◀  No. 267 Clue list 31 Jan 1954 Slip image No. 271  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 269

ASCENT

1.  Flt Lt N. D. Young: Emanation of powder and perfume following a make up (a + scent; up, noun).

2.  C. Allen Baker: A track from a quarry? (a scent, & lit.; i.e. upwards).

3.  B. J. Iliffe: Pooh follows a receding line of forebears (a scent; ref. Winnie-the-Pooh, bear).

H.C.

A. J. Bisset: Beginning without a beginning—that’s a journey back in time ((n)ascent).

Rev B. Chapman: Latin American currency shows an upward trend (as3, cent).

J. A. Fincken: You shouldn’t let a clue get you down! (a scent; down3).

S. Goldie: Rise in accidents involved special police being sent out (anag. less CID).

S. B. Green: Lay a pound to a penny—what’s this, a ramp? (as3, cent).

R. W. Hawes: Plant growth may be seen in spring but not in the fall (2 mngs.).

D. Hawson: Upward movement in Latin American money (as3, cent).

L. W. Jenkinson: A climb may be regarded as a near necessity for a Hunt (a scent; ref. Henry C. J. Hunt, leader of 1953 Everest expedition).

E. E. R. Kilner: A paper dropped by would-be escapers, which betrays the flight (a scent (= paperchase); flight of steps).

C. J. Morse: Being born without capital and growing up without an allowance—that’s uphill work! ((n)ascent, a(dole)scent).

G. M. Neighbour: There’s an odour—this joint is getting high (a scent; joint = joined).

F. E. Newlove: Rising from a humble station, being born without a name ((n)ascent; humble = low).

E. G. Phillips: Up-grade of Latin American Currency (as3, cent).

E. J. Rackham: A trace of the fox, naturally the objective of a Hunt! (a scent; ref. Henry C. J. Hunt, leader of 1953 Everest expedition).

C. P. Rea: Getting a paper with a sporting following together is uphill work (a scent (= paperchase)).

Mrs J. Robertson: Being born without a name is no deterrent to climbers ((n)ascent).

E. O. Seymour: Adopting a faulty stance—that’s the way to top! (anag.; top (vb.) = topple).

Mrs E. M. Simmonds: When the penny drops you should get a rise! (as cent).

RUNNERS-UP

E. S. Ainley, F. D. H. Atkinson, Lt Col P. S. Baines, A. J. Barnard, J. W. Bates, Mrs M. M. Bush, Maj H. L. Carter, J. W. Clark-Lewis, R. P. Collett, G. N. Coulter, G. Davis, Mrs N. Dean, C. P. Dearnley, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, W. J. Duffin, L. E. Eyres, Mrs N. Fisher, A. B. Gardner, C. E. Gates, K. N. Graham, Mrs M. H. Gray, V. W. D. Hale, P. G. Hall, Rev A. D. Hodgson, S. Holgate, Mrs L. Jarman, T. E. S. Jobson, L. Johnson, C. Koop, D. P. M. Michael, D. Murray, G. Perry, R. Postill, G. W. Pugh, H. Rainger, J. S. Rioch, A. Robins, J. S. Russell, T. E. Sanders, Miss D. W. Taylor, M. R. Wetherfield, J. B. Widdowson, G. H. Willett, S. E. Wilson, M. Winterbottom.
 

COMMENTS—239 entries and only 10 incorrect: NAJA was accepted at 23, and NAIA is another possibility. The amount of help given in the clues to this type can be varied at will: this was one of the stiffer ones—difficult to start. It is a type about which opinions differ sharply: I have seldom had so many notes of appreciation—for which thank you very much—but I know there are many who hate them, and it mustn’t occur any more frequently, in spite of requests.
 
An easy word produced a lot of good clues in pleasing variety. The capital letter question cropped up again with “Hunt”: I therefore repeat my principle, that I don’t mind a gratuitous capital—to mislead—but I can’t do with the omission of a needed one, for the same purpose.
 
One or two solvers questioned the single T in ESCOTED. I can offer very good authority—“Hamlet” ii. 2—“What, are they children? Who maintains ’em? How are they escoted?” Chambers’s gives a stress on the second syllable of “escot,” which might suggest “escotted”: but I think the principle there is to give the spelling of the past tense and participle if the last letter is doubled—see “besot.” That seems to be why it isn’t given for “escot.” I’m sorry a few people misunderstood the instructions, but I really don’t think “8 first” can mean “first 8.” Nor was there any need to assume that “the 8 longest lines” means “the longest line of each Clerihew”: if I had meant that, I would have said so. The instructions are carefully considered and should be taken literally.
 
I enjoyed the following “tribute” from a solver (Mr. C. E. Williams):—

Correction:—No. 267: In 2nd prize clue note for “Les-trada” read “Les-trade.”
 

 
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