My seventh's in plant, but not in a tree,
And now my all a Christian name you'll see.
Answer: MATILDA.
Of "Verbal Charades," the above specimen will be sufficient. Puzzles of this nature are evidently easily made, and from the construction of them by using suitably contrasted words as in the above example, considerable fun and amusement may be derived.
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