THE SANTA CLAUS’ BOOK OF GAMES AND PUZZLES:

A

COLLECTION OF RIDDLES, CHARADES, ENIGMAS, REBUSES, ANAGRAMS, LABYRINTHS, ACROSTICS, Etc.

WITH A HIEROGLYPHIC PREFACE.

OVER ONE HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS.

NEW YORK: JOHN H. TINGLEY, 1521⁄2 FULTON STREET. 1864.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by JOHN H. TINGLEY, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

[iii]

CONTENTS.

[iv] [v]

PREFACE.

The Enigma is of such ancient and able origin, t shall ask no 1 2 XQQ me 4 offering this 2 the public. Enigmatical ?? R frequent the Scriptures, and olden times of10 contained a deal of FvOaRlMuAaTbIlOeN.

The Enigma is of such ancient and able origin, t shall ask no 1 2 XQQ me 4 offering this 2 the public. Enigmatical ?? R frequent the Scriptures, and olden times of10 contained a deal of FvOaRlMuAaTbIlOeN.

[vi]

I 10’d, my young friends, 2 combine instruction with MUUment: and do f w my ations will B sufently reald. Right know, little S and , U not fail 2 B ded w am ma such F in [vii] B 1⁄2; so, ily shaking U by the

re truly, SANTA CLAUS.

[9]

PUZZLES, RIDDLES, ENIGMAS, &c.

PUZZLES.

1

2

M a pain negative quaker vessel with indefinite article N V you and me superior animal.

[10]

3

BB H1Y WINUUTER.

4

Exist merchandise of diminutive X instruments for writing es, a minute breach testament drain a large vessel.

5

IIAR BB U R 2 X & UR IDAA R 2 MT 2 MUU NE 1 U R 2 EPQREN 2 XSII UR NRGG O XQQS O X10U88 UR XSS 4 U O 2 B YYR.

6

OPM & BR FMNAC & TRR R UUULE NMEE 2 NRG & O 2 B SPCLE ODS 2 U DR LN.

7

O MLE B9 & FMN8 B4 U X10U8 NE XS C A YY DET.

8

Our to avow head ornament article of food is to a greater degree over and above vag insect than the article of dress a grain of 4 air.

9

10

Young girls’ nickname eros O provisions rated out are nickname of Susan, fabled angel, small conjunction, one and one any O provision allotted, of other work oars O those who rate, things laid by a hen sneering speech.

[11]

11

12

[12]

13

A WORD OF FIVE LETTERS.

14

15

16

What two words, of eight letters each, one an adjective, the other a verb, will exactly resolve themselves into each other?

17

Take five from five, and in its place put twice five hundred and fifty. What musical instrument will it name?

[13]

18

H I knees.

19

THE SILVER PUZZLE.

Lay a ten-cent piece upon the table-cloth, between two half-dollars, and place a tumbler upon the larger coins, The puzzle is to remove the ten-cent piece without displacing either of the half-dollars, or the glass. You are not allowed to touch the ten-cent piece, either with your hands or anything else, nor must you blow it away!

20

A RIDDLE WITHIN A RIDDLE.

[14]

21

22

TWO DISJOINTED PROVERBS.

23

THE DOG PUZZLE.

Add four lines to these apparently dead dogs, which shall give them the appearance of running away.

24

Find a word containing six letters, or less, and out of it produce all the parts of speech.

25

Find a word which contains the five vowels, each vowel being used but once.

[15]

26

I am a word of five letters. My first minus my fifth will leave my second; my fifth divided by my first will produce my fourth; and five times my first added to five times my fifth will make my third; my whole is funny.

27

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28

29

30

31

32

Out of what two words (comprising ten letters in all) can you get the eight personal pronouns?

33

SHAKSPERIAN PUZZLE.

You will observe that the D is not quite perfect. There is a little notch in it. The answer is found in Hamlet.

[17]

34

OLD ENGLISH EPITAPH.

