Illustration of the Euphemism “Pushing Up Daisies” ----------------- Sunday, July 19, 2009 ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz God bless The New York Times -- the acrostic is alive and well in The Magazine on page 44! We raging fans of the superior Cox and Rathvon creations are pleased as punch! The author and work of this Sunday’s acrostic is Quentin Crisp’s “Manners From Heaven”. Here is the link to Quentin Crisp at Wikipedia. Aficionados of the acrostic can wipe away tears and dive right into this really tough one which should bring new, but joyous tears to many a solver -- it’s a humdinger! The quotation: EUPHEMISMS ARE NOT USELESS VERBIAGE THEY ARE LIKE SECRET AGENTS ON A DELICATE MISSION THEY MUST AIRILY PASS BY A STINKING MESS WITH BARELY A NOD OF THE HEAD EUPHEMISMS ARE UNPLEASANT TRUTHS WEARING DIPLOMATIC COLOGNE The author’s name and the title of the work: CRISP MANNERS FROM HEAVEN The defined words: A. Deficient, politically correctly, CHALLENGED; B. Space not really descriptive of its function, RESTROOM; C. Taking frankness a bit too far, maybe, IMPOLITE; D. Endearment on the sugary side, SWEETIE; E. Someone not likely to owe a sin tax, PURITAN; F. Fashion item popularized by Mary Quant, MINISKIRT; G. Event for those not at home (2 wds.), AWAY GAME; H. Mealy-mouthed and prudish (hyph.), NICE-NELLY; L. John Quincy Adams and George W. Bush, for example, NAMESAKES; J. The path to nourishment?, ESOPHAGUS; K. Type of teaser on “Concentration”, REBUS; L. Rather disreputable, SHADY; M. Executed without a mechanical aid, FREEHAND; N. The exercise of self-control, RESTRAINT; O. What is defined by the Supreme Court’s “Miller test”, OBSCENITY; P. Scene of clamor and chaos, MADHOUSE; Q. Attitude of hauteur (2 wds.), HIGH HORSE; R. Author of “How to Behave Though a Debutante” (2 wds.), EMILY POST; S. Get around on your own power, AMBULATE; T. Like a whale’s leg bones, VESTIGIAL; U. What Nicolas Sarkozy calls the United States (hyph), ETATS-UNIS; V. “Right?” (Fr., 2 wds., hyph.), N'EST-CE PAS. The complete quotation: Euphemisms are not, as many young people think, useless verbiage for that which can and should be said bluntly; they are like secret agents on a delicate mission, they must airily pass by a stinking mess with barely so much as a nod of the head, make their point of constructive criticism and continue on in calm forbearance. Euphemisms are unpleasant truths wearing diplomatic cologne.
A review in part by Karla J. Kuriger -- Before I read Quentin's book, I lived my life as one whom he describes in the book; I ran about willy nilly, living others' lives as if they were my own, suffering from their disasters as much as they did. I frittered away enough personal energy to light several skyscrapers, and wondered why I was so very drained all the time. Taking an interest in others' lives, WITHOUT becoming emotionally involved, literally, saved my life. I have learned from Quentin that I can just listen to mere acquaintances, many of whom are drama addicts looking only for a forum, and then move on to what truly interests me. This is not being shallow; this is protecting yourself from those takers of the world, who, as Quentin says, "...are infinite and insatiable." This practice of tuning out the banal has allowed me to have the energy to devote to my husband, son and family, who deserve my energy. 
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Welcome back to the magazine !
ReplyDeleteThanks for the write-up.
Nice that A - CHALLENGED was askew in the answer part.
I prefer Potter Stewart's definition of obscenity :
"I know it when I see it."