THE FIFTEEN MANIA; OR, MADNESS MADE EASY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 75, 29 December 1880, Page 4

THE FIFTEEN MANIA; OR, MADNESS MADE EASY.

50.30 p.m. — ''You see, my dear," said Brown to hi 9 wife on his rDturn 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, fourteen, I'll soon* put that straight." 6.0. p.m. — " Oh, don't bother. Nine, eleven, ten, twelve down, eight right, three vp — Oh y he quiet — caa*i you see I'm busy." 6.30 p.m. — "Hang dinner! Keep it back a minute till I've finished this confounded thing — I see it now — you've got to reduce it to a principle," 8.45 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 Eke this." 7 p.m. — "It's one of those horrid Y&»lre© swindles- Ifc c&rfb be done — Bless it— Eat? — No — bring me some brandy and water. There! No it iin't — Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen."

7.30 p.in.— «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.— You have only got to find 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 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? Isn't it enough to have this confounded thing to plague me without you bothering? There's a precious deal more in it than you suppose. It wants a sharp mathematical head, 1 can tell you. Bring me some more brandy and water." 10 p.m. — "Dash it! Fourteen, thirteen, fifteen. 11 10.80 p.m.— "Blow it! Fifteen, thirteen, fourteen." 10.46 p.m.—" Hang it ! Thirteen, fifteen, fourteen." 11 p.m.-« *•** tttt" 11.50 p.ra.— " Let you try f 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 work it out by algebra — It'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— rit's — Ha — Wait a bit! — Now I have got it —-Dash it all— Fourteen, thirteen, fifteen again. You try." 11.35 p.m.— " What I! Done Jit!!! Not you — You cheated; thirteen, fourteen, fifteen! — How did you do it? You can't have done it— You took it fromjme 3 ust as * S ot ri £ nt —I don't believe you did it fairlyBet you a sovereign you can't do it again — Can't think how you can waste your time on sucn a babyish triek — ■Don't believe now you did i 6,"

12 p.m.— (Midnight. In bed.)— Fourteen, thirteen, fifteen. It's impossible." — Judy.