Professor Bachhoffner, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, has
submitted a plan to the managers of the different theatres, whereby the
ill-effects resulting from the summary damnation of various farces may
be avoided. He proposes to erect a gasometer, contiguous to each
theatre, to be filled, on the first nights of comic dramas, with
laughing gas, which, being distributed through various ventilators, at
the last bars of the overture, will keep the audience in screams of
cachinnation throughout the performance; so that the papers can
conscientiously speak of "peals of laughter," and "hurricanes of
applause." By the same means, the talented Professor also proposes to
turn on carbonic acid gas, diluted with atmospheric air, to depress the
spirits, for serious five-act legitimacy, and induce sleep.