EXTRACTIONS.
As its name implies, this novel and interesting logogram is formed by extracting from sentences the letters of a word which has been chosen as the key to the word puzzle. Its method of construction may be thus simply explained. A certain word is to be selected, and from the letters only which compose that word, but repeated as often as found necessary, an expression of an idea or ideas is to be evolved in one or more sentences. The peculiarity of "Extractions," wherein they differ from other logograms, will be found in the ingenuity and skill necessary to be displayed in the choice of a suitable word, and more particularly in the composition of the diction, in which the letters of that word shall appear.
The following illustration shows how a sentence may be constructed, solely with the letters which make up the name of an English county:—
1. A great nation is sometimes the gainer in not resorting to arms against its enemies tho' their aim is to mar its interest.—Nottinghamshire.
The puzzle is, of course, to discover the name of the county.
This puzzle may be modified by infusing a clue to its solution in the insertion of words underlined, which are made up of letters not all comprised in the key word, thus affording a ready means of discovering the letters which are to be discarded in the search, and it answers also another good purpose in affording the riddler more scope in composing his sentences.
Amongst the many illustrations of this style of presentment which have come under our notice we have selected the following amusing one as an example:—
2. Once in a museum at Milan with my uncle Ormond and cousins Malcolm, Samuel, Simeon, Susan, Anne, Emma, and Ellen, I saw in succession, a lion, a mule, an ass, a mole, a seal, a mouse, and some other animals; also, a small case of snails which I could smell with my nose.—The same noon, we had a nice social meal at an Inn, a clean menial serving us with essence of Cocoa, luscious melons, salmon, soles, ale, and moselle; and we had a musician to amuse us.—The letters comprising the words not printed in italics are to be found in a single word. What is it? Answer.—"Miscellaneous."