07.08.07 -- Possessions

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Acrostic by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

This was, for me at least, a tough one; but the quotation is well worth the the solve. It is always a pleasure to find such a highly amusing truth! Agnes Repllier is not only quite the wit, but a voice from the past who speaks yet today!

The quotation:

THE PLEASURE OF POSSESSION WHETHER WE POSSESS TRINKETS OR OFFSPRING OR BOOKS OR PRINTS OR CHESSMEN OR POSTAGE STAMPS LIES IN SHOWING THESE THINGS TO FRIENDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING NO IMMMEDIATE URGE TO LOOK AT THEM

The author’s name and title of the work:

REPPLIERTIMESANDTENDENCIES

The defined words:

A. RUBIES (Gems used in lasers of a certain hue); B. EXMOOR (Park in SW England with dramatic sea cliffs); C. PLASTIC (Alternative to cash or check); D. PATHOS (Chaplinesque quality); E. LOSEHOPE (Give in to pessimism [2 wds.]); F. IGNITE (Hold a candle to?); G. ESPOSITO (Name of two brothers in the Hockey Hall of Fame); H. REWORK (Shape into a new version); I. TIGHTS (Garb for the Merry Men); J. ISSUEFORTH (Emanate, come out [2 wds.]); K. MORMON (Sen. Harry Reid or Sen. Orrin Hatch, e.g.); L. EGRESS (Way out; departure); M. STINGER (Cocktail of brandy and crème de menthe); N. AFRESH (From the top); O. NEWPORTNEWS (James River city known for its shipyards [2 wds.]); P. DEPTHS (Parts explored by bathysphere); Q. TAKETO (Develop as a habit; go for [2 wds.]); R. ESKIMO (Inhabitant of the circumpolar region); S. NOSHING (Between-meals gastronomic activity); T. DOWAGER (Qualifier for a queen or empress); U. EPHRON (Notable family name in screenwriting); V. NOSINESS (Curiousity, when taken too far); W. CHISEL (Tool for a shyster?); X. INSTEP (Place for an arch); Y. EFFORT (Application of force against inertia, in physics); Z. SANREMO (Tourist town on the Italian Riviera [2 wds.]);

This acrostic’s defined words, as you can see, are eclectic and wholly unrelated one unto the other or to the quotation itself -- just as well, as the quotation speaks of the variety of possessions -- although none of the defined words have a relationship to the quotation.

A tough solve, but a very satisfying result -- and so true!

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