◀  No. 1149 Clue list 7 Mar 1971 Slip image No. 1158  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 1154

CLARIONET

1.  Cdr H. H. L. Dickson: I only want a blow and there’s blood around in about a round (O in in, all in claret).

2.  C. Allen Baker: Blow me, I carol riotously—X has slipped up (anag. + ten (rev.); ref. X’s error [see comments]).

3.  Mrs B. Lewis: Fiddle recital on? That lets me out (anag. & lit.; ref. X’s error [see comments]).

V.H.C.

T. E. Bell: Recital on wrong instrument? Surely one cannot take a bow? (anag.; ref. X’s error [see comments]).

A. Bristow: I get puffed. I need real tonic for a change (anag.).

N. C. Dexter: Instrument that’s made X ail—or C. err (anag. incl. ten, & lit.; C = Chambers; ref. X’s error [see comments]).

J. H. Dingwall: Its air may be enjoyed—could prove to be real tonic (anag. & lit.).

A. L. Freeman: You can get a real tonic from this (anag. & lit.; t. = keynote).

S. Goldie: Real tonic rambling in the woods—it’s breathtaking (anag.).

H. W. Jenkins: Can supply a real tonic for general tuning up (anag. & lit.; t. = keynote).

G. Johnstone: In “Peter and the Wolf” is played in cat role (anag. & lit.; clarinet is cat in P. and the W.).

L. F. Leason: Instrument, possibly bass, nicer alto—completely unstrung (anag. & lit.; ref. X’s error [see comments]).

T. N. Nesbitt: Licorice stick can provide ingredients for real tonic (anag. & lit.; t. = keynote; l. s., musicians’ slang for clarinet).

W. H. Pegram: It’s a real tonic rambling in the woods (anag.).

R. Postill: To give recital on this needs wind (anag. & lit.; wind2 (n.); ref. X’s error [see comments]).

G. A. Tomlinson: In concerto’s first bar once legendary string player could be seen among the wood-wind (Arion in c(oncerto) + let2; Arion, lyrist).

J. F. N. Wedge: Blow me—you need the second letter in surprised reaction (i.e. 2nd letter of blow in anag.; ref. X’s error [see comments]).

Rev C. D. Westbrook: Wind recital including on programme—this? (on in anag. + lit.).

H.C.

R. H. Adey, F. D. H. Atkinson, Col P. S. Baines, R. T. Baxter, E. C. Bingham, E. J. Burge, E. W. Burton, C. O. Butcher, Mrs F. Castle-Knight, E. Chalkley, D. L. L. Clarke, Mrs J. O. Fuller, R. R. Greenfield, G. M. Hornby, A. H. Jones, Sir S. Kaye, R. E. Kimmons, J. R. Kirby, Mrs S. M. Macpherson, S. M. Mansell, L. May, Mrs E. McFee, W. L. Miron, C. J. Morse, K. Neale, Dr W. D. Oliver, Mrs E. M. Pardo, Miss I. M. Raab, E. J. Rackham, Mrs G. Rajkowska, J. Riley, F. Schober, Sir W. Slimmings, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, J. B. Sweeting, J. Webster.
 

COMMENTS:—“Stringed” indeed! How can one be so blind? The trouble is that once having slipped and written the wrong thing when one knows perfectly well—perhaps too well—what is right, one never thinks about it again. I apologise profusely for all the worry I so absurdly caused. At least I’ve been punished by getting a bit bored after a time with clues referring to the error! That isn’t my reason for awarding the first prize elsewhere; I considered that those who wrote normal clues had the harder task and that their best representative should be top—and I think he is a worthy one. I shall now, unsuccessfully, try to forget the blunder; I hope you will succeed better than I shall.
 
There were nearly 250 entries—good for such an elusive task—with few mistakes, mostly caused by Ettarre (Idylls of the King). I was glad to read that many enjoyed the dropping of the theme’s penny.
 
Now I must express my great regret about the destruction of the “Birdless Grove” competition. I must at once explain that the Colour Magazine has to be finally printed so long before publication that it is impossible to make last minute announcements in it; these have to go in the paper (with “Everyman”). I wish there had been an immediate announcement there on Jan. 31 cancelling the competition; it wasn’t my fault that there was none. But those who rang up the office for information were told the competition was off; after that I obviously couldn’t accept the fifty odd entries which reached me by various means. I was especially sorry for the incredible enthusiast who bicycled (push-bike, sic) twenty odd miles here from Hove in the dark to deliver his entry.
 
You may like to hear of a new crossword magazine whose first number is to appear early in April. It is to be quarterly, called “Crosswords.” I have written a short article for the first number, and a puzzle of mine, an old “Misprints,” is included in it. Thereafter I am, I believe, to supply a non-plain puzzle regularly; these will be new ones, not reprints like the first one. I’m told the subscription is £1 per annum for the four numbers, and should be sent to Crossword Review Ltd., 7-8 Stratford Place, London, W1.
 

 
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