Friday, 13 April 2012

#A-Z: Death by... Laughter

Who or what event is portrayed in this story?


“The enjoyment of this wine and of this feast, is not fated simply, but co-fated with there being good wine and fine entertainment. Give me the principles, and I will find the proofs myself. And the proof is in the wine.” The Stoic held up the goblet of wine and the people cheered. He laughed at their easy amusement, he laughed at their laughter. For tonight was a good night, all things were joyful. He took in more wine.
 
A man riding a donkey entered the room and paraded around the head of the tables. The people cheered. While women danced to joyful music played by men on lutes and harps, the donkey made his way over to one of the tables and poked its nose into the fruit that lay there. With its lips it pulled a fig from a bowl.

“Now give the donkey a drink of pure wine to wash down the figs,” the Stoic said and he erupted into a fit of laughter. The people laughed and cheered again. The laughter was contagious for all things were joyful, it could not be contained. 

The laughter could not be contained by his heart and soon his heart and the laughter stopped.


Who or what event is portrayed in this story?

The previous Death By … story is based on:
On 5 April 1923, George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, died in the Continental-Savoy Hotel in Cairo, in the Kingdom of Egypt. This led to the story of the "Curse of Tutankhamun", the "Mummy's Curse". His death is most probably explained by blood poisoning (progressing to pneumonia) after accidentally shaving a mosquito bite infected with erysipelas. However, at the same moment, all the lights in Cairo went out. Back in England, Herbert's dog, Susie, let out a howl and died.

Sources:

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31 comments:

  1. Hey, I got one! No idea about today's though.

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  2. Congrats Alex, Old Kitty, Connie Keller, Pat Newcombe, Bev Hankins, Sarah Pearson, Susan Roebuck, Lynda Young, Denise Covey, Nicki Elson, JC Martin, Talli, Golden Eagle and JTWebster! Another point each.

    Laura - 8 points
    JTWebster - 4 points
    Glynis - 2 points
    Jan Morrison- 2 point
    Cherie - 2 point
    Bev Hankins - 2 point
    Jayne Robin Brown - 1 point
    Old Kitty - 2 point
    Youngman - 1 point
    Angela Brown - 1 point
    Suze - 1 point
    Sia McKye - 1 point
    Alex Cavanaugh- 1 point
    Connie Keller - 1 point
    Pat Newcombe - 1 point
    Sarah Pearson - 1 point,
    Susan Roebuck - 1 point
    Lynda R Young - 1 point
    Denise Covey - 1 point
    Nicki Elson - 1 point
    JC Martin - 1 point
    Talli Roland - 1 point
    Golden Eagle - 1 point

    Let me know if these tallies are off.

    And just a hint: Not all names used in the stories will be the right name. Sometimes if I use the right name, it'll be too easy. I can't make it that easy, can I?

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  3. Is it death by alcohol poisoning?

    And I did a shout out for you on my blog today. This is a fun theme you have.

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  4. Ha! I know this one! Chrisippus (not sure I spelled that right) who was a philosopher a loooong time ago.

    That's bizarre about George Herbert, the lights going out and his dog dying. Who knows, maybe the curse is what exacerbated the blood poisoning?!

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  5. PS) I got George Herbert right yesterday! But maybe you didn't count it because I didn't know he was of Carnarvon...?

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  6. Laura, my bad! You're right you should have got a point. I don't know why I didn't put you down. You are at nine points. I'll change the score in tomorrow's comments. Thanks for letting me know, yesterday there were so many.

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  7. Shaving a mosquito bite? Honestly. In the summer that's all I have to shave are mosquito bites.

    I have no guesses about today. No points for me.

    I'll see you later, I'm going on the internets to see if I can buy a point.I feel left out.

    Teresa

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  8. Well if you have to go in some way, laughter may not be so bad.

    And yikes on the mosquito bite shaving. I can use this reason to not shave and fulfill my dream as a hobo.

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  9. Clarissa - The title got me right away. How ingenious! And I really like the way you told it.

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  10. Have no idea. The only thing I can think of is the bank owner in Mary Poppins! lol But that doesn't fit your story ...

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  11. I'm going to guess Seneca because he's the only Stoic philosopher that I can think of off hand.

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  12. Once again...I don't know. Donkey? Really confused on this one.

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  13. Erm... some guy in ancient times dies of a heart attack brought on my too much fun? Take care
    x

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  14. I have no idea who today is - but what a way to go!

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  15. Dang, I have no idea who this is. But I'm going to guess they died of a heart attack.

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  16. Clarissa, this is one of the greatest A-z blogs. I love it! So much in fact that I went back today and read them all. (I cheated though- I read them backward so that I knew the answer before I read the story!

    the only thing I can think of for this story is didn't Bacchus ride a donkey into a banquet?

    I thought when the donkey ate the fig maybe he was going to be the one to die! :)

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  17. Eh...don't know this one. But death by laughter seems so...wrong somehow. Like one second you're laughing, and the next you are dead. *shudders*

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  18. I'm sitting here dying laughing, though not literally. I wouldn't be typing, or at least it would be one letter from me splatting the keyboard with my forehead.

    I've read that enough laughter can burn calories. Enough laughter can most certainly causing a stitching cramp in one's side. But to die from the expression of joy and glee? How ironic.

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  19. I will never get any of these. I really enjoyed the Egyptian tale though. That's a time period where the world still had a lot of magic in it. I've always wanted to stay in that hotel in Cairo.

    As for today's puzzle...no idea. I'm not going to cheat by googling.

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  20. Hey, this reminds me of the death of the character of Vizzini in 'The Princess Bride.'

    Fast-forward to all the way to the four minute mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_eZmEiyTo0&feature=related

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  21. No idea! It all sounds pretty whimsical though...

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  22. At least he didn't die in pain! It's too sad but an interesting death all the same.

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  23. Interesting way to go. That the last minutes spent on earth was having a good time

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  24. OK...truly freaky about the lights and his dog.

    Today's? Some old dead guy. Sigh.

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  25. Yay, I'm on the scoreboard! :)

    And death by laughter is one way I'd like to go!

    J.C. Martin
    A to Z Blogger

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  26. if there ever was a nice way to die, the one from laugher would be a nice one :)

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  27. At least he went out happy...

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  28. Poor guy. But died with a smile, right?
    Heather

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  29. To die laughing---wow.

    Eerie end to the note below the post.

    Look forward to the rest of your amazing challenge run…can’t believe we’ve had 14 days already!
    --Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  30. Well I've heard of laughing yourself to death and this is it.

    May is getting closer Clarissa. I just want to say I can't wait to buy your book! (Now, does that suck up get me a point, lol!?)

    Denise

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  31. Now dying of laughter is the way to go!

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