clavis acrostica. a key to "dublin acrostics". iii

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Irish Jesuit Province Clavis Acrostica. A Key to "Dublin Acrostics". III Source: The Irish Monthly, Vol. 25, No. 287 (May, 1897), pp. 272-273 Published by: Irish Jesuit Province Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20499128 . Accessed: 12/06/2014 22:32 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . Irish Jesuit Province is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Irish Monthly. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 185.44.78.129 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 22:32:25 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Page 1: Clavis Acrostica. A Key to "Dublin Acrostics". III

Irish Jesuit Province

Clavis Acrostica. A Key to "Dublin Acrostics". IIISource: The Irish Monthly, Vol. 25, No. 287 (May, 1897), pp. 272-273Published by: Irish Jesuit ProvinceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20499128 .

Accessed: 12/06/2014 22:32

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

Irish Jesuit Province is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Irish Monthly.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 185.44.78.129 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 22:32:25 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 2: Clavis Acrostica. A Key to "Dublin Acrostics". III

( 272 )

CLAVIS ACROSTICA.

A KEY TO " DUBLIN ACRO?STICS."

III. B EFORE proposing some new Acrostics, we may give the

solutions of those that have been already set before our readers. Amongst those who have tried to solve them for them selves, the only competitors t ho deserve to be mentioned with honour are J. M., J. W. A., and C. T. W. These may be said to

have gained full merit, as far as their efforts reached; for, where they have failed to hit on the exact solution intended by the authors of the acrostics, the acrostics themselves seem to be faulty.

The subject of the first acrostic is " Blue Book." The

"uprights " or "lights," whose initials form blue anad whose finals form book, are "barb," " limbo," " lUdolpho," and "1 elk." J'. M.

gave " Ugolino" as the third light; but of course "' The Mysteries

of Udolpho " was meant here as the forerunner of " Lady Audley's

Secret." The answer to the second acrostic is " Solo," and the lights are

stall and Oswego. Mr. Reeves evidently referred to the stalls in the pit of a theatre; but J. M. and C. T. W. may be excused for

finding his allusion too obscure. Solvers of these Dublin Acrostics are supposed to be familiar with historv, geography, literature, and several other things; but a great many worthy people would not

be helped by that second light, with its inverted commas showing

that it is quoted from some poem- namely, from Goldsmith's "Traveller," line 411:

" Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around."

The other line of the couplet shows that " Niagara " was not

pronounced then as it is nowadays. Those who refer back to our March Number, page 118, will

perceive that solo in its parts aud in its entirety fulfils the terms of Mr. Reeves' ingenious lines. I have " stall" in his own hand

writing as the first light. The third of the " Dublin Acrostics " has been solved only by

C. T. W., who however gives " Ariadne " for the second light,

which, according to Mr. Reeves, is [Major] Andre. How many ingenious puns the Lord Justice links with car and pet and carpet (" carpet knight," "to bring on the carpet," etc.), and then

with the uprights, carp, AndreS, and ricochet.

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Page 3: Clavis Acrostica. A Key to "Dublin Acrostics". III

Clavis Acrootica 273

We ended last month (page 202) with No. 93 and No. 94 of

our little quarto, in order to give two samples of the playful wit of the distinguished Judge who had just passed away, Baron Fitzgerald. The answer to the first is " slip-slop " with the sub

sidiary lights, " scissors," " laurel," " lo," and cc peep." For two

of these the unclassical reader may consult Lempriere or Dr. William Smith's Dictionaries. The Baron supposes us to be familiar also with our Thackeray in his reference to a slip-slop style. In all this C. T. W. has succeeded perfectly; but he has

failed utterly in solving -No. 94, which, according to Mr. Reeves, who was practically the secretary of this Acrostic Club-divides

wean into we and an, the lights being " Wamba " (" Ivanhoe ")

and " even." J. W. A. succeeded here, greatly to his credit.

We now go back to the early pages of our little quarto. The

first three we have solved at present; and the fourth is Judge

O'Hagan's famous " Jack and Jill," which we analysed before as

a typical example. We therefore leave Nos. 5 and 6 to the

ingenuity of our readers. The initials stand for Mr. Thomas Harris, Q.C., and Miss Alice O'Brien.

No. 6.

When long, ago I said my prayers, An infant, at my mother's kmee,

If temper I displayed, or airs, She with my first admonished me.

At school when I and other boys With popguns gave the birds a fright,

And gaily laughed to hear the noise, My second was our prime delight.

But now a swell, 1 have a soul Above both first and second raised,

And oft I loudly cry my whole, Whilst sober people think me crazed.

1. This prnfix marks inferiority. 2. My tenants hailed my coming home with glee. 3. I look for franchise to the Parliament. 4. In Ireland I'm the boy that pays the rent.

H. No. 6.

My first-a pretty girl My second loves alway,

Although her brain it whirl, And lead her steps astray.

1. Such will angelic visits be. 2. Could Pen prefer pert Blanche to thee? 3. The time between the cup and lip. 4. Ah me! Nepenthe let me sip ! 5. 0 precious jewel, amber bright!

0 "reverend and exquisite ! " 0 B,

VOL. XXv. No. 287. 20

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