S To pread E. R. he reand D. E. ignt, O LOO KONO new it H. out anam E. Ne’e rent ER Din theam plebo O K Off or tune or off AME.

35

N always place not on money-drawer a future day w an article of dress tin cup insect d 1⁄2 of 2 present time.

[18]

36

Get a piece of writing-paper, and cut the pattern of a miniature horse-shoe: divide the figure into six pieces, by only two straight cuts with a pair of scissors. The paper must not be bent or creased.

37

Find the original word of eight letters in which each separate word of the following sentence may be found.

“A rare chase! See, he reaches her. Ah! she has her cares, her ear aches.”

38

A MARST PEERTEAR.

39

40

Des two things matching one another, blunts definite article, edge of tavern powdered earth a grain.

41

Purchase for obtain repleteness of tavern men impaneled to weigh evidence, we exhibit sixty minutes selves one more exalted twice one them.

[19]

42

There are more than twenty-nine different articles in my garden, each of which is a family surname. Who will name them?

43

I am a verb, a small word of six letters; something that every one should strive to do. But I am a very comprehensive little word, for in me may be found—

[20]

44

A boy having some marbles, wished to divide them with his companions: he gave half of them to one boy, who returned him 8; half of them to another boy, who returned him 4; three quarters of them to another boy, who returned him 4; he had 8 left: how many had he at first?

45

What two letters of the alphabet will express the name of a river in one of the Southern States?

46

What letter of the alphabet expresses the joining together of two States?

47

What word is that of five letters, which, if the two first letters are taken away, leaves only one?

[21]

LABYRINTH NO. 1.

This Labyrinth may be entered by any of the openings in the margin: the puzzle is, to trace a way to the center without crossing any of the lines.

[22]

CHARADES.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

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8

[28]

9

10

First.

Second.

Whole.

11

My first is a short sleep. My second is a relation. My whole is an article in daily use.

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12

13

[30]

14

15

16

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17

18

[32]

19

20

21

My first is what young ladies aim at in their movements, and what Christians pray for.

My second is what in winter we see little of, and what no young man likes to be considered.

My third is what every woman should be before she is won, and what we should be badly off without during this cold weather.

My whole is the name of an authoress, highly popular with both old and young.

[33]

22

[34]

23

My first.

My second.

My third.

My whole.

24

25

26

27

My first is equality, my second inferiority, and my whole superiority.

[37]

28

I am composed of nine letters.

My first is a name appropriated to a certain class of foreigners. It is also a nickname.

My second is an article.

My third implies motion.

My fourth in sound implies proximity.

My fifth is a vowel.

My whole is a part of the Western hemisphere.

29

30

31

32

[41]

LABYRINTH NO. 2.

This Labyrinth must be entered at the front gate, and a way traced to the centre (A), without climbing the walls.

[42]

RIDDLES.

1

2

I am originally a descendant of rags, but, in spite of my mean origin, I boast one of the most numerous families in the world. I wear the countenance of a man, varying in complexion from crimson to azure; and twice two stars are my companions. But, although of such dignity, besides having my face disfigured, I am continually spit upon, and trodden under foot by all mankind, who seem to value me only for my good looks—without them, I am despised. I am diminutive in size, and my days are few, but I am well known, and constantly sought after.

3

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4

5

6

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7

8

9

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10

There is a certain natural production neither animal, vegetable, nor mineral. It generally exists from two to six feet above the surface of the earth. It has neither length, breadth, nor substance. It is neither male nor female, but commonly exists between both. It is often spoken of in the Old Testament, and strongly recommended in the New; and serves equally the purposes of treachery and fidelity.

11

I am a word in very common use. You will find me more than once upon almost or quite every page, whether a monosyllable, or dissyllable, or a polysyllable is to be found out; but this much is told: my first and last letter is the same; and my first three and my last three spell the same word. A useful article this of personal decoration. My interior is remarkable. Viewed one way, you laugh; viewed another, you sigh. I am an etymological stumble, and a novice hardly ever knows where to find me. To a Frenchman and a German I am an abhorrence. They never learn me so as even to call my name.

