05.24.09 -- Discovery -- the Acrostic

Frontis -- H.M.S. Beagle in Straits of Magellan. Mt. Sarmiento in the distance.

-----------------

Sunday, May 24, 2009

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon

This Sunday’s fine acrostic features a quotation from Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”, a title commonly given to the book written by Darwin published in 1839 as his Journal and Remarks. The title refers to the second survey expedition of the ship HMS Beagle, which set sail from Plymouth Sound on December 27, 1831 under the command of captain Robert FitzRoy. More HERE.

It is 200 years since Charles Darwin, one of the world's most creative and influential thinkers, was born, February 12, 1809 (the same day as Abraham Lincoln). Darwin's thoughts and theories about the natural world hold true today. More on the Darwin Bicentennial HERE.

The quotation: A STRONG DESIRE IS ALWAYS FELT TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER ANY HUMAN BEING HAS PREVIOUSLY VISITED AN UNFREQUENTED SPOT A BIT OF WOOD WITH A NAIL IN IT IS PICKED UP AND STUDIED AS IF IT WERE COVERED WITH HIEROGLYPHICS

The author’s name and the title of the work: DARWIN THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE

The defined words: A. One allure of exploration, DISCOVERY; B. Another allure of exploration, ADVENTURE; C. A perhaps less noble allure of exploration, REWARD; D. River explored by David Livingstone (2 wds.), WHITE NILE; E. Keen sagacity; knowledge not taught, INTUITION; F. Organism’s place in its community, NICHE; G. Island reached by captains Cook and Bligh, TAHITI; H. Ship wrecked on “the reef of Norman’s Woe”, HESPERUS; I. Integration of life forms and environment, ECOSYSTEM; J. Author of “From the Earth to the Moon”, VERNE; K. Dark material formed by the cooling of molten lava, OBSIDIAN; L. “I sound my barbaric YAWP over the roofs of the world” (Walt Whitman); M. Course of evolution, ADAPTATION; N. Philip GLASS, music composer for the film “Koyaanisqatsi”; O. Of or relating to the soil, EDAPHIC; P. Equip, as a vessel for a journey, OUTFIT; Q. Pursuit of a piscator, FISHING; R. Sap-sucking bug unchanged in the plural, THRIPS; S. Sound from a startled tortoise, HISS; T. Of affairs from ass to zebra?, EQUINE; U. Dog, in baby talk, BOW WOW; V. Cry of one suddenly illuminated, EUREKA; W. Not in control of one’s marine course, ADRIFT; X. Vexer of livestock; persistent critic, GADFLY; Y. TV drama set on a remote tropical island, LOST; Z. Browser with spiral horns, ELAND.

The full paragraph of the quotation: A strong desire is always felt to ascertain whether any human being has previously visited an unfrequented spot. A bit of wood with a nail in it, is picked up and studied as if it were covered with hieroglyphics. Possessed with this feeling, I was much interested by finding, on a wild part of the coast, a bed made of grass beneath a ledge of rock. Close by it there had been a fire, and the man had used an axe. The fire, bed, and situation showed the dexterity of an Indian; but he could scarcely have been an Indian, for the race is in this part extinct, owing to the Catholic desire of making at one blow Christians and Slaves. I had at the time some misgivings that the solitary man who had made his bed on this wild spot, must have been some poor shipwrecked sailor, who, in trying to travel up the coast, had here laid himself down for his dreary night.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.