Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-18
LAUGH CURE ADVISER
Francis +. Brandeweide Believes
in Joviality as Cure For
Human Ills
CRACKED JOKES ON SICK BED
Aged Alton (Mo.) Court Clerk TeIIs
How l1e Cured Himself of Paralysis.
Converts His Sick Wife, Who 10 Fast
Recoverine-Hs Favorite Joke.


Converts His Sick Wife, Who ls Fast
Recoverina-His Favorite Joke.
Joviality-pure, unadulterated good
humor--backed up by hearty laughter,
is a positive cure for any disease. says
Francis F. Brandewiede, eighty-two
years old, clerk Of the city court OF
Alton, Mo.
Seven months ago he was stricken
with paralysis. both arms and legs be-
ing helplessly crippled. Today he Is
walking the streets, bantering his
friends, joking and telling how he
cured himself by forgetting his trou-
bles and laughing and having good
time with those who called to console
and offer their sympathy, says the ST.
Louis Post Dispatch.
..If more persons would be good hu'
mored and laugh instead of brooding
over their illness, there would not be
half 80 many sick In the world" SAID
Brandewiede In relating how he cured
himself AT my age it would discour-
age almost any man to be stricken
helpless with paralysis. but ! have
looked on the sunny side Of things NIL
my life, and I did not despair, though
l often overheard friends who called
to see me say that was on my death
bed this time all right.
II just kept my spirits up, 1oked
about my illness, told good stories and
made my visitors tell me some.
laughed heartily all the time and never
for a moment gave way to gloom.
slept just as peacefully and sweetly as
when l was an infant in my mothers
arms. I awoke bright and early each
morning. feeling refreshed and ready
for another days joviality.
II did not take any medicine and
attribute my recovery solely to the
bright, cheerful manner in which
bore my illness. The faith have had
all my life in the efficacy Of cheerful
ness as a cure for all ails has been
increased thousandfold. l am moi
believer in the Osler theory, for al
eighty-two feel just as spry physical
" and as capable mentally as 1 did
forty years ago. ] am going back te
my official duties within few weeks
This rugged old man also says tina,
he is getting his wife, who has been
seriously Ill for some time, into his
way Of thinking She has. been suher
ing from complaint which the doc
tors told her would soon necessitate ar
operation. Brandewiede was SO cheer
full during his own illness that his
seventy -four-year-old wife began t.
partake of his spirit, and now she II
fast recovering. he says.
For eighteen years Brandewiede has
been clerk of the city court Of Alton
So popular is he with both politica
parties because Of his good humor anC
wit as raconteur that within the
past few years no one has been namee
on the opposition ticket. During the
seven months in which he was regain
ing his health by his laugh cure his
duties ut the city court were perform
ed by Deputy Clerk s. r. Conor Mr
Brandewiede cured himself Of paraly
sis by spending his time on his sick
bed telling funny stories and laughing
as heartily as If he were sitting oyel
| bumper Of wine. There has beer
widespread curiosity in Alton to know
these laugh cure tales.
All day recently Brandewiede was
buttonholed by acquaintance who
wanted to hear him relate the stories
| which warded of the hand Of death
Chronic sufferers who know the jolly
old official we've especially s-olicitous t.