[47]

12

13

14

I was born in the fields; taken from thence at an early age, I was made to assume my present form, and sold as a slave into the family of a wealthy merchant. While I was young, and comely, my life was comparatively easy; the modest Lucy would take me by the hand, and with her I would roam over the richly-carpeted mansion; and many a service I have rendered her. One morning, quite early, before the rest of the family were up, Lucy was standing by the window; I was leaning against her shoulder, when she uttered a slight scream. I jumped, and came near falling, but she caught hold of me, and pointing towards the window, showed me the cause of her terror. One well-aimed blow of mine felled the intruder to the earth, and the footman coming in just then, gave him the[49] finishing touch. But, alas! my days of pleasant servitude were drawing near a close. Lucy became dissatisfied with me, and in a fit of pique, handed me over to the cook, by whom I was hustled hither and thither, wherever her fancy dictated. She was a careless woman, and one

day, while I was doing all I could to serve her, she actually pushed me into the fire! Snatching me out as quickly as possible, she plunged me into a bucket of cold water; but I was disfigured and crippled for life, and disabled from further service. The cook at length declared she would no longer give me house-room, and one bitter cold night, turned me out into the street, without a stitch of clothing. I have never murmured when called upon to work; yet here I lie, neglected, unheeded, and uncared for.

But why should I complain? am I the only one shunned and forsaken, when no longer able to minister to the wants or pleasures of the world?

15

[51]

REBUSES.

1

2

My first may be divided into three parts. It may belong to one of the senses; it may be almost a lake; or it may represent 100.

My second may likewise be divided into three parts. It may have something to do with myself; it may be a part of myself; or it may represent 1.

My third may be divided into two parts. It may be either a river, or represent 500.

Then 100, 1, and 500 make the answer.

The whole was the title of one who surprised Europe by the brilliancy of his military exploits.

3

A fragment, an article of dress, a noise, an animal, a fruit, and a part of the body. The initials of these spell my whole, out of which I hope you will always keep.

4

5

[52]

6

7

Entire I’m a useful quadruped; remove my first, and I become a species of grain; replace my first, and remove my last, and I am a city famed for its inquisition.

8

How can you take something from nothing, and leave a number?

9

Entire I am very useful in machines; take away my first letter, and I am a part of the body; take away my first and second, and I am a species of snake.

10

Add to an article, in every-day use, a letter, and it becomes another useful article; with a third letter it becomes a girl’s name, and with a fourth letter another name; with a fifth letter it becomes an historical record, and with a sixth letter it is much the same thing, only more so.

[54]

11

12

I am composed of five letters.

My first is the same as my last.

My second is the initial of the name of a very old gardener.

My third you will find in the centre of the largest city in America.

My fourth is the initial of the name of a man that King David used rather badly.

My fifth is the same as my first.

My whole is two monosyllables that publishers often say to their subscribers, and like to have them respond to.

13

[55]

14

Entire, I am a reptile. Behead me, and I become an article much used by carpenters. Take away another letter, and I shall not be well.

15

16

Entire I am a vegetable. Cut off my tail, and I am a small insect. Put on my tail, and take away my third letter, and I am what gamblers often do.

17

[56]

18

What eight words of four letters will resolve themselves into four different words each?

19

I am the name of something felt, but never seen. Take away my third letter, and you have an utensil much used in pastry-cooking. Reverse it, and you have something quite refreshing on summer afternoons. Take away my second, and you have a very important article in a lady’s toilet. Take away my first and third, and you have a rather indefinite article.

20

The name of a great city in Europe.

Transpose, I am an adjective of the comparative degree.

Cut off my last two letters, and reverse, I am a preposition.

Drop my first two letters, I am a pronoun.

Leave out my second letter, and transpose, I am a French word signifying sea.

Drop the first and last two letters, I am an interjection.

Drop my third letter and transpose, I am unrefined metal.

21

Entire I am polite. My fifth multiplied by the sum of my second and fourth, produces my first. My second and third multiplied by my fifth, is twice my first.

