XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 213

LEMONADE

1.  R. Postill: Article in French paper shows what people will swallow from the yellow press! (a in Le Monde; see y.p. in C.).

2.  W. J. Duffin: It’s wet, it pours. It may make a squash, but find room for a little ’un in the shelter (monad in lee¹).

3.  J. H. Scott-Wilson: Still out of glasses for the kids’ party: we must make do with enamel somehow (anag.).

H.C.

E. S. Ainley: A change from ale and the demon rum (anag. & lit.; rum, adj.).

C. Allen Baker: Men involved in a crooked deal will gain nothing—it only leads to the cooler (O in anag. of men in anag.).

J. W. Bates: The charge for dry toast (cryptic def.; i.e. charge for glass of teetotaller).

Cdr H. H. L. Dickson: An article in a French paper is sometimes sparkling and still occasionally juicy (a in Le Monde; sparkling & still L.).

J. A. Fincken: In a French journal you’ll find a juicy extract (a in Le Monde).

J. A. Flood: The problem on a Derby Day is where to get a drink! (hidden).

C. K. Foster: After brewing ale, do men still drink this? Without a doubt! (anag.; still L.).

S. Goldie: Appears in emblem on a design suitable for chidren’s mugs (hidden).

S. B. Green: Article in French newspaper runs down the puerile personnel of many Parties (a in Le Monde; p.p = children).

A. R. M. Hooper: A regular fizzer for the T.T. Race; led all the way round the island and first of everyone to finish (Mona in led + e(veryone); T.T. Race = non-drinkers).

F. G. Illingworth: Ale and the demon Rum—a nice drink for a child! (anag.; rum, adj.).

H. Joyce: It’s quite a squash for the T.T. fans on the bend (cryptic def.; i.e. teetotallers on a drinking session).

Mrs D. M. Kissen: Punch, dispirited, lacks pep: full of sparkle, gets open-mouthed welcome at children’s parties (2 mngs., i.e. punch without spirit = lemonade; Punch & Judy).

N. Lawson: An article in a French newspaper may have to be watered down (a in Le Monde).

B. M. Legg: The first essential is to get into shelter—then we’ll have the drink (monad in lee¹).

T. W. Melluish: One feels after this squash the fresher might be accepted in the world of the ‘beaux esprits’ (a in Le Monde (Fr.); fresher = refreshed/University student).

C. J. Morse: Many a Frenchman’s breakfast reading is interrupted only by a drink of fruit juice (a in Le Monde).

D. A. Nicholls: Coward’s name made in Bitter Sweet! Press effusive about “this refreshing production” (anag. of Noël made, 3 defs.; B.S., operetta by N.C.).

T. H. Poole: Drink? An article in that worldly French paper is all for it! (a in Le Monde).

E. J. Rackham: Article in Paris newspaper should induce Parties to take a sober course (a in Le Monde).

Mrs E. M. Simmonds: Final half of Sale! One mad hectic squash! ((sa)le + anag.).

J. Thompson: Len made a duck—tickled a fizzer! (anag. incl. 0; ref. Len Hutton, Yorkshire & England batsman).

F. L. Usher: Tart reply to a budding débutante asking for fizz (lemon a dé(butante), i.e. “the answer’s a l.”).

I. Young: Read the article in Journal de Paris—it’s refreshingly juicy! (a in Le Monde).

RUNNERS-UP

Lt Col P. S. Baines, T. E. Bell, T. Bilsborough, E. W. Burton, J. Campion, J. W. Carah, E. Clark, G. N. Coulter, H. F. Dixon, H. Evans, Mrs N. Fisher, H. L. Ford, Mrs D. Fuller, F. D. Gardiner, Rev J. G. Graham, R. R. Greenfield, D. Grier, J. B. Grubb, F. H. W. Hawes, R. W. Hawes, J. W. Holmes, Mrs L. Jarman, L. W. Jenkinson, L. Johnson, L. Lawton Jones, S. H. G. Kaye, M. A. Lassman, P. W. W. Leach, Miss G. F. Marchant, E. L. Mellersh, W. Napthine, M. Newman, A. L. R. Perry, E. G. Phillips, Mrs M. G. Porter, Maj J. N. Purdon, A. R. Read, Viscountess Ridley, Dr D. S. Robertson, A. Robins, T. E. Sanders, F. N. Shimmin, W. K. M. Slimmings, Miss R. E. Speight, F. B. Stubbs, R. E. Stumbles, J. A. L. Sturrock, W. H. T. Tayleur, L. E. Thomas, G. B. Tower, J. Vallely, G. J. Wheeler, P. J. Whitcombe, Miss M. Williams, S. E. Wilson, H. J. L. Withrington, L. C. Wright.
 

COMMENTS—720 correct in a record entry of 827, beating the 815 in the first puzzle of 1948—No. 67, “New Year Resolutions.” As there were many new competitors, I’ll give all my space to examples of common weaknesses—not all from the entries of beginners, so the reminders may be helpful to others. (1) Anag. not indicated:—“Was it this ‘Bitter Sweet’ that made Noel?” Another “made” is wanted to make this sound: that would, of course, ruin the misleading sense. Pity: it’s very neat otherwise. (2) Same fault, plus lack of a definition:—“Primary element in old river: would enamel do?” Incidentally this one makes no interesting sense of any kind. (3) Fact that word is “hidden” not indicated:—The drink problem on a desert island.” (Compare the two “hidden” clues among the H.C.s). (4) Inaccurate use of pronouns:—“Young Leonard and I, muddled though we are, still drink.” Anag, of “Leo and me”; but “me” is not “I.” Further, “we” is inaccurate: misleading sense must not be achieved at the expense of syntax. (5) Vague and useless indirect anag.:—“The revered lady sketchily dressed in fine linen gave me a refresher—I’m still sober.” Anag. of “dame, leno”; but why should a solver have to solve two by no means obvious other clues before he gets to this part of his clue to “lemonade?” (6) Multiple anag., alias “Beginner’s Joy”:—“The meal done, drink this newly made ‘Noel en la mode.’” This requires much ingenuity, but the result is appallingly obvious. One anag., well concealed, is far better. (7) Add-and-subtract anag.:—“Salmon and bream need mixing carefully for a refreshing drink: but no brand names.” This is far too elaborate; nor, incidentally, does it make any sense. (8) Tortuous obscurity:—“Often down in the mouth but the equivalent of a short year in Greece is just the opposite.” Starts with an inaccurate definition: then “No-March = Nome” (which it doesn’t), up instead of down, in “lade.” I ask the setter, does he really think anyone on earth would ever solve this?
 
But there were lots of good ones, from newcomers as well as old hands: the standard is rising all the time. It was an easy puzzle and an easy word to clue, but that doesn’t detract from the pleasing result.