XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 92

PARTRIDGE

1.  Cdr H. H. L. Dickson (Fareham): Cartoonist of Der Tag. May he rest in peace (anag. of Der Tag, RIP; ref. Sir Bernard P. died 1945).

2.  L. C. Wright (Selby): Must be past the flapper stage to produce a powder puff when flushed (cryptic def.; flapper = young p.; puff from shotgun).

3.  R. C. Macfarlane (Edinburgh): Cartoonist of Der Tag, shot two days before war broke out in 1939, merits his R.I.P. (anag. of Der Tag, RIP; ref. Sir Bernard P. died 1945; start of p. shooting season, Sep 1).

H.C.

D. Ambler (Harrow): Game in which the back is never off-side (part, ridge; ridge = the back (obs.)).

M. L. Booker (Clifton): You’ll find the range after a bit, but the cease-fire is due in five weeks (part, ridge; ref. end of p. shooting season, Feb 1).

P. M. Coombs (Burgess Hill): September target achieved by alteration in armaments production (p for c in cartridge; ref. start of p. shooting season, Sep 1).

A. J. Croft (Birmingham): As it is, the game begins softly; with an opening century instead, it goes with a bang (i.e. c for p in partridge = cartridge).

G. E. Denyer (Rickmansworth): The lexicographer has a page about a “Right muck-up”—as you would expect (p a rt. ridge; ref. Eric P., Dict. of Slang).

Dr J. N. Fell (Colchester): The illegitimate pig trader is liable to be shot if he takes to flight (anag.).

Mrs N. Fisher (Stroud): A net return to the back line gives us game. Some volley, too! (trap (rev.) + ridge; ridge = the back (obs.) and line of rooftop).

J. D. Hargreaves (Manchester): Obviously the dictionary to give “the great drip” (anag.; ref. Eric P., Dict. of Slang).

G. G. Lawrance (Harrow): One of the backs must always be on side in this game (part, ridge; ridge = the back (obs.)).

J. P. Lloyd (Swansea): Out of Sir Owen’s top drawer, so to speak, said Fluellen, jumped a big red rat! (anag. of pig, red, rat; Fluellen (Hen. V) pronounced ‘b’ as ‘p’; ref. Sir Bernard P.’s letters to Sir Owen Seaman).

E. L. Mellersh (Enfield): Not a full back, but strong on the wing (i.e. part ridge; ridge = the back (obs.)).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): A number of golfing strokes. Earth goes up. Earth comes down. That’s a kind of game! (par + dirt (rev.) + Ge).

F. E. Newlove (SE9): A proved stayer with a capital punch; game: will take some beating (2 mngs.; ref. Sir Bernard P. and ‘Punch’ magazine).

E. G. Phillips (Bangor): Cantankerous college servant tarred and feathered (anag. of gip, tarred).

J. A. Stafford (Sheffield): In a re-shuffle a pig trader might be game to join the Cabinet (anag.; see partridge-wood).

P. L. Stapleton (N16): The Cabinet may be out of the wood—it’s game to re-organise the civil defence and get rid of the rest (anag. of ARP, get rid; see partridge-wood).

COMMENTS.—249 correct and quite a number of scattered mistakes. There was much difference of opinion on the difficulty of the puzzle; it depended largely on whether the solver knew “The Twelve Days of C.” About 50 competitors failed to read the rules carefully and sent clues to wrong words (generally “pirns”): the wording was “the second word in the Acrosses’ acrostic.” GOWFS was a possible alternative at 20, but of the three who gave it, two had mistakes elsewhere and the third wrote a clue to the wrong word.
 
Many thanks for appreciative notes, both particular and general, and for all the Christmas cards and greetings, which it was very pleasant to receive.
 
Some runners-up.—E. S. Ainley, C. Allen Baker, H. J. Connell, F. L. Constable, J. H. Dingwall, E. E. Evans, L. E. Eyres, C. E. Gates, Miss Gibnor, C. C. M. Giffin, Maj Giles, S. B. Green, G. B. Harker, H. J. Howells, L. W. Jenkinson, C. Koop, F. C. MacIntosh, D. P. M. Michael, W. L. Miron, J. D. P. O’Leary, Rev E. B. Peel, G. H. Podmore, R. Postill, T. E. Sanders, O. Carlton Smith, A. McC. Stevenson, T. R. Tear, L. E. Thomas, J. Walton, W. R. Watson-Smyth, J. S. Young, J. T. Young.
 
All good wishes for 1949 and try not to worry about our New Look—austere, but note its length! The day will no doubt dawn when we can spread ourselves in comfort, and we must be patient!