Here is the opening of Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers (1837). Read through it quickly and cross out all the letter <e>s.

The first ray of light which illumines the gloom, and converts into a dazzling brilliancy that obscurity in which the earlier history of the public career of the immortal Pickwick would appear to be involved, is derived from the perusal of the following entry in the Transactions of the Pickwick Club, which the editor of these papers feels the highest pleasure in laying before his readers, as a proof of the careful attention, indefatigable assiduity, and nice discrimination, with which his search among the multifarious documents confided to him has been conducted.

Now check against the answers below.

The Pickwick Papers without the e’s (see p.000)

ThX first ray of light which illuminXs thX gloom, and convXrts into a dazzling brilliancy that obscurity in which thX XarliXr history of thX public carXXr of thX immortal Pickwick would appXar to bX involvXd, is dXrivXd from thX pXrusal of thX following Xntry in thX Transactions of thX Pickwick Club, which thX Xditor of thXsX papXrs fXXls thX highXst plXasurX in laying bXforX his rXadXrs, as a proof of thX carXful attXntion, indXfatigablX assiduity, and nicX discrimination, with which his sXarch among thX multifarious documXnts confidXd to him has bXXn conductXd.

                                              Total: 50 <e>s, 13 <the>s