10.19.14 — Elephant Company — the Acrostic


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Sunday, October 19, 2014

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



“The remarkable story of James Howard “Billy” Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the world’s largest land animals transformed hm from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill.

“Billy Williams came to colonial Burma in 1920, fresh from service in World War I, to a job as a “forest man” for a British teak company.  Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted “elephant wallah.”  Increasingly skilled at treating their illnesses and injuries, he also championed more humane treatment for them, even establishing an elephant “school” and “hospital.”  In return, he said, the elephants made him a better man.”  ~ amazon.com 

The quotation:  A TRUNK … ACTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AS A HAND, AN ARM, A NOSE, A SNORKEL, A SLEDGEHAMMER, A TRUMPET, AND A HOSE. … WITHOUT CONTAINING A SINGLE BONE, IT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO LIFT HEAVY LOGS, AND SUFFICIENTLY NIMBLE TO PICK UP A COIN.

The author’s name and the title of the work:  VICKI CROKE, “ELEPHANT COMPANY”

The defined words:

A. Slide-jiggling effect on a trombone, VIBRATO
B. Assail, as someone’s character, IMPUGN
C. Cloth used by cyclists for padding, CHAMOIS
D. Like Alec Guinness and Paul McCartney, KNIGHTED
E. “Speaking truthfully …” (2 wds.), IN FACT
F. Storage tank sometimes underground, CISTERN
G. Activity of a rummager, ROOTING
H. Spent, needing a refill (3 wds.), OUT OF GAS
I. Old Cretan center of Bronze Age culture, KNOSSOS
J. Subject of the equation  E^2 = (pc)^2 + (m0c^2)^2, ENERGY
K. Coat for a dentist, ENAMEL
L. Be scornful of, as a danger (2 wds.), LAUGH AT
M. Busy; attentive, ENGAGED
N. Animal whose stuffing comes out, PINATA
O. Boyhood hometown of Mark Twain, HANNIBAL
P. Brought into harmony, ATTUNED
Q. Implement in many salons (2 wds.), NAIL FILE
R. Images on Monopoly bills, TRAINS
S. Lke the spears on Kenya’s flag, CROSSED
T. Pursued by a posse, maybe (3 wds.), ON THE LAM
U. Cloying, drippy, mushy, MAWKISH
V. Quickly, PRESTO
W. What’s regarded as an abomination, ANATHEMA
X. Far from a loser (2 wds.), NO SLOUCH
Y. Robin with a 20-year career in the major leagues, YOUNT

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