[1846.1.59-60] “Abracadabra”: “Riddle,” from Harriet, Newport (1842.1.190):

Take a word that’s much used,—’t is a masculine name,

That backward or forward doth spell just the same; [ASA]

Then a verb used for dodging—a right it will claim

That backward or forward it spells just the same; [BOB]

The form of an adjective, none can exclaim

That backward or forward it spells not the same; [REFER]

Then a chief Turkish officer’s title or name,

That backward or forward is still just the same; [AGA]

The name of a liquor, its friends all will claim

That backward or forward is still just the same; [BUB]

Then a word used for jest, or doth triumph proclaim,

That backward or forward still spells just the same; [AHA]

Then a verb in the imperfect, which also doth claim

That backward or forward it spells just the same; [DID]

The name of a place which geographers fame,

That backward or forward doth still spell the same; [AVA]

Then a very queer word, ’t is a Spanish ship’s name,

That backward or forward doth spell just the same; [CARAC]

Then a verb that’s well known, I refer to the same,

That, backward or forward spelt, makes but one name; [REFER]

Then a name that is given to many a dame

That backward or forward still spells just the same. [ANNA]

A Set of initials the above will afford—

R-Ove through them in order, they form a droll word.

I L-eave you to solve it—’t will cure a disease;

De-Velop the riddle—’t will set you at ease.

D-Espair not, but hope; ’t is easily guessed:

L-Ike etching on copper in gay colors dressed,

E-Tch it down on your hearts, and there let it rest.

[1849.1.123-124] By E. of Roxbury, Massachusetts (1848.2.127):

I am made up of 21 letters.

My 9, 8, 13, 20, is one of the loveliest rivers in the world. [ARNO]

My 7, 8, 20, 10, 10, 17, is the pleasant retreat of mermaids, at sea—the pretty plaything of merry maidens on shore. [GROTTO]

My 4, 8, 6, 19, 10, 11, 20, 3, is often a vulgar thing—always a broken one. [FRACTION]

My 15, 2, 21, 5, is never more delightful than when in a broil. [FOWL]

My 8, 2, 18, 1, 12, 16, 16, 20, 13, is a bard of no mean repute. [ROSCOMMON]

My 4, 12, 8, 16, 2, 18, 9, is one of the farthest and fairiest islands of the sea. [FORMOSA]

My 17, 8, 11, 20, 13, has bands that cannot be loosed. [ORION]

My 15, 5, 9, 16, 11, 3, 7, 14, is a red-coated noisy fisherman, with a plate in his nostrils. [FLAMINGO]

My whole is one of the most brilliant events recorded on the historic page; the brightest exhibition of devoted self-sacrifice; the most shining illustration of patriotic disinterestedness; the most luminous lesson ever read to tyrannic ambition. [THE CONFLAGRATION OF MOSCOW]

[1857.1.158; 1857.1.190] The enigma

The enigma actually was designed to be impossible to solve. Ten years earlier, H. B. P. had been challenged to write such a puzzle; it originally appeared in Woodworth’s Youth’s Cabinet (February 1857; p. 66), but was reprinted in the Museum (1857.1.188) at the time that Edward Winslow Paige solved it; he earned a complete set of Woodworth’s Youth’s Cabinet. His answer (1857.1.189) included factual information about each term:

I am composed of 29 letters.

My 18, 14, 29, 3, 12, 21, 16, was a celebrated jurist and legal writer. [BRACTON]

My 8, 24, 4, 12, 26, 5, 9, is a musical instrument used both in ancient and modern times. [CROTALO]

The bee is said to sleep upon the fragrant blossoms of the 11, 28, 5, 2, 24, 19. [NITICA]

My 1, 9, 27, 15, 25, 20, may be either theoretical or practical, adequate or inadequate, distinct or confused, common or uncommon. [NOTION]

My 15, 5, 13, is a river in Europe. [ILZ]

The exquisite flowers and shells of my 22, 2, 21, 14, 28, were permitted to adorn the paintings of Domenichino and Dolci. [FIORI]

My 27, 4, 10, 17, 21, 10, is so fleet a racer, that he is hunted on horseback and taken with the lasso. [TOUYOU]

My 7, 6, 15, is of the order of Capuchins. [SAI]

My whole is the name of a hero. [NICHOLAS, COUNT ZRINY, BAN OF CROATIA]