XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 67

SURFEIT (DLM)

1=  E. J. Collman (Pinner): I will always pay excess fare if sure to be detected (excess fare).

1=  W. E. Green (N10): I will always pay excess fare if sure that I can’t dodge it! (excess fare).

1=  S. B. Green (NW10): I will always offer excess fare if sure to be found out anyway (excess fare).

H.C.

H. P. Chubb (Winkleigh): I will always enjoy my spivic week-ends (Fri.-Tues.) to the full (to the full).

D. L. L. Clarke (Steyning): I will never bluster if asked to pay excess fare (excess fare).

Mrs G. Cumper (Cambridge): I will never forget that enough is true fullness; too much, mere gluttony (too much).

Mrs J. Dean (Porlock): I will always indulge to repletion in a partiality for Milton and such lines as P.L. iv. 248–50 (repletion; ref. Paradise Lost; lines referred to contain two mixtures of the letters of surfeit: “whose fruit” and “Fables true if”).

F. E. Dixon (Dublin): I will never visit Cheddar Gorge, if what is told of the cliff is true (gorge).

J. Gibbs (Oxford): I will never put too much side on if I don’t chalk my cue first (too much; ref. snooker).

C. B. Joyner (Ringwood): I will always chalk my cue first before trying to put on overmuch side (overmuch; ref. snooker).

W. I. N. Kessel (N1): I will always make double sure if there’s some over bidding (some over; ref. bridge).

M. Leaf (NW7): I will never argue first before paying excess fare (excess fare).

R. Macleod (St Andrews): I will never pay E.P.T. without exploring every avenue first (excess (E. in the clue); EPT = excess profits tax, levied in wartime).

B. Matthews (Uppingham): I will always chalk my cue first and never put too much on (too much; ref. snooker).

E. L. Mellersh (Enfield): I will always say “Must fire Strachey” when I can’t get more than enough to eat (more than enough; ref. John S., Min. of Food).

D. A. Nicholls (Prescot): I will never drink to excess (or X——s) if true merit receives no token (excess; i.e., Ximenes).

B. L. Oxley (Theydon Bois): I will always pay any excess fare due, first or third (excess fare).

A. P. O’Leary (Rugby): I will never expect too much profit if sure of a pool (too much).

E. W. Padgett (Oakham): I will always remember that he who puts on too much side should chalk his cue first (too much; ref. snooker).

Rev E. B. Peel (Fleetwood): I will always control my dentures if eating sticky stuff (stuff).

J. A. Plowman (Lane End): I will always put first things first: eupepsy before satiety (satiety).

F. Wallace-Hadrill (Bromsgrove): I will never refute Sir Stafford’s estimate of my E.P.T. (excess (E. in the clue); EPT = excess profits tax, levied in wartime; ref. Sir S. Cripps, Chancellor).

I. W. Wilson (Mitcham): I will never take out my dentures if encumbered with too much toffee (too much).

Comments:—A record entry to start the New Year and 762 correct solutions; there were not many mistakes. A few seemed puzzled by B.B.C. as a clue to tear-gas [bromobenzyl cyanide]: what has become of those A.R.P. lectures?
 
It was not easy to pick the winners from such a surfeit, but eventually the double meaning of “excess fare” seemed the cleverest idea; the three best versions of it are inseparable, and the others are among the H.C.s. One other competitor referred to “excess fares” in the plural, thus missing the merit of the double meaning. Mrs Dean’s literary discovery was remarkable, but with the lines quoted in full it was too long to be considered for a prize. A comforting number of competitors have resolved not to complain too much if Ximenes doesn’t give their clue first prize! A few others have resolved to send Ximenes fruit as a bribe: yes, please—let them all come!
 
Out of the host of entries, some runners-up were:—J. P. Aiken, E. S. Ainley, Dr G. R. Aspinwall, S. Bell, M. Bishop, Miss J. A. N. Buchanan, Col J. D. Campbell, Lt Cdr J. P. Cornish, E. Dehn, L. E. Eyres, Dr J. N. Fell, D. L. Fletcher, T. Fry, C. P. Grant, W. E. Green (Ulverston), Mrs B. P. Hall, P. A. Harrow, Mrs L. Jarman, Mrs R. L. Kemp, Mrs M. Kidner, E. E. R. Kilner, C. Koop, J. L. Langton, T. Lewis, Miss Malcolm, Mrs H. McGladery, D. P. M. Michael, L. E. Morris, Mrs B. Murray, Miss M. Naylor, C. A. Nendick, A. C. Okell, R. Postill, H. Rainger, K. Reed, T. E. Sanders, Lt Col J. D. B. Sealy, G. W. Seddon, E. C. Semmons, R. C. Shorter, H. Snape, W. J. Swords, Miss A. C. Tatham, L. W. Titman, H. S. Tribe, D. L. Tuckett, J. D. Wallace, Dr J. D. S. Watling, W. Watts, C. E. Williams, P. M. Williams.