22

It is a compound word, and belongs to the mineral, and sometimes vegetable kingdom. The whole word is used to contain the first. There are six letters in the first, and two vowels. The last word spelled backward, is a toy that boys play with. The first two letters of the last word is the name of a river in Europe. The first word spelled differently, but pronounced the same, is a substance of which an important article of food is made.

[57]

23

Entire I am a bird. Take away my last two, and I am a bird. Behead me and cut off my tail, and I signify perpetuity. Cut off my first two, and I am an exclamation!

24

25

What city is there, whose name, if transposed, will give you a name considered very disgraceful in the time of the revolutionary war; transposed again, you have a term applied to one not very proficient.

[58]

26

27

I am a proper name of two syllables.

My first syllable is a place where wild beasts may often be found.

My first syllable backward is a boy’s nickname.

My second syllable backward is the worst thing in the world.

28

29

In full dress, I am considered finished; take off my cap, and I am a number; put on my cap and take off my shoes, and I am a title.

[59]

30

31

32

I am something which fishermen use. Behead me, and I become food for horses. Put on my head and cut off my tail, and I am a large serpent.

33

Entire, I am one drop of liquid; behead me, and I become a part of the human frame; put on my head and cut off my tail, and I am a plant.

[60]

34

35

I am a pronominal adjective; behead me and I am personal pronoun; again behead me and I am a verb.

[61]

36

37

38

39

Unbroken I am a term sometimes applied to the atmosphere; remove my first, and I am a king famed in tragedy; remove my first and second, I am a part of the human body; remove my first, second, and third, and I am a city mentioned in the Bible; remove my first and last, and I am an inclosure.

40

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41

What preposition by prefixing a letter is what we do every day; by prefixing another, is what we have in summer; by prefixing yet another, is a kind of grain?

42

43

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44

Entire I often cause great pain; beheaded I am boisterous; curtailed you see a heathen deity; transposed I describe a course.

45

What wicked deed is that which, read backward, gives what is generally the cause of it?

46

47

What two consonants and one vowel can be so arranged as to spell the name of an animal, a name applied to a particular class of men, and a word expressing human ability?

48

49

50

I am a word of evil import. Without my hat I am almost as bad; place my wig at my feet, I am no better; my last two letters make me slightly ill, and with my second, fourth, and fifth letters transposed, I am utterly false.

[65]

51

52

53

54

55

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56

57

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58

It is a compound word, calling to mind social pleasures. The subject of a pretty Scotch song, and the place in the family most missed by the absent. The first four letters form the name of a cruel master. Take my second, third, and fourth, and it is a wicked passion. The last four letters form a part of the animal body. Put the fifth letter after the last three, and you will see a term used among the ancient Romans in regard to time. Transpose the first four, and it means prevailing. Transpose the last three, and, as a noun, it is anxiously watched by the gambler; and, as a verb, puts an end to earthly joys and sorrows. Remove the third letter, and the first, second, and fourth is an exclamation.

59

I am something very beautiful, which you can look at, but never touch: spell me backward, and I do a great deal of mischief.

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60

Entire I am a pronoun in the second person. Take away my first letter, and I am a pronoun still, but in the first person; put on my first, and take away my last letter, and I am again a pronoun in the second person.

[69]

ENIGMAS

1

ASTRONOMICAL ENIGMA.

I am composed of twenty letters.

My 1, 2, 6, 7, is a star in the constellation Cetus.

My 6, 15, 10, 12, 3, is one of the signs of the Zodiac.

My 11, 6, 8, 4, is a star in Argo Navio.

My 6, 20, 13, 19, 11, 6, is a star in Gemina.

My 1, 6, 7, 16, 10, 5, is a star in Serpentarino.

My 1, 12, 15, 6, 17, 18, is a star in Andromeda.

My 9, 14, 8, is one of the constellations.

My whole is the name of one who rendered Astronomy no inconsiderable aid.

[70]

2

I am composed of 24 letters.

