Note 5 — INDEX.
Reading edition
: "A thousand witnesses might be produced to prove, that at every Ridolio, part of the company is seated at a round table, which has a hollow, moveable, circle in the middle, with a declivity from the centre, and its circumference divided into little separate cavities, or cells, distinguished by the letters E, and O, placed over them alternately: the hollow circle is put in motion, and a small ivory ball thrown upon it in a contrary direction; after several turns, the inclination of the surface carries the ball down towards the cavities prepared for its reception, in one of which, having rebounded several times, it at last rests, and the parties concerned in this interesting event, succeed, or fail, as they chance to have chosen, or not, the letter under which the ball happens to lie."—"The World," No. 180, 10th June, 1756.