During the long winter evenings, when families are assembled together for the Christmas vacations, pleasant and profitable hours may be spent quietly sitting round the fire and indulging in such mental games and pastimes as will be explained in this section. The English language is composed of words of various construction, and it is our intention in the few following pages to describe some of the many ways in which combined amusement and information may be obtained by exercises in word and letter puzzles; to speak of the different kinds of acrostics, enigmas, charades, rebuses, and the like, and how they are made; to give a few examples of each; and generally to do what we can to help wile away pleasantly some of those hours which, it is feared, in some circles may hang heavily for want of that specific instruction which it will be our object to impart. Moreover, we will treat here of authors, cities, rivers, countries, mountains, and other matters, so that fair opportunity is offered to our young friends to turn to account such knowledge as they possess; and it is hoped that they may be encouraged to seek further information on the subjects that these various subjects give rise to.

---

DECAPITATIONS.

There are English words in abundance which, being shorn of their initial letter or syllable, form other words of different meanings. Such words will be considered under the heading of "Decapitations." It will always afford amusement and interest to an assembled company if some one of their number selects an appropriate series of words, and gives an impromptu arrangement, in prose, doggerel verse, or good rhyme if he can, of the several significations of the various words thus arrived at, leaving others to puzzle out the series of words from the descriptions given. In propounding the puzzle, in this and in other cases to be hereafter described, the proposer should exercise his wit and ingenuity in making it as amusing as possible. A judicious play upon words is always appreciated, and sure to cause mirth; indeed, the maxim "that the worse the pun the better the joke" should be borne in mind and acted upon when indulging in "Fireside Fun."

We proceed with a few illustrations of "Decapitations," the appropriate solution being given after each puzzle:—

Answer: Wheat, heat, eat, at.

Answer: Spark, park, ark.

Answer: Still, kill, ill.

As an illustration of "Decapitation" of words by syllables rather than by letters, we give the following:—

Answer: Decomposition, composition, position.

Answer: Insupportable, supportable, portable, table.

The following words, among many others, are suitable for "Decapitation":—

---

CURTAILMENTS AND RETAILINGS.

Here we find an enlargement and modification of the "Decapitation" series of puzzles, obtained by varying the endings as well as the beginnings of words, or by varying the endings only. From the examples given it will be seen that it is legitimate to make these variations in different ways. The first examples involve the removal of final letters only to make words of different significance.

Answer: Patent, paten, pate, Pat, pa.

In many words the final letters, particularly the last three, when standing alone, do not, unless re-arranged, express a word conveying sense or meaning, but by an easy and simple re-arrangement or transposition can be made to do so. This may be seen in such words as—

Puzzles of this class are usually included among "Retailings," and the above examples of "sword" and "scent" are examples combined of both Decapitation and Retailing.

Again, in other words, the finals can be made to express two or more words of different meanings, as—

The following is a combined Decapitation and Retailing puzzle, the retailing being effected by a transposition of the letters:—

Answer: Match, chat (atch transposed), hat, at.

Many words of more than one syllable may be treated under this puzzle, by lopping off the original ending and substituting some other which will make a word of an entirely different meaning, thus:—

Answer: aCoffin, bfee, ccoffee.

We will now give a few puzzles founded on one or more of the previous examples; but our young readers will find that "Retailings" offer a much wider range of words from which to select than do "Decapitations." More fun, however, will be obtained by combining the two. The word transpose is used in some books instead of retail; but transpositions, properly so-called, will be treated later on:—

Answer: Trite, rite, tire.

Answer: Groom, room, moor.

Answer: Clover, lover, over, clove, love, cover, cove.

Answer: Malice, Alice, lice, ciel, ice, claim.

Answer: Sharp, harp, par.

Answer: Scrape, crape, rape, ape, pea.

Answer: Chide, hide, die.

Answer: Random, Damon, moan.

Answer: Copper, Pope, Poe, Po.

Sufficient examples of puzzles of this nature will have been given to show that very many of the words of every-day use may be made to serve for Retailings.

Still another form of the word puzzle known as Retailings consists in choosing some word which, upon the addition of one or more letters at the end, will make one or more different words of distinct meanings, as in the following examples:—

ANAGRAMS.

The inversion or transposition of the letters of a word or sentence to form a new word or phrase is an anagram. This is indeed a literary amusement which will extend the intellect and quicken the thinking powers of all ingenious riddlers who seek to excel in this mental pastime. In past ages it engaged the attention of statesmen and divines, and many wise and witty persons have devoted their leisure hours to this exercise of ingenuity.

