Guess when this was written?

  • The 1st time a man looks at an advertisement, he does not see it.

  • The 2nd time, he does not notice it.

  • The 3rd time, he is conscious of its existence.

  • The 4th time, he faintly remembers having seen it before.

  • The 5th time, he reads it.

  • The 6th time, he turns up his nose at it.

  • The 7th time, he reads it through and says “Oh Brother!”

  • The 8th time, he says “Here’s that confounded thing again!”

  • The 9th time, he wonders if it amounts to anything.

  • The 10th time, he asks his neighbour if he has tried it.

  • The 11th time, he wonders how the advertisers makes it pay.

  • The 12th time, he thinks it must be a good thing.

  • The 13th time, he thinks perhaps it might be worth something.

  • The 14th time, he remembers wanting such a thing a long time ago.

  • The 15th time, he is tantalized because he cannot afford to buy it

  • The 16th time, he thinks he will buy it some day.

  • The 17th time, he makes a memorandum to buy it.

  • The 18th time, he swears at his poverty.

  • The 19th time, he counts his money carefully.

  • The 20th time he sees the advertisement, he buys what it is offering.

Thomas Smith of London, England wrote this in 1885. I believe it is just as valid today as it was then.