February 10 2011
Faith No Morse
Now that our brains are flexed from the latest Storm, see if we can’t help a puzzled reader of Puzzled. Last month Paul Stephen sent through a cipher he’d found in the personal column of the English Daily Mail. (No, he wasn’t looking for that Perfect Someone, since the snippet dated back to 1900.)
So what does that information tell us? First the language may be quaint or classical. And second being a personal column, Lord knows what the answer may reveal. (You only need look at the new collection of Times Literary love-ads – Sexually I’m More of a Switzerland – to get the gist of amorous licence.)
Without whispering Spoilers, I’ve had a glance, and nurse a few theories, but thought you lot would enjoy the enigma. Feel free to share your inklings in the Comments section. Together I’m sure we’ll crack the case. So here’s the excerpt as Paul insists:
FAITH – Zshhsav nym zyhp jdwljumxxn-tyfw cwxx isj tiffn-jwldwhp nymdh always.
PS – any other enduring mysteries of the verbal kind? Then here’s the place where a solution may be waiting. Send them in, and we can only fail nobly.
PPS – this code case remains open. Am currently seeing if we can glean any more tips about the mysterious snippet, both the lettering and setting. Stay tuned.
Comments
ML — 10 February at 10:13AM
First guess would be 'nym' is 'you' and 'nymdh' is 'yours'
ML — 10 February at 10:25AM
I think it should be tlffn rather than tiffn
DA — 10 February at 10:34AM
Strong theory, ML - good sleuthing.
As for the tiffn vs tlffn, I can only reproduce what Paul offered, which may be imperfect. (An added degree of difficulty, perhaps.)
ML — 10 February at 10:46AM
In summary then, we have an absent father who can't spell :-)
Sam — 10 February at 10:48AM
ML/DA - should it also be iaj tlffn rather than isj tiffn? Or have I gone astray?
ML — 10 February at 10:55AM
Hi Sam - I managed to find a combination that made sense with 'isj' (but with tlffn)... though some of it seems to be in unpunctuated telegram format rather than whole sentences
ML — 10 February at 01:00PM
.. though Sam, your word for 'ISJ' makes mroe sense... but implies more mistakes elsewhere!
dg — 10 February at 01:27PM
It's not Polish?
Sam — 10 February at 02:29PM
I can't work out what is governing the substitution though at the risk of
SPOILERS
this is what I came up with:
"Faith - Missing you most dreadfully - hope well and happy - dearest yours always"
though the 'and' should be 'aid' if no mistake?
Why is it in code?
Sam — 10 February at 03:03PM
or perhaps 'kid happy'?
DA — 10 February at 05:19PM
No idea why the code Sam. Perhaps an IQ test for the coder's beloved. You've done some great groundwork here. Like you, I fear an incomplete picture.
See if I can shake any more info out of Paul, the sender.
Nib — 12 February at 11:32AM
That 'always' has me completely thrown. :P
dg — 12 February at 03:42PM
DA,
You get my email?