HERE IS A LITTLE cross-country steeplechase problem which developed during the recent meeting, which will interest turfites as well as puzzlists. It appears that toward t he end of a well-contested course, when there was but a mile and a quarter yet to run, the leaders were so closely bunched together that victory turned upon the selection of the best or shortest road. The sketch shows the judges’ stand to be at the opposite end of a rectangular field, bounded by a road of a mile long on one side by three-quarters of a mile on the other.
By the road, therefore, it would be a mile and three-quarters, which all of the horses could finish in three minutes. They are at liberty, however, to cut across lots at any point they wish, but over the rough ground they could not go so fast. So while they would lessen the distance, they would lose twenty-five per cent, in speed. By going directly across on the bias, or line of the hypotenuse as the mathematicians would term it. The distance would be a little over a mile and a half. What time can the winner make by selecting the most judicious route?
Our puzzlists and mathematicians have had a hot race to the finish in that steeple chase puzzle. It was told that the sketch showed the judges’ stand to be at the opposite end of a rectangular field, bounded by a road of a mile long on one side by three-quarters of a mile on the other. By the road, therefore, it would be a mile and three-quarters, which could be run in three minutes. They were at liberty, however, to cut across lots at any point, but owing to the rough ground would run 25 per cent, slower. By starting down the mile course and going a little over the eighth of a mile, and then taking a cut across lots to the finish, the race can be won in 2 minutes and 51 seconds plus, which is somewhat better than by starting off on the hypotenuse line at once.
2. A CHARADE.
My first without wings is enabled to fly,
lt never once tires in the midst of its flight,
Piled on it vast masses of luggage still lie,
Which it never sinks under by day or by night.
See fear is upon you. my next is come on;
Yourself pary compose, it is only your nerves
That cause this annoyance; now, now it is gone;
Alas! what a trifle its purposes serve!
My whole is of thousands of mortals the dead;
’Mid stillness engendered, it works in the dark;
O’er its awful effects many tears have been shed,
And wide devastation its ravages mark.
Cypher Ans. 5, 1, 18, 20, 8, 17, 21, 1, 11, 5.
EARTHQUAKE
3.
Why are laundresses good navigators? Because they are always crossing the line, and going from pole to pole!
4. A REBUS.
Beside my first is often made
A bargain good or bad.
Before my next is oft displayed
What may behind be had.
Beneath my whole in fancied bliss,
We care for neither that nor this.
Cypher Ans 3, 15, 21, 14, 20, 5, 18, 16, 1, 14, 5.
COUNTERPANE
5. A CHARADE.
Enchain my vile first, for the general weal,
That a nation‘s sad wounds may have leisure to heal;
Engage my first next, but he springs from his lair.
And give thee for combat, no time to prepare;
Suppress my dire whole, but, before thy shocked gaze,
Each smouldering spark burst out in a blaze.
Cypher Ans. 18, 5, 2, 5, 12, 12, 9, 15, 14.
REBELLION
6.
What is it which if you name it even you break it? Silence!
What is that which you can keep even after giving it to somebody else? Your word.
Why is a washerwoman the most cruel person in the world? Because she wrings men’s bosoms.
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