In the construction of a riddle, acrostic, word-puzzle, or enigma; caul, aygreen, and words like these, and which are but rarely employed, are useful for mystification.
The name of a celebrated essayist and historian.
Answer: Macaulay.
The puzzle of "Hidden Words" is sometimes described under the names of "Hidden Cities," "Hidden Rivers," "Hidden Poets," "Hidden Countries, Battles, Events," and the like.
NUMBERED CHARADES.
The "Numbered Charade" is a species of conundrum, simple in its construction, but possessing enough point to rivet the attention of all the company as to its probable meaning. It possesses, too, a distinguishing characteristic over other riddles, in the contagious influence it exercises upon all seeking its solution. The riddler's quick wit, set to work to solve a good Charade, may possibly fail in that attempt; but assuredly the task itself will suggest ideas of words and their arrangement which he may, in his turn, announce to the social circle, and thus "keep the ball rolling." This accounts for the great favour in which Charades are held as a popular source of amusement.
A Charade is an enigmatical composition which describes an object; the name of this object should be composed of two or more syllables, each syllable having a separate and different meaning. In announcing the Charade, which may be written in prose or verse, it must be divided into my first (first syllable); my second (second syllable); my third (if there are more syllables than two); and my whole, which should signify the name of the object of the puzzle. With this explanation we shall present to our readers a selection of examples, old and new.
A poetic Charade, by Winthrop Mackworth Praed, has much merit, and is noted for the length of time it remained undiscovered. Miss Mitford, in her "Literary Recollections," confesses her inability to solve it, which was shared by all to whom she had propounded it.