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:—
| Here's plenty of water you'll all of you say, | (c) | Sea |
| And, minus the h, a thing used every day, | (a) | Hay |
| And here is nice beverage, put them together; | (t) | Tea |
| What is it, with claws, but with never a feather? | CAT. |
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:—
a A gatherer of honey; b a form of supplication; c a fruit; d a bird; e a title; f a fish oft found on the breakfast-table; g one of Ireland's emblems; h a forest tree; i a county in the north of England.
If these words you rightly puzzle out,
'Twill prove you know what you're about
Join their initials, 'twill produce a word
Which if applied to you would be absurd.
Answer: a Bee; b Litany; c Orange; d Canary; e King; f Haddock; g Emerald; h Ash; i Durham.—BLOCKHEAD.
| (a) | The flower that vies in beauty with the rose; |
| (b) | An emblem of peace; |
| (c) | A dark blue flower, with green leaves, which blooms in shelter; |
| (d) | The sweet briar will recall my name. |
These joined together, as above,
The word will surely rhyme with dove.
Answer: a Lily; b Olive; c Violet; d Eglantine.—LOVE.
| First in the path of Duty, | (D) |
| And ranking first in Art, | (A) |
| Foremost in Virtue and in Vice, | (V) |
| Leading all in Immortality, | (I) |
| And foremost in Devotion. | (D) |
| Pore over these with studious care, | |
| A kingly name is hidden there. | |
| Answer: DAVID. |
Eleven letters I contain;
And if you now would find the same,
Know that a figment of the brain
Will straightway help you to my name.
My 2, 3, 6 is a human being; my 4, 5, 6 is a snare; my 2, 3, 4 is a contraction of a girl's name; my 6, 7, 8 is a contraction of a boy's name; my 8, 10, 11 is the name of a weight; my 11, 10, 8 implies negation; my 4, 10, 8 the past tense of a verb signifying to acquire; my 2, 3, 8 is a web of rope yarn; my 1, 6, 11 is a place of entertainment for man and beast; my 2, 1, 6, 8 is the name of an aromatic plant; my 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 is an immense combination of people.
| Answer: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| I | m | a | g | i | n | a | t | i | o | n. | —IMAGINATION. |