“ Our sole objection to abbreviations is that they cannot be defined without practically telling what they are. Parts of the verb “to be”; prepositions; the Egyptian Sun God, Ra; Pi, em, ma, pa, i.e., e.g., so, to, go, do, are to be found in almost every cross word puzzle, and the solver gets heartily tired of them. So the better patterns avoid these two word spaces. The three letters words contain some old favorites, too. Eel, emu and gnu are among the most popular. It seems that almost nine-tenths of the puzzles we look at have a “snake-like fish” wriggling in them somewhere. ”

“ The first thing that strikes the eye is the pattern in which the words are intermingled. Our experience teaches that an all-over interlock is an absolute necessity, and except in a few cases you will find that the puzzles in this book possess this quality. The advantages are obvious; when all the words interlock, you can check up the horizontal by the vertical, and vice versa.
Occasional stunt patterns are interesting, but as a general thing they are apt to detract from the value of a puzzle as a thing to be solved. ”

“ A word form is a set of words arranged one under the other so that their letters may be read across and down to give sensible readings, sometimes the same readings across and down and sometimes different readings. They may be of many geometric configurations, as square, pyramid, octagon, etc. Their origin is lost in the mists of time.
Word forms, especially squares, have a considerable following of very skillful adepts, most of them members of the National Puzzlers’ League, who construct and solve them with the same sort of devotion that a chess player demonstrates toward chess. ”

“ The great public following goes to the Cross Word Puzzle, which is an expanded word form in which, commonly, only dictionary words are allowed. It is this simplicity of words, together with its larger and more elaborate construction, that makes it irresistible to the casual puzzler. A cross word square, or other geometric figure, is a logical modern development of the ancient word square. The insertion of black spaces permits it to be made of any size and gives an interesting variety of inner construction. ”

“ But perhaps the most fascinating of all word puzzles are [20] the types in which words are to be guessed from definitions. There is the well-known acrostic, where with definitions as clues you arrive at a set of words of which the initial letters, or finals or second letters or third, as may have been determined, will spell another or other words. During the struggle for Italian freedom an acrostic was seen in the shibboleth, Vittorio Emmanuele Re D’Italia, giving the name of the composer, Verdi. ”

“ Most august of all is the fish symbol for Christ, which was held in much mystic veneration in the early Christian centuries. The Greek word for fish, Ichthys (Ιχθυς) was seen to be composed of the first letters of the sacred phrase, Iesous Christos Theou Huios Soter (Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς Θεοῦ Υἱὸς Σῷτήρ) , meaning “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
It is the feature of determining words from definitions that has made “word forms” the most popular genus of puzzle. ”

“ It is extremely difficult, in the construction of cross word puzzles, to avoid the use of such “unkeyed” letters, and effort has been used to ensure the presence of common words where more than one letter is unkeyed; but the exigencies of construction will not always allow this. Nor should it always be done; allowance must be made for erudition on the part of the solver. ”

“ But trouble waits just around the corner. There are other definitions which [13] are not so simple as “product of coal or pine.” In the far reaches of the puzzle to which the above corner belongs may be found such definitions as “Vexation (Provincial British) ,” “Humorous figure of speech,” “One-sided headaches” and “Droning dung-beetles.” Is the solver prepared to state that he can fill the spaces represented by those words without the assistance of the linked horizontals or verticals? ”

“ Among such the forms take the most learned guise and consist of the most unusual sort of words. With the adepts any word that has ever been printed in an English book is allowable, and thus there is a great selection [21] of exotic words in various spellings from old gazetteers, books of travel, etc. The adept delights in words that no one has ever heard of before. ”

“ If you are hopelessly stuck, try another puzzle. Inspiration sometimes waits for a return engagement.
A pleasant feeling of something attempted, something done accompanies the solution of a cross word puzzle. It’s good for the inferiority complex. [25]
[Contents]
Puzzle No. 1 A SOFT BEGINNING By Gregorian
The two long central words, if solved at once, will give sufficient clues to permit of rapid solution. ”

“ Consider the solver as he faces his problem. The numbers in the squares, he knows, refer to the definitions; in the system of numbering used in this book, the first letters only are indicated by numbers. Thus 1 horizontal means a word that will fill the space following the figure up to the next black square. ”

“ That is the simplest method of beginning the solution. When you have written in all the words you are sure of you will have plenty of clues for the unknowns.
Don’t spend too much time with the long words unless you are sure of them. They will appear when the short ones have been solved. Of course, not all the short ones are easy, but they are generally more readily attended to than the long ones. Also, there are more of them, increasing the chances of finding familiar faces among the definitions. ”

