◀  No. 571 Clue list 3 Jan 1960 Slip image No. 578  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 573

SCAPEGALLOWS

1.  C. O. Butcher (E4): Among lags here is one lag who ought to be strung up head first (cape + lag (rev.) in slows, & lit.).

2.  G. H. Dickson (Delgany): The monkey’s become chafed underneath with surrounding small vessels ruptured; he should have swung! (ape + gall3 (vb. intrans.) in scows).

3.  Capt A. S. Birt (Twickenham): Although it is a theme which is in demand in broadcasts, it is a very dangerous subject needing careful execution (a peg in call, all in sows).

H.C.

C. Allen Baker (Milnathort): Carver of SPACE TO LET midway between top and bottom of gibbets, perhaps! (anag. of space + allow in g(ibbet)s, & lit.).

M. A. Anderson (Redhill): Someone like Macheath produces head swelling among the sluts (cape2 gall3 in sows; sow2; ref. Beggar’s Opera).

F. D. H. Atkinson (Claygate): Killer up against Society makes the blood run cold, revealing animal malignity within (S + ape gall3 in cows & lit.; cow2).

Lt Col P. S. Baines (Chatham): Murderer perhaps turns pale—when comprehending the judge’s change of head dress for example! (cap + eg in sallows & lit.).

E. A. Beaulah (Felsted): Chap who’s thought fit to swing much of “Tosca” produces a score including almost everything vulgar ((To)sca + al(l) low in pegs).

J. Coleby (Buckley): No ruddy saint, better for example imprisoned; really deserves hanging (cap +eg in sallow + S & lit.; cap (vb.); i.e. not ruddy (red) = sallow).

A. E. Crow (Brentwood): As lag slew cop wantonly, he ought to swing (anag.).

J. H. Dingwall (SW19): A little science applied to a contrivance for hanging enables a man to avoid due execution (Sc(ience) a peg allows).

L. E. Eyres (Bath): Family severs connection with ne’er-do-well—sends remittance instead: thus he becomes an utter criminal (scapeg(race) allows).

J. A. Fincken (WC2): A horrid place aglow, with nasty guards about, will suit him (anag. in SS, & lit.; ref. Hell).

C. E. Gates (Kettering): Head girl in slacks deserves suspension! (cape + gal in slows).

V. Jennings (Reading): It’s frightfully low-class having to hold a split suspender—I ought to get a length of rope! (a peg in anag.; i.e. clothes peg).

A. H. Jones (Manchester): I’d make the law go capless: my judge could not then don a black one! (anag.).

Mrs E. McFee (Rhos-on-Sea): Low-class page, misbehaving, is one who deserves to be turned off (anag.; turn off = hang (archaic slang).

C. J. Morse (SW10): Why is this picture of countryside with cows (16th century) still unhung? (-scape gallows; g.= frightens, Shakesp.).

R. Postill (Jersey): I should swing. May, deep in the slips, please! (gal low in scapes: may2 = maid, gal; scape2; ref. swing bowling, Peter May, cricketer, fielding).

A. Robins (Manchester): Depths of depression after transgression with girl—I really ought to be highly strung and dancing on air! (scape2 gal lows).

Mrs E. Shackleton (Newbury): Game (a brace?) should be hung (scape3, gallows; g. = one of pr. of braces).

M. Winterbottom (Oxford): Lag slew a P.C. so may well be this! (anag. & lit.).

M. Woolf (W9): Free wall-spaces go to show evidence of hanging-committee’s incompetence (anag.).

RUNNERS-UP

T. H. Ayre, T. E. Bell, E. C. Bingham, J. Caulfield, A. N. Clark, P. Cranmer, J. McI. Cruickshank, J. C. B. Date, N. C. Dexter, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, L. L. Dixon, T. N. Dowse, W. J. Emerson, Mrs N. Fisher, J. Flood, B. L. H. Ford, F. D. Gardiner, C. C. M. Giffin, S. Goldie, Rev R. M. Grace, R. McD. Graham, S. B. Green, R. R. Greenfield, J. D. Hatfield, F. H. W. Hawes, E. P. Hewetson, Lt M. J. Hickman, M. Hodson, S. Holgate, Dr T. O. Hughes, Mrs L. Jarman, T. E. S. Jobson, J. F. Jones, C. Koop, Mrs R. D. Lemon, Mrs M. Tyrrell Lewis, R. M. MacGillivray, T. J. R. Maguire, A. D. Mattock, E. L. Mellersh, N. W. R. W. Mellon, T. W. Melluish, P. H. Morgan, H. B. Morton, M. Newman, G. R. F. Park, Miss M. J. Patrick, G. Perry, E. G. Phillips, J. R. Playford, S. Plumb, E. J. Rackham, K. Reed, Mr & Mrs A. Rivlin, H. Rotter, E. O. Seymour, W. K. M. Slimmings, J. W. M. Smith, H. J. Snelgar, J. A. L. Sturrock, P. H. Taylor, Mrs J. Thomas, D. H. Tompsett, H. S. Tribe, A. D. Walker, G. C. West, A. H. M. Williams.
 

COMMENTS:—372 entries, 348 correct: the few errors were chiefly “demisee” (non-existent?) for DEVISEE. The clues sent were very good, and I think my selection above shows an exceptional amount of variety of treatment. The long list of runners-up shows the extent to which unsoundness in clue- writing is disappearing, but I will quote just a few examples of unsound wording, as I have not done so since October. “Law gaps close, but this rascal still finds one.” This fails because there is no indication that an anagram is intended.— “It’s a painting to praise in generous terms, one that deserves hanging.” “To praise” with no indication of obsoleteness is hardly fair for “allow”: also, “generous terms” cannot possibly mean “the ends of generous.”—“He needs a suspender, or may slip damnably, as they say.” The word “may” is unjustifiable padding.—“Slip of a girl entering low society shortly—hang it all, she’s better dead!” “Of” is padding: “entering” won’t do for “preceding”: “it” will do for the whole word, although it is a person, but “it” can hardly become “she” immediately afterwards.—I hope these observations may be helpful, but if, as seems possible, we get an all-sound entry in the near future, I don’t know how I shall choose—it is already a very difficult job.
 

 
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