◀  No. 19521 Dec 1975 Clue list No. 200  ▶

AZED CROSSWORD 197

CAMERA (Printer’s Devilry)

1.  J. B. Sweeting: I translated: ‘The gall i/s bitter’ (‘amer’).

2.  L. W. Jenkinson: Examiners must accept gall i/s bitter (‘amer’).

3.  W. K. M. Slimmings: Witness Be/tty, under lashings of silk and satin – a real pet.

VHC (extra prizes)

R. B. Adcock: Fairy Queen drops in here … yes! be/ndy, falling on bottom (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

M. J. Balfour: Kumari’s only be/nison – marrying a Rajah! (ranis).

Mrs K. Bissett: Shewed to Raj a be/nison – would-be future ruler? (rani).

E. J. Burge: Flying Corps be/fits a more worthy title.

P. A. Cash: Sore be/witched, needing treatment.

R. M. S. Cork: After nit on be/d? On the crib sheets? Had to be changed (niton, radon).

R. Dean: Experienced crew over/weight without exertion.

J. D. Ede: Mental stress was relieved and sobe/red anger to sanity.

M. B. Fisher: Over the real Be/cket, King responsible for Mass murder (Al Capone).

E. A. Free: After the first infectious kiss, her lips be/witched maddeningly.

D. Hawson: Cashing in on the martyred Be/cket at Canterbury in the Middle Ages.

R. J. Hooper: Successful Palace scheme – Rover/s put in grim struggles, were finally quelled (Rasputin).

W. Islip: Geisha’s client be/t her ten sen – a Ming his request.

R. Jacks: Broadcast in summer – Australian tests Be/di – ‘O stop sport!’

B. H. Jackson: Father, to beat mother’s side, be/t her ten sequins.

D. F. Manley: ‘Hot West Indians? O ver/y! Steaming ‘ – Ames in 1973 (hot = excitable; Ray Illingworth).

A. R. McKenzie: Heavy load – I’ll be/t he runs a few inches.

J. P. Murphy: I hired gunman for murder, in/dicating victims (Murder Inc.).

F. R. Palmer: No longer sterling, the South African coinage be/nds.

C. P. Rea: The Temporal lent and O.B.E. came faster – the Spiritual be/g time.

A. J. Redstone: Light Blues? Over/weight, in need of training.

A. D. Scott: Be/nd your minds (stimulated by pot) – entwine?

F. B. Stubbs: Noble challenge – Rover/s put in an epoch-making shot (Rasputin).

J. G. Stubbs: In the bull-ring Manuela tore robe/s, handmade slips (a torero).

L. E. Thomas: Flood-waters be/gin growing less on simply calmer days.

G. A. Tomlinson: Squander cash on ale? I/t’s a reflex for me any day (cameras).

J. Walton: Man with pipe – over/t pollution (Pied Piper).

J. F. N. Wedge: I be/t her bra’s hand-inflated!

P. J. Woods: Gay musician (over/t!), singer many years ago, ’andled young kiddies. Away with him! (Pied Piper).

HC

M. Adams, R. H. Adey, T. Anderson, M. Barnes, E. A. Beaulah, T. E. Bell, P. Berman, R. A. Betts, M. J. Bevan, Mrs D. G. Bishop, A. G. Bogie, R. Brain, Rev C. M. Broun, J. M. Brown, P. Brown, P. E. Bugge, A. J. Bulman, C. O. Butcher, R. S. Caffyn, E. Chalkley, W. R. Chalmers, C. A. Clarke, E. A. Clarke, W. Davies, J. H. Dingwall, P. Drummond, Miss L. Eveleigh, Mrs W. Fearon, P. D. Gaffey, Mrs G. M. Gibbons, D. Godden, S. Goldie, M. Greenwood, G. B. Greer, A. Hodgson, E. M. Hornby, F. G. Illingworth, G. Johnstone, R. E. Kimmons, F. P. N. Lake, M. D. Laws, J. H. C. Leach, A. D. Legge, J. P. Lester, Mrs S. M. Macpherson, J. S. Marzillier, L. May, C. G. Millin, J. G. Morris, Lt Cdr A. R. Nolan, P. G. O’Gorman, S. L. Paton, B. A. Pike, M. G. Powell-Davies, Rear Adm W. T. C. Ridley, P. Rowley, H. R. Sanders, Dr W. I. D. Scott, D. J. Short, A. J. Souter, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, J. C. P. Taylor, D. M. Victor, J. Webster, Rev C. D. Westbrook, W. D. Wigley, G. H. Wilde, G. H. Willett, D. C. Williamson, S. Woods.
 

COMMENTS
By common consent this was a difficult puzzle, some said the most difficult yet. I was all the more pleased, therefore, to receive about 480 entries, almost all correct (a few had BERATE, and one BEFAME, for BEDAZE), and many enthusiastic comments. I’m glad to think I added an extra bit of devilish enjoyment to the holiday period.
 
It was a pity that CAMERA offered so relatively few PD. possibilities. I foresaw this to some extent but decided nevertheless to leave things to your invariable ingenuity. The simplicity and neatness of the first two winners won the day for them, coupled with the fact that they alone used that idea. Following my remarks of a few months ago on the usage of foreign words I hope I won’t be accused of inconsistency, but I found their apt conciseness irresistible. If any non-linguist is still bedazed amer is the French (Gallic) for ‘bitter’.
 
Cinderella and a fine assortment of tramps, bums and down-and-outs begged to be considered in such profusion that few could be admitted. Next most popular idea was Elizabe/th ER., usually in tandem with Henry, closely followed by the Pied Piper and dear old Erato. I can see how difficult it was not to use ‘became’ in undevilled clues and applaud those who strove to introduce me to Occam, Tosca, Casca etc. Believe me, mine was a difficult choice, too.
 
It was reassuring to note how little unsoundness there was this time. The commonest offence is really one of overenthusiasm for devilry wherein every word in the clue is split up and affixed to another. Unless one is very careful (or adept) the result is usually utter gibberish, which tends to put me off. Also beware of straining words and syntax to make your devilled clue make coherent sense at the expense of your undevilled version. Ideally, of course, both should make good senses (making the clue tougher to solve) but if you have to produce stilted language, let it be in the devilled clue.
 
Many of you are still perplexed by my little guessing-game on my wife’s (maiden) name. The top two rows of Azed No. 153, when solved, read SERKALI/SONSE R/GENTILITIAN; the top two rows of No. 199 read MALISON/SERGE N/T/E/ SPLATTERS. All clear now?
 

 

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