Part 8 (2/2)

46. Evening Pastimes.

Among the innocent recreations of the fireside, there are few more commendable and practicable than those afforded by what are severally termed Anagrams, Arithmorems, Single and Double Acrostics, Buried Cities, &c., Charades, Conundrums, Cryptographs, Enigmas, Logogriphs, Puzzles, Rebuses, Riddles, Transpositions, &c. Of these there are such a variety, that they are suited to every capacity; and they present this additional attraction, that ingenuity may be exercised in the _invention_ of them, as well as in their solution. Many persons who have become noted for their literary compositions may date the origin of their success to the time when they attempted the composition of a trifling enigma or charade.

47. Acrostics.

The acrostic is a short poem in which the first letters of each line, read collectively, form a name, word, or sentence. The word comes from the Greek _akros_, extreme, and _stichos_, order or line. The acrostic was formerly in vogue for valentine and love verses. When employed as a riddle it is called a _Rebus_, which see.

[AS A MAN LIVES, SO SHALL HE DIE.]

48. Acrostics (Double).

This very fas.h.i.+onable riddle is a double Rebus, the initial and final letters of a word or words selected making two names or two words. The usual plan is to first suggest the foundation words, and then to describe the separate words, whose initials and finals furnish the answer to the question. Thus:

A Party to charm the young and erratic-- But likely to frighten the old and rheumatic.

1 The carriage in which the fair visitants came:

2 A very old tribe with a very old name;

3 A brave Prince of Wales free from scandal or shame.

The answer is Picnic.

1 P Phaeton N 2 I Iceni I 3 C Caradoc C

Sometimes the Double Acrostic is in prose, as in this brief example:

A Briton supports his wig, his grand-mother, his comfort, and his country-women.

The answer is, Beef--Beer:

_Bob, Eve, Ease, Fair_.

49. Acrostics (Triple)

are formed on the same plan, three names being indicated by the initial, central, and final letters of the selected words.

50. Anagrams

are formed by the transposition of the letters of words or sentences, or names of persons, so as to produce a word, sentence, or verse, of pertinent or of widely different meaning. They are very difficult to discover, but are exceedingly striking when good. The following are some of the most remarkable:

Words Transpositions

Astronomers............ No more stars.

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