XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 257

PYROTECHNICS (Straight Clue)

1.  V. F. Dixon: Very light and flash display, out of place on the Third (Very light = flare; BBC Third Programme; 3rd Nov).

2.  J. Thompson: The sort of light entertainment you don’t look for on the Third (BBC Third Programme; 3rd Nov).

3.  C. J. Morse: It’s the study that makes the fifth form such an exciting prospect for schoolboys!

H.C.

E. S. Ainley: Very light construction is but one feature of this craft (Very light = flare).

J. W. Bates: Very light make-up contributes to the effectiveness of this show (Very light = flare).

J. A. Blair: Very light doubled and redoubled: (declarer overdoing it!) (Very light = flare).

P. M. Coombs: These bright displays in autumn gardens draw attention to a chap’s wretched old plot (Gunpowder plot).

P. A. Drillien: It may have a whole galaxy of stars, but this production of Congreve is a flashy affair (Congreve = type of rocket).

Brig W. E. Duncan: Light activity, followed by sharp rises everywhere, founded on prospect of similar movements in the “House.”

J. A. Maxtone Graham: Very light stuff: that’s the sort of thing Congreve produced (Very light = flare; Congreve = type of rocket).

S. B. Green: Very light type of entertainment, this musical show! (Very light = flare).

R. J. Hall: Loud blazers are merely a form of showing off.

J. P. Lloyd: Work that provides for early retirement and the chance of a quick rise, that’s my aim (firework instruction “retire immediately”).

Rev E. B. Peel: Solomon used to show us what a Royal Suite was designed for (pianist Solomon and Handel’s ‘Fireworks Music’).

J. E. Povey: Many people turn up their noses when these night-shows reach the high-spots.

G. W. Pugh: Noisy reaction of the public to a scheme to give M.P.s a rise (Gunpowder plot).

E. J. Rackham: Not quite the skill of the Arsenal, but can produce a sparkling display given suitable matches.

T. E. Sanders: Very light type of work, often with provision for rapid rises and early retirement (Very light = flare; firework instruction “retire immediately”).

Mrs E. Shackleton: Subject of recent reports—things going up owing to Parliamentary action (Gunpowder plot).

W. K. M. Slimmings: Brock’s cunning, not showing up till the red setter’s gone (Brock’s fireworks; badger).

M. Woolf: Musical show with a cast of coloured stars.

A. J. Young: Very light construction is proverbially unsuccessful in wet weather (Very light = flare; ‘damp squib’).

RUNNERS-UP

Dr S. H. Atkins, C. Allen Baker, T. E. Bell, P. E. Bugge, F. L. Constable, R. M. S. Cork, G. N. Coulter, F. E. Dixon, L. E. Eyres, J. A. Fincken, Mrs J. O. Fuller, D. J. Furley, A. B. Gardner, C. E. Gates, S. Goldie, E. Gomersall, R. M. Grace, Mrs J. Harvey, R. W. Hawes, P. J. Higgins, B. J. Iliffe, E. G. Illingworth, Mrs L. Jarman, J. W. Jenkins, L. W. Jenkinson, L. Johnson, Mrs F. Laing, E. W. Lee, F. E. Newlove, D. A. Nicholls, Mrs A. M. Osmond, S. L. Paton, L. S. Pearce, E. G. Phillips, A. Robins, E. O. Seymour, T. Strange, F. B. Stubbs, L. E. Thomas, K. I. Torrance, F. L. Usher, H. D. Wakely, M. Winterbottom, I. Young.
 

COMMENTS—191 correct and few mistakes. SONNITES was, of course, accepted as an alternative to SUNNITES. May I thank solvers collectively here, instead of individually on the slips, for a mass of comments, which fell into three fairly equal heaps: these might be labelled “Fine—let’s have some more,” “Not unpleasant for a change, but …,” and “Never again!” The last named, with whom I heartily sympathise, needn’t have worried: some of them, perhaps, didn’t notice that I expressly said “for this week only.” Nothing but a united chorus of applause would have made me go back on this: I thought, and still think, that it was an interesting experiment, but not worth repeating. The decisive argument against it is that it kills the satisfaction of feeling sure that an answer is right. But I’m sure that a small number of straight clues mixed with others is a good thing and adds variety.
 
The PENTAD clue seems to have given most trouble: a test match at Lord’s against Australia takes five days. “Ouvrier” was a remarkable red herring at 11, appearing as it does in the old edition of C. and not the new. EMPLOYE really doesn’t appear in the new edition, though several solvers were not unnaturally misled by the indication of an alternative pronunciation for “employee.” Have another look! A final hint to a few solvers:—Do read the preamble! Several clues to “Guy Fawkes Day” were sent and one which included an anagram.
 
HONOURS LIST—C. J. Morse again leads for the half-year with 3 prizes, 5 H.C.s. He is followed by W. K. M. Slimmings (2—5) & E. S. AinIey (1—7): J. W. Bates, S. Goldie (1—5) & T. E. Saunders (0—7): E. R. Prentice (2—2) & W. J. Duffin (1—4): H. S. Tribe (2—1), C. Allen Baker, Cdr. H. H. L. Dickson, A Robins (1—3), & S. B. Green, M. Woolf (0—5): C. Koop. D. P. M. Michael (1—2) & J. A. Blair, J, A. Fincken, E. J. Rackham. Mrs. E. M. Simmonds, J. F. N. Wedge (0—4). Consolation Prizes go to T. E. Saunders, S. B. Green & M. Woolf.