The term anagram, in its proper sense, means the letters of one or several words written backwards, being derived from two Greek words "ana" (backwards) and "gramma" (letter). Thus the word live would form its anagram—evil; but the term anagram is now used in the wider sense in which we explained it. Our young friends must not be discouraged at their first attempts in forming anagrams—their anagrams may have little merit, crude efforts seldom have much to recommend them—but perseverance here, as elsewhere, will be rewarded. The true merit of an anagram springs from an apt association of ideas, and a close relation between the transposed words and the original from which they are derived. This involves much practice, great thought, and an infinitude of patience, but is productive of real enjoyment.

The father of the Earl of Beaconsfield, Isaac D'Israeli, devoted a chapter in his "Curiosities of Literature" to a consideration of the anagrams which he had met with in his wonderful research. The chapter should be read by all who wish to excel in these literary exercises, and from it we have selected a few of the choice specimens recorded therein:—

An anagram on the late Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV., is also considered worthy of record:—

The elder D'Israeli had a keen perception and a thorough appreciation of the points in a good anagram. If this is hereditary, the younger Disraeli, the late Prime Minister of England, no doubt appreciated the ingenuity of the opponent who converted his title into a stinging comment on the result of the general election of 1880:—

The names of celebrated men and women of the present day, and those who have come down to us in the pages of history offer a wide field for the young riddler.

The following are samples, new and old, of this species of anagram, which we have collected from various sources, in the hope that they may incite our young friends to fresh exertions:—

A better one than this was composed by Dr. Burney—

It will be noticed that several of the examples that we have given are particularly apt, anagramatically describing some special feature in connection with the person selected for experiment.

The names of flowers, birds, &c., can be treated in like manner and afford much amusement. For instance, who would recognise "The calceolaria" when transformed into "Eat coal, Charlie," or the "Geranium," "Ear in mug," the "Heliotrope," "Hit or elope"?

Bird-fanciers would be at a loss to discover "The nightingale" in "High gale in tent," or "The turtle dove" in the words "Eve, let truth do." And if we turn to Natural History fresh illustrations abound—"Cool'd rice" effectually disguises that carnivorous reptile the "Crocodile."

---

WORD SQUARES.

This is a form of word puzzle which has only to be known to become widely popular, demanding ingenuity and patience of no common order before it is mastered. On first setting out we will confine ourselves to words of four letters. Each line of words from left to right and downwards must form the same word. One example will clearly show our meaning.

These letters being read from left to right and downwards, the first row and the first column will be found to form the same word; the second row and the second column the same; and so on. This is the basis of the puzzle. It requires some research to select the fitting words, when words of four letters only are used, but when words of five letters are employed we are more puzzled; with words of six letters our perplexities increase, and upon proceeding to higher numbers we are almost prompted to be content with what has already been attained. But difficulty is the great charm to the true riddler, who finds the construction of riddles to be "a whetstone of patience," as Camden aptly named it years ago.

In propounding these puzzles the synonyms only of the different words out of which the puzzle squares are to be formed are to be supplied, and care must be taken in the selection of the words that they are of the same number of letters. The following illustration will assist to make our meaning clear:—

The riddler has to puzzle out the answers of the six words, and write down the answers as shown in the accompanying diagram, always being careful to see that the words, when written out, are the same in the columns and rows of the corresponding numbers. This illustration will completely let our readers into the mysteries of "word squares," and we will now give a few specimens selected from a large quantity which have come under our notice.

BIRDS, FRUITS, AND FLOWERS ENIGMATICALLY EXPRESSED.

Little difficulty will be experienced in the construction or solution of this simple form of enigma. It will, however, be found to possess a charm all its own, which will add greatly to the mirth and gaiety of the social circle. The following examples will let our readers into the whole secret of this pleasant pastime:—

Birds.—What a severe attack of quinsey prohibits you from doing.

Ans.—Swallow.

An architect well known to fame.

Ans.—Wren.

A portion of a whole, and a continued range of hills.

Ans.—Part-ridge.

What a coward does in the hour of danger.

Ans.—Quail.

Equality, and a state of utter decay.

Ans.—Par-rot.

A monarch, and a toiler of the seas.

Ans.—King-fisher.

Fruits.—A vowel, and a cooking apparatus.

Ans.—O-range.

To give way to anxiety and sorrow.

Ans.—Pine.

The greatest crime in a school-boy's calendar.

Ans.—Peach.

The colour of growing herbage, and a challenge.

Ans.—Green-gage.

Flowers.—The title of one of Macaulay's Lays, and the name of one of the public funds.

Ans.—Virginia Stock.

What a good conscience gives to its possessor.

Ans.—Heart's-ease.

An Irish vehicle, and a people who live under one government.

Ans.—Car-nation.