“ Horizontal
1 Lowest form of life 12 Product of coal or pine 18 Opponent
Vertical
1 Gustated 2 Divine nourishment 3 Before 4 Indefinite number
1 2 3 4 12 18 20 30 32 33
[12]
The solver, then, looks the puzzle over. Aha! a friend. 12 horizontal, three letters long—“product of coal or pine.” Triumphantly the solver writes TAR in the spaces and proceeds with this clue. 2 Vertical is defined as “Divine Nourishment.” It links with TAR at the second letter. A moment of thought and MANNA appears as the only possible solution. ”

“ This erudite contribution comes from an old-time puzzler who is one of the experts on ingenuities. He does not hesitate to delve in the darkest corners of the dictionary for words to fill his pattern. ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Carry out by action, effort, or skill of any kind 2 Part of the verb “to be” 3 Square or rectangular block of wood 4 Largest continent 5 Prefix, from, out of; used before many words beginning with a consonant 6 Auditory organ 7 Belonging to a particular genus or class; definite article 8 Scot: one 9 Flock; brood 10 Bad luck; loss; the worst; also the best 11 Abbreviation for “railroad” 12 Art or practice of foretelling by signs or omens 15 Drinking vessel 18 From Greek “life”: a combining form 20 Protecting crane-arm ”

“ HORIZONTAL
1 Duct 4 Bird’s beak 7 Assume 10 Steel-pointed mining tool 13 Hunting shoe 14 Genus 16 Equity 17 Organ 18 Bituminous shale 20 Intermittent fever 22 Four-wheel truck supporting the front end of a locomotive 24 Coral isle 26 More or less 27 Pony 29 (In poker) stake put up 30 Rich vegetable mold 31 Energy 32 Combination of acetic acid with glycerine 34 Thick ointment of wax, etc. ”

“ HORIZONTAL
1 African antelope 5 By means of 8 Stop 12 Beam 13 Impenetrably hard 14 Secure 15 Adversary 17 Write 18 Produce 20 Woolen material 21 Distribute 24 Female deer 25 Viscous matter of a cell 28 Chalky chemical substance 30 Fracas 31 Preposition 33 Annoy 35 Rhymed composition 36 Live 37 Natural 38 Pendent 39 Edge 40 One 41 Imitated 42 Trimming 44 Suffice 45 Journey 47 Patent 49 Eschew 51 Touch 53 Faith 55 Wanting 56 A drug 59 Be indisposed 60 Matchless 63 Liquid refreshment 64 Malady of the brain 65 Period of time 66 Dropsy 67 Part of verb “to be” 68 Inscription-bearing stone ”

“ VERTICAL
2 Egyptian god 3 Beverage 4 Behold 5 River of India 6 Trickle (Scotch) 7 Plant of the parsley family 9 Native of Scotland 10 Figures that taper uniformly from a circular base 11 Elevated railroad 12 A weight of about 28 lbs. ”

“ Puzzle No. 40 99​9⁄10 PER CENT PURE By Kross Korner Knut
They don’t come much better than this one. K.K.K. is an expert of the first water and knows how to put words together in a fascinating pattern. ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Stand 2 French Protectorate 3 Decay 4 Article 5 Mountain in Arabia 6 Before 7 A capsule 8 Above 9 Preposition 10 Maiden symbolic of truth 11 Period of fast 12 To impede 15 Last of two 18 Arabian beast 19 Whorl 22 One who likes better 23 Preposition 24 Drivers 26 Symbol for Platinum 27 Astringent mineral substance 28 Pronoun 29 Railroad 30 Sailing vessel 33 Shouts 34 Slack 36 A pouting girl 37 An engine of war 39 Color 41 Tooth 44 Spicy root 47 On one string (Mus. abbr.) ”

“ NOT SO BLACK AS PAINTED 109 44. FINE AND DANDY 111 45. A LINGUAL LABYRINTH 113 46. A HUNDRED PER CENTER 115 47. CRANK HER UP 117 48. A VOCABULARY TESTER 119 49. IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE 121 50. OF SOMEWHAT ORIENTAL FLAVOR 123
Colophon Availability This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org.
This eBook is produced by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net. ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Ancient European silver coin 2 Eradicate 3 Pertaining to Mithra 4 Mothers: a Tagalog term 5 Named 6 Constant teasing desire 7 Act of swimming 8 Above 9 A patcher 10 Earthly paradise 11 Pupils of military school 12 Unit 13 Rubbish 14 Foolish action 15 Poniards 20 Famous Swiss river 22 Born 25 Inclined plane 28 Clergymen 31 Wood nymph 35 A booth 36 Inner court of Spanish dwelling 37 Willow basket 38 Drainage pipe 40 Sister of Circe (Gr. myth.) 41 Jabs 43 Part of foot 44 Vessel 46 In a humble rank 47 Period of time 53 Salt of stannic acid (chem.) ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Harsh sound 2 Behold 3 Likewise, also 4 Sour 5 Duty 6 After ends 7 Agitate 8 A worthless leaving 9 Personal pronoun 10 Reed-pipe 14 Town in Italy 16 Born 17 Used for baking 19 Chemical group 21 Spare time 23 Stone 25 Domestic animal 27 Bog 29 Sacred vessel 32 Moral science 33 Part of speech 34 Preserve 35 Administered extreme unction to 36 Character in Ibsen play 37 Bloodsucking fly 40 Primer 43 Covering of a seed 44 Period of time 47 Unit 48 Point of compass 50 Exclamation 52 Editor (abbr.) ”

