December 21 2010
Crossword World
The phone rang. It scared the cat. The cat bolted and knocked over a water bottle. The water spilt. The cat freaked. I picked up the phone, still laughing, and a voice said, ‘Doing anything special for your 97th birthday?’
Huh?
December 22, said the voice. Belonging to a journo, I discovered, by the name of Sarah Collerton. On this day, 97 years ago, the crossword was born.
So it was. By Arthur Wynne for the New York World, a criss-cross diamond called a Word-Cross that soon triggered a social craze. Imagine Facebook, but with checks. As for doing anything special, I was thinking of hiring a Dalmatian and eating a lamington on a chessboard. Aside from that, not much. Maybe wear my brand-new Scrabble cufflinks – A on the left and Z the right – but otherwise, keep a lid on things.
Coz really, the big, big day will be in 2013, or C-Day, when Arthur Wynne’s wunderkind cracks the ton. Maybe now’s the time to start up the subcommittee. Plan the black and white tickertape, the chequered flags, the penguin parades….
But not this year. Ninety-seven is a good innings, a Shane Watson occasion – enough to raise a glass of Black & White and say chin-chin, Wynne.
What about you? Any anniversary suggestions for now – or the biggun? The committee is keen to log your suggestions.
Comments
dg — 21 December at 02:21PM
How fitting that the crossword was born on the longest/shortest day of the year!!!
Boniface — 21 December at 03:38PM
How about we collaborate on a 100-clue thematic cryptic? DA, do you have a 100-clue grid you could let us have?
My suggested theme would be crosswords with variations. Thinking aloud, there could be one (notional) prize for best grid, then kudos for the best clueing of each of the clues...
DA — 21 December at 03:54PM
Inspired idea, Boniface, but a lot of work for this black duck at the end of his hollies.
I like the inkling though - a holiday project that's fun to tackle, and then to share come restart week. Any other variations?
Bill Hendry — 23 May at 10:40AM
Hi David...Am enjoying your book, although parts are still obscure. I'm a newcomer, having reserved myself exclusively for synonymics. For Centenary a competition's a must: bloggers make and rate others' entries, rather than filling squares. Here are some of my first with which I was entertaining my friends last night: 1. He ain't heavy, but it's nice down beside him 2. Article of singular distinction 3. Join the SS at Christmas? 3. Only frozen water at fair 4. My regular mates stand together 5. Looks like we're finally eating a little fish 6. Frighten 'em at explosive barrier 7. Predict bifurcated buttocks? 8. Almost deadly Seine catch 9. Under seasonal foul soil 10. Doubtful bees do it at speed.
To encourage newbies why don't you present "easy" cryptics? Or group according to restricted mechanisms? (I realize one man's meat/trash....)
Anyway I'm enjoying your interesting stories and challenging word games. (For want of better appellations I'm a text editor, structural linguist and English teacher).
Best regards.....Bill Hendry..............
DA — 23 May at 07:14PM
Gday Bill
You've given me a great idea, to energise Arthur Wynne's maiden diamond with some new-fangled clues.
As for the call for easier cryptics, that could well be my gig - I do have a merciful streak somewhere - but that would never be the Fri/Sat slot, as solvers have come to expect a major grapple. Perhaps in a book form, or occasionally on this blog, once I establish that side of things.
As it stands, there are some kinder setters, such as NS, EP and RM in Fairfax, and Rufus in The Guardian, along with Cincinnus (on a kind day) in the Financial Times. Most of those Lovatt mags also offer some starter-friendly grids, or two-speed clues at least.
Feel free to jump into future forums. You'd be more than welcome, cheers DA