07.18.10 — Prelude to Science — the Acrostic

The Alchemist’s Experiment takes Fire, 1687, Hendrick Heerschop

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Alchemy is the science of understanding, deconstructing, and reconstructing matter, although it is often seen only as the pursuit of turning common metals into gold. A scientific theory says that if Alchemy is stopped in the process of deconstructing, the object will be destroyed.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

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

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from “Prelude to Science: An Exploration of Magic and Divination - Astrology, I Ching, The Kabbalah, Magic, Oracles, Tarot“ by Richard Furnald Smith with drawings by Anne Corrough, published in 1975 and now quite rare.  I'm sure it's gathering dust on someone's bookshelf, but just try to Google it and good luck!  What you'll get is what you're reading right now...

The quotation: MOST CHEMISTS ARE TOLERANT EVEN PROUD ABOUT ALCHEMY BUT ASTRONOMERS TAKE A HARD LINE TOWARD ASTROLOGY POSSIBLY CHEMISTS WOULD BE LESS BROADMINDED IF THEY SAW COLUMNS OF ALCHEMICAL ADVICE IN ALL THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS

The author’s name and the title of the work:

R F SMITH PRELUDE TO SCIENCE

The defined words:

A. Like some Protestantism and Judaism, REFORMED

B. Antennae or tentacles, FEELERS

C. Abstract, precis, aperçu, SYNOPSIS

D. Rich, sweet wine, MUSCATEL

E. Admiration taken overboard, IDOLATRY

F. Bench on which a judge may sit, TRIBUNAL

G. Tool for cutting metal, HACKSAW

H. Heartily consume; save for later (2 wds.), PUT AWAY

I. Gushing with enthusiasm, RHAPSODIC

J. Hearten, give courage to, EMBOLDEN

K. Composition of the Great Pyramid of Giza, LIMESTONE

L. Standing upright, never yielding, UNBOWED

M. Olympic event for men only, DECATHLON

N. Subunit of our biosphere, ECOSYSTEM

O. Try before you buy (hyph.), TEST-DRIVE

P. Delphic stone thought to mark Earth’s center, OMPHALOS

Q. Fill to repletion, SATIATE

R. Fair fare served on a stick (2 wds.), CORN DOG

S. Replacement for Karachi as a world capital, ISLAMABAD

T. Air Force base near Rapid City, ELLSWORTH

U. Striped marsupial that lives on termites, NUMBAT

V. Quixotic obsession, CHIVALRY

W. Biblical prophet who restored a fouled spring by throwing salt into it, ELISHA

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There is one copy of Prelude to Science available at Amazon.com — HERE.


In the meantime...

...and now, back to the puzzle!

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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