fore / went ten steps you could hca
my laugh echo from wall to wall
They thought was crazy, and / cam
near being arrested. Another time
a i L. H.