XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 221

BUNTHORNE

1.  P. A. Drillien (Harpenden): Pooh Bah expressed his sentiments—“Come here, little girls” (i.e. expressing disappointment; ‘So go to him’ and ‘When I go out of door’, and Mikado).

2.  L. Johnson (N. Harrow): The muddled bonne Ruth would have done for this disappoinied suitor (anag.; R., nurse in ‘Pirates of Penzance’).

3.  Mrs E. M. Simmonds (Cookham Dean): “A cursed thing”: often pursued by a crocodile (dialogue after ‘If you’re anxious for to shine,’ and “two and two”; crocodile = line (of maidens)).

H.C.

C. Allen Baker (Milnathort): Wed her? No—crushed (and getting the push early too!) (bunt¹ + anag., & lit.).

R. N. Chignell (Bexhill): He had a passion for the potato but disliked dirty greens (‘If you’re anxious for to shine’ and ‘Am I alone and unobserved?’).

W. J. Duffin (Hull): He recommended professing passion for a French bean, evidently the bonne, Ruth “on breakers always steering” (anag.; ‘If you’re anxious for to shine’; R., nurse in ‘Pirates of Penzance’).

H. H. Elliott (Dublin): Was his passion for Poppy and Lily only sentimental? No, he burnt extravagantly! (anag.; ‘If you’re anxious for to shine’).

H. Lyon (W1): No nut and herb concoction for him: he prefers beans and potatoes! (anag.; ‘If you’re anxious for to shine’).

E. L. Mellersh (Enfield): Appreciated by the Chancellor, sang Pooh Bah (i.e. expressing disappointment; “He pays his taxes”, Act I init., and Mikado).

J. T. Milton (Hove): Unique opportunity—unrepeatable—price ten and sixpence (Finale, Act I, “Put in half a guinea”).

W. L. Miron (Nottingham): Author of “Heart Foam” and “The Unborn” (anag.; poem in Act I).

A. D. Mitchner (St. Albans): Was going to express himself Pooh-Bah-wise to his rival! (i.e. expressing disappointment; Mikado).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): His apparent fondness for veg. didn’t really extend to dirty greens! (‘If you’re anxious for to shine’ and ‘Am I alone and unobserved?’).

A. P. O’Leary (Rugby): The brideless bard despoileth the unborn (anag.).

J. W. Parr (Reigate): The unborn reformer (anag.; “You had a mother once … Never!”, Act II).

R. Postill (Jersey): Character from Ben Hur not likely to have won an Oscar? Not likely! (anag.; B. thought to satirise O. Wilde).

E. R. Prentice (Bristol): Think of faint lilies, he said—then burn passionately with love within (0 in anag.; B. to maidens, Act I).

W. K. M. Slimmings (New MaIden): Ennui I shed and throb excitedly … “No doubt I am highly-spiced!” (anag. less I; B. to Jane, Act II).

RUNNERS-UP

V. E. Brooke, Brig W. E. Duncan, J. F. Epps, Mrs N. Fisher, Rev B. Foley, F. Gibbons, A. L. Jeffery, T. W. Melluish, C. J. Morse, G. Tiplin, J. F. N. Wedge, C. W. K. Willard, Mrs S. E. Wilson.
 

COMMENTS—111 correct and many mistakes in the solutions of those who were reduced to guess-work: FLUNG was especially tiresome—“Here’s a man of jollity … Into it we fling bird who doesn’t sing!”, Yeomen, Act I, chorus at entry of Point and Elsie. There could be no reference to Tit-willow, where the bird did sing, surely! Much enthusiasm was expressed by those who like this sort of thing, and there were also a few—very good-tempered—grouses. I knew it wouldn’t appeal to those who were not nearly word-perfect, unless they were people who enjoyed research: that is why I set such puzzles very, very seldom. I don’t think I would have done it in the fortnightly era, but with a puzzle every week I think it was reasonable to gratify enthusiasts of a special kind for once. A few suggested that more subsidiary clues would have been kinder. Yes, but they would have denied to enthusiasts and researchers the benefit of their specialities and made the puzzle too much like a Plain, I think. There were several who asked for more: the answer must be “What, never?—Hardly ever! … Of that there is no manner of doubt”!