What honey is, and the name of more than one king.

Ans.—Sweet-william.

A religious devotee, and a babe's head gear.

Ans.—Monk-hood.

A noted Quaker, and a handy article of dress.

Ans.—Fox-glove.

---

REBUSES.

Dr. Johnson and succeeding dictionary makers give as the meaning of the word Rebus, "a word represented by a picture;" but we need not go further than its literal translation, "by things," to arrive at a true idea of this enigma. The Rebuses with which we are now about to concern ourselves will be formed by a series of objects (things) which, when taken as a whole, will be found to complete the riddle. This is a pastime in which many of our great men have taken delight. Lord Macaulay is to be credited with the following:—

We doubt whether this was one of the historian's first efforts, for every endeavour must have a beginning, and this rebus bears the marks of a practised hand.

Subjoined are further examples of the Rebus enigma:—

Answer: a Lily; b Olive; c Violet; d Eglantine.—LOVE.

ARITHMOREMS.

The Arithmorem is, perhaps, the most modern of all riddles, and will, we anticipate, be a novelty to many of our readers. In its construction, figures are substituted for Roman numerals, and letters are added to complete the word it is desired to disguise. These letters, however, may be, and indeed should be, transposed out of their proper order, so that the solution of the riddle may be the more difficult. For example, "54 and e," written as follows, by substituting the Roman numerals LIV. for the figures 54, give LIVE. That is an Arithmorem in its first stage and simplest form. Our examples will illustrate its fuller development. It must, however, be understood that in the solution the words used are to be looked upon only as so many letters and treated accordingly, as is the case in anagrams.

The initials will name a country dear to all lovers of liberty and freedom:—

Arithmorems may be elaborated so as to partake of the nature of double acrostics, as in the next examples:—

The initials and finals read downwards will name, the former the country from which the latter assisted a whole nation to emigrate:—

The initials and finals, read as before, will resolve themselves respectively into the name of a well-known town in the West Indies, and the chief product for which it is celebrated:—

Without giving the full details, as above, showing how the puzzles are to be worked out, we will now give some examples of Arithmorems which form the names of persons who have, in their different ways of life, made those names illustrious and honoured. Afterwards will be found the titles of books, names of birds, beasts, and fishes. These various examples will show what a vast source of entertainment is here disclosed for the display of wit, ingenuity, and knowledge.

ANSWERS.

It will afford a capital exercise in the use of the Roman numerals if our young readers will amuse themselves by working out the details of the solutions of the aforesaid puzzles and answers.

---

DIAMOND PUZZLES AND WORD PUZZLES OF VARIOUS SHAPES.

These puzzles are formed upon the same general principle as described in "Word Squares." The peculiarity of the different puzzles is disclosed in the names, and we will proceed by giving one example of each.

The Diamond Puzzle is arranged by selecting letters or words that may be set forth in the shape of a diamond, thus:—

The central letters read downwards or horizontally name a great novelist and poet—Walter Scott.

The following is an example of a Diagonal Puzzle:—

Read from left to right, diagonally, and vice versÂ, as shown by the capital letters, and discover the names of two Irish writers of rollicking humour—Lever and Lover.

The Conical Puzzle is arranged in this manner:—

The central letters read downwards as in the Diamond Puzzle will give the name of one of England's greatest poets—Byron.

The next example is of an Oblique Puzzle:—

The initials form the name of a celebrated composer of music—Rossini.

The next form given is Pyramidal:

The last form we give is that of a Cross:—

The central letters give the name of a reformer—Martin Luther.

---

CRYPTOGRAPHY.

This word, being derived from the Greek, "cryptos," a secret, and "graphein," to write, almost explains itself.

Cryptographs are formed by a substitution of one letter for another throughout a sentence, or by using figures, signs, &c., in the place of letters. Cryptography as a science is supposed to enter largely into State diplomacy, secret correspondence being maintained by its means with the various State officials scattered over the globe. In the commercial world it is a fact that such correspondence is transmitted by telegraph with much saving of labour and money and with perfect secrecy, each correspondent possessing a key which enables him to translate into plain words and sentences the otherwise unintelligible jumble of signs. The "agony column" of the daily papers often contains specimens of cryptographic writing, most mysterious to the general reader, but plain to those for whom it is intended. It is, however, as a means of amusement that Cryptography here finds a place.

The first requisite is to provide ourselves with a key. The following will serve as an example:—

Shakspere's "Seven Ages" will then read thus:—

In the solution of this and kindred puzzles the student should examine very carefully to find out the letters, figures, or signs that most often recur—they will be found to stand for t, s, and the vowels, and as soon as these letters are discovered the translation is easy. We will vary the key, and still this suggestion will hold good.

