XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 90

ROTHER

1.  D. P. M. Michael (Newport): Stream of abuse to describe a bête noire? (3 mngs.; river; black cattle variety).

2.  Capt C. Tyers (Elstead): In bed and progressing, though a mutilated remnant is all that’s left of her (anag. of ort + her; river-bed).

3.  W. O. Robertson (Marlow): The right of the King to represent the lower class (r o’ the R; epithet for low-er; cattle variety).

H.C.

E. S. Ainley (S. Harrow): Take a second flower from a Sussex spring rose (r other; River R.).

C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): Roaring like bulls, both sides break off relations ((b)rother(s)).

Maj P. S. Baines (W11): In due course East passes Robert’s bridge contract and South doubles, making a wry mouth to declarer (cryptic def.; i.e. Robertsbridge, ‘Rye’, on course of river in Sussex).

W. J. Emerson (W8): Unquestionably affluent, its banks’ fat deposits are even referred to by Shakespeare. (T. of A.) (IV.3, “lards the rother’s sides”; affluent = inflowing stream).

R. Fraser (Cambridge): Reminting of the gold sovereign is restricted by the banks (anag. of the or R; river).

C. B. Joyner (Ringwood): Perennial flower of some kind or other, useful for a border (hidden; flower = river; border of Kent and Sussex).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): Like the herd “winding slowly o’er the lea,” and breaking into a run together! (i.e. Arun (river of Sussex); ref. Gray’s Elegy).

I. J. Nicholas (Wellingborough): The head of the table up north is reduced by the bacon cut to roaring for water (Rother(ham) in 3rd Div. North, football).

G. H. Podmore (Altrincham): Roaring river, a bit turbulent with explosive liquid (anag. of ort + HE + r (liquid consonant)).

J. Riley (SE12): Thro’ East Riding tortuously makes its way to the sea (anag. incl. E.R.; Yorkshire river [see comments]).

T. E. Sanders (Walsall): Yorkshire’s tribute to the Don—given a ham at meeting (Rother(ham); tributary of River Don).

A. J. C. Saunders (Sanderstead): Lowing to be encountered twice in coming thro’ the Rye! (hidden; two rivers R. and Rye in Sussex; song ‘Loch Lomond’).

Mrs E. Shackleton (W. Wickham): Encountered in “Coming thro’ the Rye”? Certainly comes pretty near! (hidden; river R. and Rye in Sussex; song ‘Loch Lomond’).

J. E. Simpson-Jones (Birkenhead): My bête noire horned in somehow or other, curse her (hidden, rot her; black cattle variety).

COMMENTS.—552 correct: Some were troubled by Nessus, but there were not a great many errors. An easyish puzzle: a few of the experts may have felt that they hadn’t had their money’s worth, but many less expert greeted their opportunity.
 
The standard of clues sent in was, on the whole, not high, but from the large entry a long list of pretty equal runners-up has been weeded out. Mr. Simpson-Jones missed a prize because of the apparently meaningless “my.” I am rather tired of “flower” = “river”—not a new device, though I dare say I may use it again when hard put to it!—but I have commended the two I liked best among the many users of it.
 
Shakespeare gives authority for the use of “rother” as a noun, though Chambers does not mention it: it was therefore not ruled out.
 
The three different rivers received full attention: I hope no one will point out apropos of Mr. Riley’s clue that the northern R. does not flow through the E.R. to the sea!
 
Mr. J. H. Dingwall has worked out a neat explanation Mr. I. W. Robertson’s clue quoted last week. Others ask for such an explanation, so here it is:
 
“Spring = season.
 
Mainspring without spring = main = sea.
 
Off with spring = offspring = son.
 
Sea + son = season.”
 
Some runners-up.—D. Ambler, M. A. Anderson, S. Ashworth, A. G. Barton, F. B. Bourdillon, H. J. Cape, H. P. Chubb, F. L. Constable, F. S. Danks, W. Eite, E. E. Evans, Dr Fell, K. A. Fellows, A. C. Fenton, Mrs Fuller, S. B. Green, G. M. Gwynn, G. H. L. Harpur, D. Hawson, H. C. Hills, Mrs Holland, Miss Jenkins, C. Koop, Mrs Laing, Sir P. Laird, L. J. H. Lediard, R. W. Lerrigo, Mrs Lockley, Mrs Mallinson, A. R. McInroy, T. W. Melluish, D. S. Milford, D. G. C. Mockridge, G. M. Neighbour, D. A. Nicholls, A. Norris, A. P. O’Leary, E. G. Phillips, R. Postill, H. Rainger, W. K. M. Slimmings, G. Stanhope-Lovell, E. B. Stevens, L. Stone, A. H. Taylor, Miss D. W. Taylor, P. H. Taylor, J. Templeton, E. Wagstaff, E. Wainwright, Miss Walsh, J. F. N. Wedge, J. B. Welman.