XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 295

SENSE-ORGANS

1.  J. B. Sykes: Goneril demanded two of Gloster’s; only one would have put Regan’s nose out of joint (anag. of sing.; ref. Lear III.7, “pluck out his eyes”).

2.  Mrs E. Shackleton: These being seen so distorted led to the conclusion “Gran’s bogus!” (anag. + anag., & lit.; ref. Red Riding Hood, “what big eyes…,” etc.).

3.  C. J. Morse: Nasser’s gone mad! We’re the ones equipped to deal with any disturbance from outside (anag.; ref. N.’s pressure on Britain’s to agree cession of Suez Canal).

H.C.

Maj P. S. Baines: Newspapers don’t lead opinion here. The Herald appeals to some—The Observer exploits others! (sense (= opinion) + organs (newspapers), 2 cryptic mngs.).

C. Allen Baker: We sure are stirred by sirens seen dancing in loose sarongs! (anag. in anag.).

Lt A. S. Birt: “French Without Tears” with a cast of negroes in it! Receptors include both listeners and viewers (anag. in sans (Fr.); tears, intrans. vb.; ref. 1936 play by T. Rattigan).

Mrs R. M. Blake: With one of these you can feel soreness nag horribly (anag.).

J. Cordery: Listeners and viewers are in these parts equipped with specially adapted receivers (cryptic def.; ref. TV & radio).

H. H. Elliott: Ears, for example, which may be seen on grass (anag.).

J. A. Fincken: Meaning to anticipate members, we send impulsive messages to the centre of government (sense (vb.) + organs; messages to brain).

Maj Gen C. G. B. Greaves: Noses and ears answer the description, even though they appear deformed and n.g. (anag. of ears, noses, ng, & lit.).

L. R. Huxtable: Some of these aids to transport involve bridges, some canals and others arterial ways (cryptic def.; parts of organs).

H. Joyce: Conductors of feeling understand wind instruments (sense organs).

D. P. M. Michael: They give you awareness or, here’s the snag, quite the opposite! (sense or + snag (rev.) & lit.).

D. W. Murray: Through which reflexes are conditioned (not to mention Sabbath orangeness!) (anag. incl. S).

D. Raper: We understand American newspapers involve little gravity or saneness, only sensational features (sense organs, anag. incl. g).

Capt W. H. W. Ridley: Garson’s seen in an unusual production, showing features which lend distinction to the sensational (anag.; ref. Greer G., actress).

W. K. M. Slimmings: Boko’s one of those adapted to become an outsize negress (anag. incl. OS; boko (sl.) = the nose; ref. the surviving Nigerian Siamese twin, separated Dec 1953).

O. Carlton Smith: The outcome of skilful manipulation on cauliflower ears and broken noses—initially no good (anag. of ears, noses, ng, & lit, i.e. defective organs after repair).

RUNNERS-UP

E. S. Ainley, T. E. Bell, C. M. Brown, Maj H. L. Carter, P. M. Coombs, G. N. Coulter, Cdr A. S. Craig, P. Cranmer, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, Mrs J. S. Dickson, J. H. Dingwall, V. F. Dixon, P. A. Drillien, W. J. Duffin, A. L. Freeman, C. C. M. Giffin, Maj A. H. Giles, S. B. Green, C. R. Haigh, R. J. Hall, J. A. Hart, F. H. W. Hawes, Plt Off R. N. Haygarth, J. J. Holloway, R. N. H. Hughman, R. P. Irving, Mrs L. Jarman, J. W. Jenkins, L. Johnson, C. Koop, H. Lyon, Grp Capt G. Struan Marshall, W. T. Meade-King, E. L. Mellersh, W. L. Miron, D. A. Nicholls, E. G. Phillips, R. Postill, Maj J. N. Purdon, A. Robins, T. E. Sanders, R. L. Seale, Mrs E. M. Simmonds, J. R. Stocks, F. B. Stubbs, Miss D. W. Taylor, D. G. Thomas, L. E. Thomas, L. K. Upton, A. L. Vann, J. F. N. Wedge, G. H. Willett.
 

COMMENTS: 363 entries, 272 correct. There were many who wrote “lead,” which seems quite inappropriate, for LEAN; “piragua,” which ignores “rascal,” for PIROGUE; “trie,” which, as far as I can see, has no connection with the clue, for BRIE; “feering,” which ignores “at a meal,” for FEEDING; various inapposite alternatives to HELLS. I don’t think three of these clues were difficult, even without a dictionary, if the subsidiary indications had been used to some purpose; the new Chambers was, perhaps, needed to settle LEAN and HELLS definitely. Room should be found for it by holidaymakers!
 
Anagrams naturally predominated in the clues sent in, “ears, noses, n.g.” being the commonest, lending itself to an “& lit.” clue. I chose two of these very numerous sound clues that I liked best, but I feel that it is not really a very good idea, since the result is inevitably too easy. A certain number of clues were ruled out for leading to eyes or ears only: “for example” would have saved some of these. More than usual suffered from longwindedness. But the general standard of soundness was very high.