XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 84

SHINGLE / THIRSTY

1.  E. B. Stevens (Morden): Like a gasper? Try this mixture—close cut, English blend (anag. of try this; short haircut; anag. of English; ref. cigarettes and tobacco).

2.  M. E. Moss (Glastonbury): XXX with a dash of soda making dry English cocktail to distress the head! (s(oda) in thirty; anag. of English; dis-tress = cut hair; ref. XXX grade rum).

3.  R. Brain (Surbiton): Try this freshly-mixed dry English cocktail, “Short Cut.” Just one if you’re tipsy—to have more would be rash (anag. of try this; anag. of English; i.e. ‘single’ pronounced with slur; i.e., shingles).

H.C.

F. A. Clark (Croydon): Needing a drink? Try this cocktail (1/-): a tumbler of gin and the genuine French. You get it down the Strand (anag. of try this; sh (=shilling) + anag. of gin, le; strand¹ = beach).

J. Coleby (Hawarden): For a change try this dry, rocky English coast—deposit required (anag. of try this; anag. of English; i.e., coast-deposit).

W. Darby (SE21): Wanting a drink? Try this cocktail. English version: Stony? As there’s no slate, you may have this on the house (anag. of try this; anag. of English; stony broke; i.e., as roofing).

J. H. Dingwall (N12): Dry? Try this cocktail. It’s an English concoction and will show what sort of a head you have (anag. of try this; anag. of English; haircut).

L. Dixon (Westcliff): Very stony and rather sozzled bachelor says he is in need of a drink. Try this cocktail (stony broke; i.e. ‘single’ pronounced with slur; anag. of try this).

T. H. East (Greenford): Try this recipe for dry Englsh cocktail: it will take your hair off! (anag. of try this; anag. of English; haircut).

Mrs N. Fisher (Stroud): Wanting a splash? Try this turning—here’s a signboard: “Short cut for the beach” (anag. of try this; shingle¹ = signboard (US); haircut).

R. McD. Graham (Glasgow): English version cut short? Very dry? Try this translation (anag. of English; short haircut; anag. of try this).

S. B. Green (NW10): Intemperate individual at sea-side wanting a drink might be moved to try this (i.e. ‘single’ pronounced with slur; anag. of try this).

H. F. Greenwood (Liverpool): Dry? Try this well mixed English cocktail. Obtainable at most bars (anag. of try this; anag. of English; bar = shoal).

A. R. McInroy (Edinburgh): Says the toper “Jusht one on the house: I’m desperate for a draught of Three X, being without a shilling!” (i.e. ‘single’ pronounced with slur; shingle=roofing material; s in thirty; brand of beer).

D. P. M. Michael (Newport): Dry? Try this concoction. Not everyone has the head for it—round about six quarts make the legs unsteady (anag. of try this; haircut; hin (= 6 quarts) in anag. of legs).

J. D. P. O’Leary (Thames Ditton): Dry, but cut the top off first in your becoming English hair-style ((f)irst in thy; anag. of English; haircut).

R. Postill (Jersey): School House Fire In Scotland. Head’s Close Shave As Dives Amid Flames (SH ingle; short haircut; cryptic def.; ref. Dives and Lazarus, Luke 16:19ff).

A. J. C. Saunders (Sanderstead): Wanting a drink? Have a change from XXX’s and try this! Stones make it from pure English ingredients! (anag. of thirty’s; anag. of try this; anag. of English; ref. XXX grade rum, Stones ginger wine, etc.).

Miss D. W. Taylor (Sidcup): Leg fractured after climb up tree to get wood for roofing—needing a drink! Try this cocktail (shin + anag. of leg; anag. of try this).

E. Wagstaff (SW18): Want a drink? Try this new recipe on the house: one-third part sherry, pour in gin (mix well), add the French last (anag. of try this; sh(erry) + anag. of gin + le).

Dr K. P. Whitehead (Widnes): A broken leg below the tibia—a close shave—over-eager result of taking double bend about thirty (shin, anag. of leg; short haircut; S (bend) in thirty).

Comments.—303 correct. Many wrote “berret” for BARRET (B. arret, British tribunal’s decision); a few missed TRIPTOTE.
 
Entries provided a cocktail party to make the mouth water. Many clues were spoilt by the inclusion of a gratuitous “and,” “but,” “or,” etc., at the join.
 
Runners-up:—Maj P. S. Baines, C. Allen Baker, W. W. Brown, Mrs Caithness, Rev B. Chapman, D. L. Clements, F. L. Constable, E. Davies, Cdr Dickson, F. E. Dixon, J. F. Dow, J. Duffill, L. E. Eyres, T. C. Fitzpatrick, G. C. Fuller, C. E. Gates, G. O. Gibb, E. R. Gibbs, W. E. Green (Ulverston), H. C. Hills, J. Hardie Keir, C. Koop, G. G. Lawrance, L. J. Lawrance, J. P. Lloyd, Mrs McCartie, C. M. McEwan, I. A. H. Munro, G. M. Neighbour, F. E. Newlove, A. E. North, R. C. Payn, Rev E. B. Peel, Mrs Porter, T. I. Pound, H. Rainger, A. Robins, N. Roles, T. E. Sanders, J. C. Saunders, R. A. Smithson, A. H. Taylor, J. Thompson, Capt R. F. Tyers, E. H. L. Whitestone.