XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 1143

MORGIANA

1.  C. Allen Baker: Pantomime dame: a man disguised, with a built-in bust (orgia in anag.; see orgy and bust²).

2.  Miss V. K. Abrahams: Go-slow involved big power cut: I improvised oil burner (gian(t) in mora; ref. electricity industry work-to-rule in Dec. 1970).

3.  J. C. Leyland: My name’s made after weird power involves opening of grotto, one with gold in (or + g(old) + I in mana & lit.).

V.H.C. (extra prizes)

T. E. Bell: I settled the gold gang’s leader in the Thousand and One Tales (or + g(ang) in MI ana & lit.).

R. M. S. Cork: She felled the band leader, letting arm go in a dance (anag. & lit.).

J. Crowther: I groan, am jarred—as all my victims said? (anag. & lit.).

J. A. Fincken: A-roaming, when well oiled, her victims could go no more (anag. & lit.; w.o. = drunk).

J. B. Hallissey: I’m an “agro” crazy girl who gave potted thieves some “bovver” (anag. & lit.).

D. V. Harry: I thrust into villainous captain a sharp piece of steel (I in Morgan + a & lit.; ref. Capt. Henry M.; piece = woman).

R. N. Haygarth: She set fire to some Arabian oil, damaging a rig in Oman (anag. of a rig with Oman).

A. Lawrie: One got after a piratical chief encompassing Ali’s end ((Al)i in Morgan + a & lit.; ref. Capt. Henry M.).

L. F. Leason: Drunkenly a-roaming, she downed the contents of many a jar (anag.; down = put down, overthrow).

Mrs B. Lewis: Thwarted a roaming band of robbers—she got them jugged (anag. & lit.).

D. F. Manley: I dispose of the leader of outlaws in miscellany of grim tales (o(utlaws) in anag. + ana & lit.).

R. Postill: Aga being out involved minor upset; I cooked with oil (anag. of Aga with minor; ref. electricity industry work-to-rule in Dec. 1970).

K. C. Slater: Slave-girl revels in man’s undoing (orgia in anag. & lit.).

J. Sparrow: Agro man I cooked (anag. & lit.).

W. Spendley: This old oil-heater will take a short while to set right again (mo + anag. incl. r.; set = arranged).

G. R. Webb: Nothing in weirdly grim tales equals the resourceful slave-girl (O in anag. + ana + lit.).

H.C.

D. B. J. Ambler, W. G. Arnott, Col P. S. Baines, P. W. Baker, H. M. Barclay, E. A. Beaulah, Mrs F. Bradford, J. C. Brash, E. Chalkley, P. M. Coombs, A. J. Crow, N. C. Dexter, Flt Sgt J. Dromey, D. M. Duckworth, Mrs B. M. Dunlop, M. B. Fisher, A. L. Freeman, J. Gill, Rev J. E. Gowing, R. R. Greenfield, Mrs E. J. Holmes, E. M. Hornby, Miss K. A. Howarth, H. W. Jenkins, Mrs D. B. Jenkinson, L. W. Jenkinson, R. E. Kimmons, J. R. Kirby, Capt G. Langham, P. W. W. Leach, H. Lyon, Mrs J. Mackie, L. May, Mrs E. McFee, W. L. Miron, J. J. Moore, P. H. Morgan, C. J. Morse, R. A. Mostyn, V. R. S. Mott, F. E. Newlove, D. A. Nicholls, Mrs E. M. Pardo, S. L. Paton, G. Perry, Miss I. Raab, A. Redstone, T. E. Sanders, V. Seth, J. R. Stocks, Rev L. M. Styler, D. Sullivan, W. H. Thornton, D. J. Thorpe, G. A. Tomlinson, M. H. E. Watson, J. Webster, C. E. Williams, S. E. Woods.
 

COMMENTS:—Nearly 500 entries, two-thirds of which arrived on the closing day, so I must hurry and can’t write much. There were about 40 incorrect, mostly giving POINING for POINANT; this would make the clue both dubiously sound and very feeble, quite apart from producing “Mortiana.” I was very surprised that about 50 competitors didn’t know Morgiana in the Ali Baba story, so often used in pantomimes. One competitor even clued her as Elizabeth, which foxed me till I thought of Gloriana! The ideas most used were org(y) in MI tales and a-roaming; there were far too many such clues to get much representation above. There was also much use of initial letters, a device very easy to use and one that is apt to lead to very easy solution; I deprecate it unless the word is a very difficult one to clue or the result exceptionally striking. No time for more; many thanks for many appreciative messages, Christmas cards and good wishes. A happy New Year to you all.