ACROSTICS.

An "Acrostic" is a composition in verse, in which the initial letter of each line, taken in order, forms the name of a person, or of some motto which is the subject of the composition. In the expression of good wishes to friends and relatives, on birthdays and other festive occasions, or in the more ardent outpourings addressed to a loved one, the "Acrostic" finds an appropriate place; but in this collection of word puzzles we prefer to deal with that form of "Acrostic" which presents opportunities for the exercise of skill and ingenuity to the riddler. This will be found in the "Double Acrostic," and other forms to be mentioned.

The Double Acrostic may be written either in prose or verse, the condition being, that the initials and finals of the words to be guessed make two names or two words of definite and different meanings.

The Prose Double Acrostic is the more simple form, and our first example will be that known as

The "Windsor" Double Acrostic, written by Queen Victoria for the amusement of her children. It may interest riddlers to know that Her Majesty and the late Prince Consort found much pleasure, and were exceedingly clever in the construction of this kind of riddle:—

1. A city in Italy. 2. A river in Germany. 3. A city in the United States. 4. A town in North America. 5. A town in Holland. 6. The Turkish name for Constantinople. 7. A town in Bothnia. 8. A city in Greece. 9. A circle on the globe.

Read the initials downwards, and they form a town in the North of England: the finals read upwards indicates what that town is famed for.

1. NapleS

2. ElbE

3. WashingtoN

4. CincinnatI

5. AmsterdaM

6. StambouL

7. TorneA

8. LepantO

9. EcliptiC

The answer is—"Newcastle," "Coal Mines."

When verse is employed, it is usual to convey the sense of the whole in a couplet, preceding the description of the syllables, thus:—

'Tis murmured in the last adieu,

When looks are sad, and words are few.

1. The pleasure of a lawyer's life,

In deeds and wills the cause of strife.

2. Fill to the brim my drinking-horn

With this, and drink to Barleycorn.

3. With glass and song until the dawn of day

The roysterer stays with me, beguiling time away.

4. My fourth and last you'll find to be

The title of a nobleman of high degree.

Answer: Fare Well. 1FlaW, 2AlE, 3ReveL, 4EarL.

An ingenious riddler has devised the following fantastic conceit upon this form of riddle, in which the letters beginning the lines spell a word, while the letters ending the lines form another word of exactly opposite meaning; and in doing this he has cleverly contrived to make this striking contrast the subject of his composition:—

U nite and untie are the same—so say yoU.

N ot in wedlock, I ween, has this unity beeN;

I n the drama of marriage each wandering goûT

T o a new face would fly—all except you and I;

E ach seeking to alter the spell in their scenE.

A few examples of the simple prose Double Acrostics may prove serviceable in initiating our readers into the mysteries of this word puzzle, and to this end the following are selected:—

1. A defamatory satire. 2. A town in Portugal. 3. A word poetically endowed "with its thousand ears." 4. A wood nymph. 5. Severe pain in the inward parts. 6. Name of a political party in the State. 7. A creeper. 8. A mask. 9. A title.

The initials and finals form the names and titles of two of Britain's heroes, both of whom derived fame from exploits achieved in India.

  1. LibeL
  2. OportO
  3. RumouR
  4. DryaD
  5. ColiC
  6. LiberaL
  7. IvY
  8. VizarD
  9. EsquirE

Answer: Lord Clive, Lord Clyde.

1. A city of Lombardy. 2. Signifying unfinished. 3. A famous loch in Scotland. 4. An empire of Europe. 5. What unmarried ladies long for. 6. Signifying uncovered.

The initials read downwards and the finals upwards, will reveal two celebrated poets.

  1. MilaN
  2. IncompletE
  3. LomonD
  4. TurkeY
  5. OffeR
  6. NakeD

Answer: Milton, Dryden.

1. By Apollo was my first made. 2. A shoemaker's tool. 3. An Italian patriot. 4. A tropical fruit.

The initials and finals read downwards give the name of a graceful writer of essays, and the nom de plume by which he was first known to fame.

  1. LyrE
  2. AwL
  3. MazzinI
  4. BananA

Answer: Lamb, Elia.

1. A writer of a book prophetic. 2. Singular, but not otherwise odd. 3. A joke that does not always end in mirth. 4. A mother-in-law deeply loved by her son's widow. 5. A law, hostile to woman's rights. 6. The name of an ancient German emperor and modern king of Greece. 7. A rare old man.

The initials and finals give the name of a scholar of profound learning, and the work by which he is best known.

  1. JoeL
  2. OnE
  3. HoaX
  4. NaomI
  5. SaliC
  6. OthO
  7. NonagenariaN

Answer: Johnson, Lexicon.