09.28.08 -- Vanity -- the Acrostic

“All is Vanity“ by C. Allan Gilbert

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

Today’s quotation is by Margaret Halsey (1910-1997), an American writer. Her 1938 best-selling book With Malice Towards Some grew from her experiences in the United Kingdom where she lived for a short time. The New York Times compared her as a writer Dorothy Parker and H. L. Mencken.

The Quotation: HUMILITY IS NOT MY FORTE (and) WHENEVER I DWELL FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME ON MY OWN SHORTCOMINGS, THEY (gradually) BEGIN TO SEEM MILD, HARMLESS, RATHER ENGAGING LITTLE THINGS, NOT AT ALL LIKE THE STARING DEFECTS IN OTHER PEOPLE’S CHARACTERS.

The author’s name and the title of the work: (Margaret) HALSEY “WITH MALICE TOWARD SOME”

The defined words: HERSHEY (A. Town whose main street is Chocolate Avenue); ALIGHT (B. Settle down; burning); LEGLIFTS (C. Exercises for developing six-pack abs [2 wds.]); SAMSON (D. Biblical riddler and lion slayer); ENLIST (E. Secure for some cause); YEMEN (F. Country on the Red Sea); WHETSTONE (G. Accessory for slicers and dicers); INLOVE (H. Head over heels, maybe [2 wds.]); THERMOS (I. Dewar flask for domestic use); HITCH (J. Thumb; term of service); MERINO (K. Breed of sheep yielding fine wool); ADAGIO (L. Slow section of a pas de deux); LORGNETTE (M. Handled glasses); IRTYSH (N. Chief tributary of Siberia’s Ob River); CALYPSO (O. Jacques Cousteau’s research vessel); ERICKNIGHT (P. Author who created Lassie [2 wds.]); TWELFTH (Q. Final grade); OROGENY (R. Process of building mountains); WORSHIP (S. Idolize, put on a pedestal); AMBLING (T. At a leisurely gait, on a stroll); REGIMENT (U. Group under a colonel’s command); DULCET (V. Mellifluous, euphonious); STIFLE (W. Put a lid on; choke); ONDRAFT (X. Served from a keg [2 wds.]); MANTRA (Y. “Om mani padme hum,” for one); ELEMENT (Z. Honda crossover S.U.V.).

Anyone you know?

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Puzzle available on the internet at

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