XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 1140

CALLOUS

1.  Mrs N. Jarman: Alien to Ruth, like the corn (2 mngs.; ruth = pity; Keats, “Nightingale”).

2.  F. D. H. Atkinson: Summon and evict without quarter, like Rachman (call ous(t); notorious landlord).

3.  E. M. Hornby: Ring twice, in some cases we might be failing to listen (call O + us, accusative, etc.).

V.H.C.

C. Allen Baker: Do in the local, ending with us insensible (anag. + us).

Mrs K. Bissett: How Katisha did not remain to demand love as before (call 0 u.s.; ref. Mikado).

C. O. Butcher: Term applied to hearts of stone, bureaucrats, assassins (call o u s, & lit.).

A. H. P. Cardew: You’ll find us by the local, drunk and insensible (anag. + us).

Mrs M. P. Craine: Almost complete shutdown in Civil Service, regardless of suffering caused (all-ou(t) in C.S.).

N. C. Dexter: From a scull round at sea? (anag. incl. o, & lit.).

A. L. Freeman: Hard-boiled egg in a crust (o in callus).

G. M. Hornby: Fresh material contains nothing corny (0 in callus).

Sir S. Kaye: Like Rachman, making occasion to evict endlessly (call ous(t); notorious landlord).

R. E. Kimmons: Totally unsympathetic locals cut up rough with Union leader (anag. incl. U).

J. R. Kirby: A cruel heartless soul may make one this (anag. less rue, & lit.).

E. S. Leslie: Shock-proof about everything round us (c. all o us).

Mrs J. Mackie: With a lower—ultimately degraded—cast of soul (cal(f) + anag., & lit.).

H. W. Massingham: Like Saul with Colossians shortly before conversion? (anag. incl. Col., & lit.).

Mrs E. McFee: To be unfeeling about almost everything goes with a warped soul (c al(l) + anag.: to = in order to).

C. G. Millin: Thick skin, and a heart of stone within, make you this (o in callus, & lit.).

C. J. Morse: It’s hard to bid with America behind the ring (call o US: ref. Velázquez painting sold for $5.5m).

T. E. Sanders: A clue that’s incomplete, also shaky, may be very hard or not sensible (anag. less e).

Rev C. D. Westbrook: Designates without love that anyone can see (0 U in calls, & lit.).

H.C.

Miss V. K. Abrahams, W. G. Arnott, J. W. Bates, Miss M. P. Blackburn, Mrs A. Boyes, J. C. Brash, E. Chalkley, D. L. L. Clarke, P. M. Coombs, V. A. R. Cooper, J. Crowther, R. E. Cuthbert, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, J. H. Dingwall, G. H. DuBoulay, A. G. Fleming, G. P. Goddard, S. Goldie, E. Gomersall, J. A. Maxtone Graham, N. L. Hindley, J. G. Hull, F. G. Illingworth, Mrs D. B. Jenkinson, N. D. Jennings, B. F. Jones, M. W. Knight, Judge K. F. Lawton, L. F. Leason, Mrs B. Lewis, Dr T. J. R. Maguire, H. S. Mason, R. H. Maynard, B. J. McCann, D. P. M. Michael, E. J. Miller, C. G. Molony, P. H. Morgan, V. R. S. Mott, F. E. Newlove, R. H. N. Osmond, J. B. O’Kane, Mrs E. M. Pardo, S. L. Paton, Mrs L. E. Pimlott, R. Postill, E. J. Rackham, C. A. Sears, D. J. Short, Mrs E. M. Simmonds, Sir W. Slimmings, J. Sparrow, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, F. B. Stubbs, Rev L. M. Styler, G. A. Tomlinson, J. Webster, G. H. Willett, C. E. Williams.
 

COMMENTS:—The biggest entry for some time, nearly 600, and few mistakes, mostly over CAIRN (y, man) and AMPASSY (y, ampersand). A brilliant winner: the capital R is a pity, but it would be hard to avoid, and I have often said that with a noun it is legitimate, though to be avoided if possible. As there were many new names, I will mention some reasons for failure for guidance:—(1) Unsound definitions, usually leading to the wrong part of speech, e.g. “we’re insensitive”—answer should be a plural noun: “unfeeling type”, “a hard heart”, “result of hard work”—all nouns: “has no heart”—noun or perhaps verb: “don’t be soft”—verb: “hard-heartedly”—adverb: “Ruth gone”—? part of speech. (2) Unhelpful indirect anagrams, e.g. “an anaesthetic confused”, local: “twisted ego”, soul: “wealth”, lac. (3) Bad grammar or syntax, e.g. “we” = us, “you and I” = us, “I wriggle out” = I wriggles out, “summons to the river from the Orient” to indicate Ous(E): “from” cannot possibly do this work. (4) I dislike “many” to indicate C—too many alternatives—and similarly “point” to indicate N, E, S or W. (5) Several wrote clues to “hardened”: surely the wording in the Rules “to replace definition asterisked” says clearly what is wanted. The entry included the most amusing error in solution I’ve ever had—“HALIBUTICS”! There were too many examples of the rather obvious “rings up about nothing”, and of the sound of Callas, to achieve distinction. How wonderful people are at noticing things! I was quite unconscious of the sequence CLOSE-SACK-LACKADAY! Actually the proof had been passed before this event [Yorkshire’s sacking of Captain Brian Close] happened. Many thanks for cards and good wishes.
 
I am very sorry about the effect of the move to the Colour Magazine on overseas solvers; it is not my doing. I believe the C.M. can be ordered to be sent by air-mail, but I’m afraid the cost must be high, and I don’t know how long it takes. The point has been raised, but I’m not hopeful about the result.