THE FIFTEEN MANIA; OR, MADNESS MADE EASY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2126, 16 December 1880, Page 2

THE FIFTEEN MANIA; OR, MADNESS MADE EASY.

5.30 p.m.—“ You see, my dear,” raid Brown to his wife on his return from the city, “I have bought you one of these American Fifteen puzzles. A childish thing, simplicity itself. You see, it’s done this way —No— That’s not right—Wait a bit,” 5.45 p.m.—“ Now I’ve got it. Yes. Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen—confound it—thirteen, fifteen, fourteen, I’ll soon put that straight." 6.0 p.m. —“ Oh, don’t bother. Nine, eleven, ten, twelve down, eight right, three up—Oh, be quiet—can’t you see I’m busy.” 630 p.m.—“ Hang dinner ! Keep it back a minute till I’ve finished this confounded thing—l see it now—you’ve got to reduce it to a principle.” 6.45 p.m.—“ Well, then, let it get cold—go and eat it by yourself. I’m not going to be beaten by a silly child’s toy like this.” 7 p.m.—“ It’s one of those horrid Yankee swindles. It can't be done —Bless it—Eat? No —bring me some brandy and water. There! No it isn’t—Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen.” 7.30 p.m.—“Of all the infernal foolish things I ever saw—can’t you keep quiet, you children! —how can I think with you making that uproar—eleven, twelve, thirteen—Hurrah! —Oh, hang it!—fifteen and fourteen again. Send those brats to bed.” 8 p.m. out the scheme of the thing. Hold on —I see it now—do it backwards. Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen—that’s all right; twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight—what an ass I was not to think of think of that before —seven, six, five, four—it’s mere child’s play—eh ? Oh, ah—Confound it—two, one, three,” 9 p.m.—“ Hang it all, Mrs 8., can’t you leave me alone P Isn’t it enough to have this confounded thing to plague me without yon bothering ? There’s a precious deal more in it than you suppose. It wants a sharp mathematical head I can tell you. Bring me some more brandy and water.” 10 p.m.—“ Dash it 1 Fourteen, thirteen, fifteen.” 10.30 p.m. —“Blow it! Fifteen, thirteen, fourteen.” 10.45 p.m.—Hang it! Thirteen, fifteen, fourteen.” 11 p.m.—“ **** fftt” 11.30 p.m.—“ Let you try ?—There isn’t a woman in England that could master the confounded thing—What’s the good of your trying —The only way’s to wort it out by algebra—lt’s not worth the trouble. It’s the most idiotic, babyish, infernal humbug that ever was invented. It’s one of those beastly American impositions—it’s—Ha— Wait a bit!—Now I have got it —Dash it all—Fourteen, thirteen, fifteen again. You try." 11.35 Ip.m.—“What!!!! Done it! 1! Not you—You cheated, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen ! —How did yon do it ? You can’t have done it—You took it from me just as I got it right—l don’t believe you did it fairly—Bet you a sovereign you can’t do it again—Can’t think how you can waste your time on such a babyish trick—Don't believe now you did it.” 12 p.m.—(Midnight. In bed.) —Fourteen, thirteen, fifteen, It’s impossible,”—- “ Judy.”