◀  No. 186 Clue list 24 Feb 1952 Slip image No. 188  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 187

GROWLER

1.  G. H. Willett (Havant): Improve the pound by the end of September? It might come as a jar to the American public (grow L (Septemb)er; ref. Britain’s improving economy in 1952).

2.  C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): “I am a dog, beware my fangs,” snarls the advancer, claiming the pound of flesh (L in grower; Merchant of V.III.3).

3.  J. Thompson (Stafford): Potential Home Guard increase supported by Butler: objection withdrawn (grow + (but)ler; ref. R.A. Butler, CE, and 1952 reconstitution of the Home Guard).

H.C.

J. A. Blair (NW9): I had as much as two whiskies to drive on. It can mean jug! (2 defs.; whisky2 has two wheels, a growler has four).

Mrs D. M. D’Eath (Bexhill): Swell! Here’s the end of Butler.—(Evidently a vehicle of the Opposition) (grow + (But)ler; ref. R.A. Butler, CE, 1952).

L. E. Eyres (York): “Your pint-stowp,” Mr. Jarndyce. Does that convey anything? It used to! (3 mngs.; i.e. US pron. of ‘stoup’; one found in growlery; ref. John J. in ‘Bleak House’, ch. 8).

R. M. Grace (Durham): The fish seems about to bite when the angler loses his head and takes in line (row in (an)gler).

H. C. Hills (W. Drayton): Pitcher for the “Yankees”—he tries intimidation but has often been taken for a home run! (2 cryptic defs.).

T. O. Hughes (Maidenhead): Old form of coach, with mount harnessed to the leading part of it (ler(e) following grow & lit.).

J. Jones (Cheam): Same sort of thing as sulky, only more so, and always on the nag (cryptic def.; sulky (n) = two wheeled vehicle).

D. P. M. Michael (Whitchurch): Bass may be imported in America, but means of conveyance must be found! (2 mngs.; imported = meant).

Maj J. N. Purdon (Cloverhill, Co. Cavan): A surly producer of cross words: a disgruntled setter, perhaps (2 cryptic defs.).

D. W. Reeds (Havant): You don’t hear me grumble at the heavy fares nowadays—gave up travelling years ago! (cryptic def.).

Mrs E. M. Simmonds (Cookham Dean): Angler without line misses an intending biter! (row in (an)gler).

W. K. M. Slimmings (New Malden): Two sovereigns to cage the blinking bird, he grumbles, and a perch would do as well! (owl in GR, ER; g. type of bass).

Miss D. W. Taylor (New Malden): Get longer and longer (both ends, but more at the back)—“sausage” dog when his tail’s pulled? (grow + l(ong)er).

J. Vallely (Glasgow): Pulling in a line, the angler without one is a chap with a grouse (row in (an)gler, & lit.).

RUNNERS-UP

E. S. Ainley, Lt Col P. S. Baines, G. J. Chapman, G. N. Collins, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, F. E. Dixon, W. M. Easther, Miss R. Le S. Filleul, Mrs J. O. Fuller, S. Goldie, R. J. Hall, C. T. Hatten, R. W. Hawes, M. Henderson, G. T. Herring, L. R. Huxtable, W. Jenkinson, G. G. Lawrance, E. L. Mellersh, T. W. Melluish, W. L. Miron, C. J. Morse, Mrs E. K. Mumford, F. E. Newlove, M. Newman, R. Postill, E. R. Prentice, E. J. Rackham, H. Rainger, Mrs J. Robertson, L. Ryden, E. O. Seymour, G. Stanhope-Lovell, J. A. L. Sturrock, I. Young.
 

COMMENTS—356 correct and a moderate number of mistakes: the chief cause of trouble was SAVE, whose clue, among those who got it, seems to have shared popularity with PAIN. The word set produced a few really good clues but was as a whole uninspiring: there was a much larger proportion than usual of very dull clues, the sort which, whether sound or not, fails to present an interesting picture or idea. Picking absolutely at random, I will quote two to illustrate what I mean:—“Two kings in jug, between them, get the bird.” “The English monarch has surrounded the French line in topsy turvy fashion and intruders are not welcomed by him.” There were also still a good many unsound and unfair clues, among which I think this one illustrates most faults in a short space:—“Did the winner of the Diamond Sculls decorate himself with a short and rather rare metal? ” First and foremost, no definition: then, why should “winner … Sculls” lead to “rower?” The great man is a sculler, anyway; and an extremely successful example of something is no clue to the thing itself. Further, there must be almost innumerable pairs of letters which fit “a short metal.” Nor does “decorate himself with” show in any way how the letters are to be combined in the most unlikely event of their being discovered. Competitors should picture themselves trying to solve their own clues.
 
May I make one request? Please don’t, as competitors occasionally do, comment on the clue you send in, either favourably or unfavourably. A remark like “I rather like this one” leads, when I happen to agree with it, to a most perplexing doubt in my mind, when I am making the final decision, as to whether I should have liked the clue less or more if the remark had not been made. I want to be entirely unprejudiced: so please let your clues stand on their own legs! (This is not, of course, a suggestion that explanatory notes should not be given: these are definitely invited).
 
Finally, don’t be discouraged, new or newish competitors and unsuccessful old ones! It was, I agree, a difficult word, and those who produced good clues deserve high praise.
 

 
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