My 8, 3, 9, 21, is an accumulation.

My 16, 9, 1, 14, 23, is a machine.

My 2, 5, 4, 22, is a dear place.

My 6, 5, 5, 18, 11, 17, 6, is of the fowl species.

My 10, 7, 9, 1, is a resting-place.

My 21, 12, 9, 13, is a sort of turf.

My 19, 11, 15, 9, 4, is a vapor.

My 20, 3, 15, 24, is a germinating article.

My whole is an old proverb.

3

I am composed of seventeen letters.

My 14, 3, 10, is a weight.

My 6, 11, 4, 13, 15, is a place of abode.

My 2, 16, 8, 14, is to stop.

My 12, 15, 10, 1, is a part of an encampment.

My 5, 7, 17, 9, is a product of the sea.

My whole is a part of the decalogue.

4

I am composed of ten letters.

My 1, 2, 7, is an animal.

My 6, 5, 10, 7, most birds have.

My 1, 2, 3, 7, is a vehicle.

My 4, 8, 6, is a place where hogs are kept.

My 1, 2, 9, 4, 8, 7, is a kind of covering.

A class of mechanics expresses my whole.

5

I am composed of seven letters.

My 6, 7, 4, was used in war.

My 6, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1, is a seat of war.

My 2, 7, 4, 3, is a useful animal.

My whole is loved by every true-hearted American.

[71]

6

My 4, 2, 7, 10, is a planet, a chemical combination, and a town.

My 23, 10, 1, 14, 4, 21, 16, 15, was a witty French writer.

My 17, 16, 8, 19, 18, 1, 6, 18, 12, 20, 23, 7, is a little watchman, who always carries his lamp with him.

Divine honors were paid by an ancient eastern nation to the 22, 1, 3, 11.

My 11, 6, 23, 14, is a title.

Nature herself inspired the pencil of 9, 13, 21, 2, 5, 14, 8, 20, 4, 4, 20, 14.

My 9, 21, 23, 14, is a part of the inheritance of man.

My whole is a pleasant, but rather profitless occupation, which you can express in 23 letters.

[72]

7

Two boys, one named 25, 13, 24, 19, 17, 15, and the other 6, 20, 21, 7, 8, 27, went to 27, 14, 17 their uncle 7—— one 15, 4, 13, 6, 14, 19. He had 6, 15, 21 fine 20, 21, 3, 5, 14, 9, but he forbid the 22, 8, 12, 27 to 19, 4, 24, 17, without his 1, 21, 13, 9, 14, 11, 6. But master 6. was a 1, 8, 3, 14, 22, 17, 5, 5 and 15, 4, 22, 24 boy, but his brother 25. was obedient to his uncle’s 15, 4, 27, 2, 14, 9. One 12, 10, 16, master 6. said to his brother, “Let’s 27, 8, 12, 12, 22, 14 the 20, 21, 19, 9, 17, 27, for we have a fine 1, 2, 10, 11, 1, 17. Uncle has gone to 6, 21, 15, 13.” “11, 21, indeed,” answered 7, 25, 27, 6, 14, 19, 25.; “20, 21, 15 can you 12, 21 what you 9, 18, 26? Has not uncle forbid us to 19, 23, 12, 17 them?” But master 6. did not 10, 6, 6, 14, 13, 24 to what his brother said. He took 21, 13, 17 of the 20, 21, 3, 5, 14, 27 and 19, 21, 24, 14—2, 23, 7, but was 6, 2, 3, 21, 15, 11 and severely hurt, and having disregarded his uncle’s 1, 21, 7, 7, 8, 11, 24, 27, he 22, 21, 9, 6 his good opinion and 22, 10, 26—23,

22, 22 for 6, 2, 19, 14, 14 weeks, and during the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.

[73]

8

I am composed of 22 letters.

My 14, 16, 10, 7, was the founder of Kentucky.

My 11, 13, 16, 4, 8, 19, 1, is the Empire State of the South.

My 18, 3, 7, 6, 12, the cause of the late panic.