“ Puzzle No. 5 WELL BALANCED By Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Waller
This is a nice study in words of medium length, as was dictated by the two-ply “X” construction. The solver will observe that the central interlock is of the good, familiar “L” joint sort.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65
[32]
HORIZONTAL
1 Tumult 5 Part of harness 9 Thin metal strip 11 Seldom 13 Preposition 15 Small drink 17 Expression 18 Behold 19 Salt (chem.) ”

“ Fem. gen. “one”; an; 51 Beat; torture; vex; also to harden or prepare 54 Any product of mental apprehension or activity 55 Conjunction 57 Offers 59 Poetic: to open 60 Bar 61 Drink slowly 63 Golf term 65 Conjunction 66 River in Italy 67 Conjunction 69 Prefix (negative)
[69]
[Contents]
Puzzle No. 23 CROSSWORD VALENTINE By J. W. Shaw
This contributor has dedicated himself to romance. ”

“ HORIZONTAL
1 Unsteady 6 Appoint 12 Remotely 13 Besides 15 Upon 17 Worry 19 Bang 20 Fourth tone of musical scale 21 A bark or yelp 23 Pooh! 24 Climbing plant 25 Purpose 26 Poisonous sap of Malaysian trees 28 Toward 29 Perform 30 Hireling or serf 31 A drink made of wine, water, and lemon-juice, sweetened 33 Employ 35 Made of oak 36 Black 38 Practical application of knowledge (plural) 39 Without life 41 Temporary quarters 44 Gain 49 Foolish 51 Priest’s vestment 53 Heaths (Scot.) ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Give out 2 Open space 3 Cozy residence (Pl.) 5 Desert-dweller 6 To enclose 7 Fisherman 8 Variety of carnelian 9 Fresh set of horses 10 Generous 11 Borders of the mouth 16 Not well 20 Trouble 22 An elongated fish 24 Pronoun 25 Slate-cutters’ hammer 27 Italian river 28 A bunk 29 Island in Aegean Sea 30 Religious acts 31 Yawn 32 A planet 34 To bar 36 Small point 37 Oriental vessel 38 Frozen confections 43 Stupid 44 Pertaining to the sun 45 Profoundness 46 Wild dog 48 A mimic 49 Part of the foot 51 Etruscan god 53 Dexterity 54 To damage 58 Aid 59 A price 60 Unit of length (Pl.) ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Deranges 2 The leading lady 4 Divides 5 A scoundrel 6 Serpent 7 Sheltered side 8 Many times 9 Mildew on plants 10 Excite 12 An ancient puzzler 13 Chronicle of a year 18 Commission 19 Calcium 20 Depart 21 An Asiatic shrub 27 A volcano 29 Open space 30 Vehicle 31 Interested 32 Lord 34 Australian catfish 36 Elements of plants 38 Oriental weight (pl.) ”

“ VERTICAL
1 Sign of omission 2 3.1416 3 Mistake 4 Legal security 6 Pig 7 Inform 8 Brazilian coin 9 Indivisible particle 10 Brown 11 Gold 12 Metric unit of volume 14 Sacred beetle 16 Noiseless 18 Sulfate of aluminum 20 King of the fairies 21 Natural ability 22 Absent 24 Insertion of virus 27 Collection 29 Epoch 31 Metric land measure 33 Grief 35 Planetary orbit 36 A nut 38 Saltpeter 39 In a heap 40 Heron 42 Minor (mus.) ”

“ HORIZONTAL
2 Small boat 6 Answer 11 Anger 12 A lament 13 Conjunction 15 Rock 17 Eligible jurors 19 Note in musical scale 20 Heavy woolen fabric 22 Imitate 24 A surgeon’s cylindrical saw 26 An image 27 Misdeed 28 Quintessence 29 Glide 31 Reason 33 Web-footed birds 34 Wonder 36 Lamentation 38 Fabricated 39 Give 41 Mesial plane 42 Came out 46 Make amends 48 Turret 50 Pleased expression 52 Debate 53 Wager 54 Open space 55 School master 58 Before 59 Large nails 61 Part of “to be” 62 Truck 64 Second cutting of hay 66 Provided that 67 Period of time 68 Strife 69 Drive back 70 Shelters ”