XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 694

OSIRIS (Printer’s Devilry)

1.  S. B. Green: Bull? On the regimental notice-board the c/hit appears! (bull = spit-and-polish; Irish bull²).

2.  Mrs E. Shackleton: There’s a matron, and all-in—whack/ed! Ward’s a riot! (‘Whacko’, “Sir” is Edwards; ref. TV comedy with Jimmy E.).

3.  C. J. Morse: For destroying: important unpublished work, 250-year sag/a, “Accursed Diamond” (Story of Newton’s dog, see Brewer).

H.C.

F. D. H. Atkinson: Conductor taking liberties: outraged virtu/e in protest.

A. J. Barnard: May/hem? I grant slaughter is infectious (Mayo).

Mrs K. Bissett: Standing by er/k—being picked-up! (Piccadilly Circus).

Mrs N. Fisher: A victim once of er/k (his d—— arts!), no more I fly.

A. J. Hughes: Proud was the medieval her/e; NB. rash ’e was; made humble later by adversity (Sir Isenbras: see Brewer).

Miss J. S. Lumsden: The beds are lovely, ’cos M/aster Sam ’as soft ones (flowers).

J. D. H. Mackintosh: Appearance of Royalty at Charity Concert makes virtu/e of necessity.

B. Mason: Teach youngsters to stand for a lady. In/itial ways stick fast!

T. W. Melluish: May/hem, I grant, is often seen at work upon our roads (Mayo).

D. P. M. Michael: Slig/ht weeds are as good as done, gals (Sligo, Donegal).

E. J. Miller: Look at the C.O.’s m/essage: “Carrots” and Rosemary together in one bed.

P. H. Morgan: “Under the Apple Bough”—sage sag/a acclaimed “A discovery” (Isaac Newton).

F. E. Newlove: New York’s the place for may/hem, I grant—seven to-day! (Mayo).

M. Newman: For high-speed notes, thanks, t/a! A cart is trying race, fully exceeding 100: soon comes, with practice! (Isaac Pitman’s shorthand).

R. Postill: Sir Christopher might have said: “T/a! Acid drop? Another apple?” (Wren and Newton colleagues in RS).

R. E. Scraton: After excellent trip/e, to a doctor—ate very quickly!

J. G. Stubbs: Did Millais late rout d/umb R.A.’s at the ford? (‘Sir Isumbras…’, painted in 1857).

J. B. Sweeting: I am a hog! Any objection? N/ay. Then I, Sir, am but an ass. That I am! (1A mahogany … is 1 rambutan, etc.: ref. Apr 1 puzzle).

Miss D. W. Taylor: Reading for trip/e! ’Ats, even when I get my bait, won’t be necessary.

RUNNERS-UP

R. B. Adcock, Lt Col P. S. Baines, R. Brain, F. D. Brightman, G. H. Clarke, P. M. Coombs, N. C. Dexter, A. B. Gardner, J. Gill, E. Gomersall, C. P. Grant, N. L. Gray, R. G. Hamilton, F. H. W. Hawes, D. Hawson, C. H. Hudson, B. J. Iliffe, Miss H. I’Anson, V. Jennings, D. S. Johnson, L. Johnson, M. J. Lanchester, A. Lawrie, A. D. Legge, N. A. Longmore, Dr T. J. R. Maguire, Mrs W. J. Mahood, J. Mann, J. S. Marzillier, Mrs E. McFee, T. N. Nesbitt, G. R. F. Park, S. L. Paton, W. H. Pegram, Mrs N. Perry, E. G. Phillips, D. G. Putnam, E. J. Rackham, G. H. Ravenor, Rev E. G. Riley, W. Rodgers, H. Rotter, E. O. Seymour, J. E. Smith-Wright, T. L. Strange, A. R. Trowel, G. R. Webb, T. A. Whitamore, Cdr D. P. Willan, Mrs M. Wishart, J. E. Woodley, M. Woolf, Mrs Yu-Mei Lim.
 

ANNUAL HONOURS LIST FOR 13 COMPETITIONS:—1. C. J. Morse & R. Postill. (2 prizes, 7 H.C.s). 3. R. E. Scraton (3-4). 4. Miss D. W. Taylor (2-5). 5. C. O. Butcher, M. Newman, A. Robins (1-5). 8. S. B. Green, Mrs L. Jarman (2-2), C. Allen Baker, R. N. Chignell (1-4); F. D. H. Atkinson, D. P. M. Michael (0-6). 14. E. Gomersall, Mrs E. McFee, T. E. Sanders (1-3). 17. A. J. Young (2-0); R. B. Adcock, C. E. Gates (1-2); F. G. Illingworth, (0-4).
 
CONSOLATION PRIZES:—F. D. H. Atkinson, D. P. M. Michael.
 
Total different prizewinners to date:—370.
 
Total different prizewinners and/or H.C.s:—1,311.
 
COMMENTS:—331 entries, 306 correct: COTE caused most of the errors, BARGAINS being almost the only other word missed. It is possible to fit m alternatives to COTE, but the sense they give is far too strained to be acceptable. OSIRIS was none too easy to clue: it was difficult to make "sir” natural, and several otherwise good efforts failed over this. I should say that among the clues which didn’t use “sir”, Tripos was the most popular subject: here, again, there was a danger of. “rise” being unnatural. The selection above presents, I think, much ingenuity and good variety: the prizewinners are all excellent, and Miss Lumsden, Mr. Miller and Mr. Newman, especially, come close to them. Mr. Sweeting’s tour-de-force is perhaps hardly fair, but it was so ingenious that I couldn’t rob it of an H.C. There was some over-ingenuity in messing about with word-division: it should be remembered that this, unless done with restraint, gives the game away and makes spotting the gap too easy. In general, a very good entry.
 
We nearly had a new champion in the annual list: Mr. Scraton was only caught in the closing stages. Congratulations to him on his rise and to Messrs. Morse and Postill, the joint champions. This is the third time running the championship has been shared by Mr. Morse: last year he shared it with Mr. Allen Baker, the year before with Mr. Postill. Congratulations also to Miss Taylor on being leading lady.
 
A few more words on April 1st! I am delighted to find that my qualms were unnecessary: I have had masses of messages from solvers assuring me they enjoyed being caught, and only one from a solver who says he hasn’t forgiven me; and I dare say he had his tongue in his cheek—I hope so. I have even had a request to do it again without warning! But I still think that would hardly do. Finally join me in commiserating with Mrs McFee, whose correct solution was delayed in the post—an especially cruel moment for that to happen.