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The Strand Magazine.

Spectators and the Juggler, yet it in no wise gave any trace of the Tree.

"From this Circumstance it was concluded that this Juggler must needs have put upon the whole Company an Hypnotic Influence, to the end they should imagine the Tree; whereupon certain of us would have Nothing but that We should form ourselves into an Economical Club, and invite this Performer to put upon us his Hypnotism; and with how great Success and Benefit I shall leave you to judge."

The more I reflected on these Circumstances and my Friend's Discourse, the more I was of a settled Persuasion of the Benefits of this System, for truly, in the reckoning up of it, the Balance is most hugely on the Side of the Plan:—


£ s. d.
Item: to one Banquet for twenty with Wine, Strong Waters, and other Sundries 35 4 9 3/4
Item: to Inconvenience of ten male Headaches and twenty assorted Indigestions and Dyspepsias, together with all Apothecaries' Bills, &c. 43 17 8
Item: other resultant Evils 10 1 2
————————
89 3 7 3/4
Contra:
Item: to Hire of one Juggler 10 0 0
————————
Balance to Credit of New Plan 79 3 7 3/4


I will but recommend the above to my Readers' intelligent Consideration and Digestion, for the great Benefitting of the latter; and close this Speculation with wishing them a Merry Christmastide, which, by the following of the New Plan, they will nowise fail to secure. J. F. Sullivan.