A few lines from Byron's "Childe Harold" will then read thus:—

---

Below is a love letter, which requires much deciphering, but which is followed by a translation:—

Translation.

---

CHRONOGRAMS.

A chronogram is a sentence or inscription in which occur words, containing, as initial letters or otherwise, letters that represent the Roman numerals. In some chronograms the initial letters only are counted as forming the solution of the puzzle, but in others all the letters contained which may be used as Roman numerals are taken into account. History supplies us with many first-rate chronograms; in fact, it was once the custom to strike medals with chronogrammatic sentences, in which the date of the occasion commemorated was set forth by the initial letters of the superscription.

Queen Elizabeth died in the year 1603, and the following chronogram relating to that event has come down to us:—

The initial letters of this sentence are

Gustavus Adolphus, Sweden's great hero, commemorated one of his victories, obtained in the year 1632, by a medal on which was struck the following chronogrammatical inscription:—

In this chronogram all the letters representing the Roman numerals have been brought into use, which arranged in the order set forth by the figures printed beneath them, read as MDC = 1600; VVVV or 4 × 5 = 20; X = 10; and II or 1 × 2 = 2; or, 1632.

These illustrations afford a fair insight into the construction and design of the Chronogram proper. A few illustrations of this riddle in its more modern form now follow:—

Answer: M (1,000), I (half of two), L (fifty), E (onE's final letter)—Mile

"After supper walk a mile."—Old English Proverb.

Answer: M = 1,000; D = 500; CCC = 300; V = 5; or, 1805.

To half-a-dozen add six, and to the result add five hundred. The whole will represent a word signifying clear, lucid, bright, or glowing.

Answer: (Half-a-dozen), VI; (six), VI; (five hundred), D; or, VIVID; or, Vivid.

Answer: MDCLXV; or, 1665.

If from five you take five, you may leave a word denoting contempt or dislike.

Answer: FIVE; V (or 5) taken away, leaves FIE, or fie!

Answer: M (one thousand), CC (two hundred), O (nothing), I (one) =

Answer: M (a thousand), L (fifty), and ONE; or,

---

LOGOGRAMS.

As its name implies, a logogram is a puzzle in which a word is made to undergo several transpositions, by the addition, subtraction, reversion of order, or substitution of a letter or letters.

To Lord Macaulay we are indebted for some of the choicest specimens of this class of word puzzling. One of his logograms has been selected, and is given here, because it so clearly displays all the peculiarities of this class of riddle, and because it is also such a marvel of ingenuity and skill, and at the same time is so happily expressed.

The answer is, Cod; and every line reveals a fresh play upon the word. Cut off its head, and it is od (odd), singular; its tail, and it is plural, Co. (the abbreviation for Company); cut off its head and tail, and it is O (nothing); the head cut off, is a sounding Sea (C); its tail, a flowing river—Dee (D). Amid their (the sea and the Dee) depths the Cod may play, parent of softest sounds (the air bladder of the cod, a favourite delicacy to many), yet mute for ever.

Charles James Fox, the history of whose early life has been written by Mr. G. O. Trevelyan, is to be credited with the following clever logograph:—

Answer: Glass, Lass, Ass.

Our next example is rather a long one, but claims a place of honour wherever logograms are treated. This was also written by Lord Macaulay.

Answer: Man-slaughter, Slaughter, Man's-laughter.

The next specimen we give is by William Pitt, first Earl of Chatham.

Answer: S-tan-hope (Stanhope).

Robert B. Brough, the dramatist, was in early life most sensitive to criticism, and gave vent to his spleen in this somewhat bitter logogram:—

Answer: Wasp, Asp, Was, As.

The following words will be found suitable for use in puzzles of this nature:—

---

METAGRAMS.

This riddle is formed by changing the initial letter of a particular word again and again, so as to produce as many words as possible of different meanings. Our first example affords a good illustration of the process to be pursued.

The following clever Metagram is from the pages of the "Modern Sphinx," a book which contains upwards of a thousand different examples of the various kinds of riddles and puzzles in existence:—

The following is a good specimen metagram:—

Of letters four, I do denote

A man of wisdom great,

But cooks do often me devote

To share—alas!—a goose's fate;

But change my head, and then, instead,

Part of a book you'll find;

And if again I'm carefully read,

A youth who walks behind;

Change once again, and then you will

A furious passion see,

Which reason vainly tries to still,

Keep far removed from me;

Another change, and you will then

See I'm remuneration

Earned by all grades of working men

Throughout the British nation;

But change my head once more, and then

A prison I appear,

From which sweet sounds oft issue forth

That pleasant are to hear.