Merry's First Book of Puzzles
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Descripción: Merry's First Book of Puzzles by Robert Merry. Robert Merry to his friends A kindly greeting sends,...
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MERRY'S teOOK OF PUZZLES. i44J
EDITED BY ROBERT MERRY.
NEW YORK: THOMAS O'KANE, PUBLISHER, .130
NASSAU STREET.
Republished by
The Pencil Puzzle Connection http://www.pencilpuzzles.com/ © Treasures Beyond Measure 2009
PEEFAOE. ri^HE "^
innumerable readers of Merry's
with
many
familiar faces, lighted
Museum
will here
up by pleasant
meet
smiles,
and
hear the same old jovial laughter that greeted them in the olden time.
Our motto is that of our noble State will see that
we have
—" Excelsior
Our readers
I"
not buried the talents of our contributors ia
napkins—but seek to bring them out into the bright day For Genius —like the lamp ef Aladdin—needs constant polishing to bring out :
its
lustre
and
Our
full effect.
object has been to instruct
by smiles
—not
the dear hearts of the young girlhood and boyhood
among
the necessary thorns of existence.
pages to
make
the sad
happy
—
^the
happy
frowns; to cheer ;
to strew flowers
In a word, we try in these still
happier.
Hence, pure fun will be found as beautiful in these pages, as hoa* ey amid the flowers of Hybla.
Robert Merry.
Robert Merry
to his friends
A kindly greeting sends, With a general assortment
of questional
Conundrums, Charades, Puzzles, Riddles of all shades.
And Rebuses, as aids To intellectual and social digestion. If the
young Merry host
Acquaintance should boast.
Or kindred,
or authorship pat.
With some
of our jokes.
We confess—('tis no hoax)— To amuse
We
other folks,
have riddled the Museum
Now we beg you you happen
If
to
"Chat.**
will show.
know.
Why the Editor, painstaking soul ? Is like the cold
storm
Which, in climates bright and warm.
Where Come
gallinippers swarm.
shivering
down from
the pole t
MERRY'S HOOK OF PUZZLES.
VSHORT
memmom
I
i
merey's book of puzzles.
6
Who
3.
Bible, 4. 5. 6.
man 7.
prolongs his work to as great a length as podand still completes it in time ?
Why are young ladies like arrows Why is a philanthropist like an old horse How can five persons divide five eggs, so 1
and
shall receive one,
How many
still
*
that each one remain in the dish!
soft-boiled eggs could the giant Goliah
eat upon an empty stomach 8.
What
9.
Two fathers have
fishes
?
have
?
their eyes nearest together
each a square of land.
?
One
father
divides his so as to reserve to himself one-fourth in tho
form of a square
;
thus
Tr:e other father divides his so as to reserve to himself,
one-fourth in the form of a triangle
;
thus ]
They each have four
among
sons,
and each divides the remainder
way that each son will share equally with his brother, and in similar shape. How his sons in such a
were the two farms divided ?
MEERr's BOOK OF PITZZLES.
merry's book of puzzles.
8
TVhat is that wliich but never eaten ?
12. cut,
13.
is
i
often brought to table, often
f
Mv first is four-sixths of a step that is long, My second is a person of state My whole is a thing that is known to be wrong, ;
And 14.
Why
a strong
is
my
My second Together
And am
first
you can not
beauteous
I attend
17. 18.
Why Who
19.
There
a
was the is
first
misty morning
arms
that bore
;
the
first
woman, the great woman.
of five letters.
?
?
three refers to
man, the seven a
am a word am the name
20. I
still.
be very wealthy?
in debt like a
first
;
will,
a word of seven letters
man, the
signifies a great
and I
man
to
stand,
command
your humble servant
"Why ought a fisherman is
fair
your
16.
fers to
of hate.
are your nose and chin always at variance?
"Without
15.
symptom
Take away
of what adorns the estate of
two
re-
first
four
my
first^
many
of
Take away my first and second, and I am tlie name of a place where all the world was once congregated. Take away my last, and I am the name of a bear.rifrJ mineral. Take away my two last, and I am the name of a fashionable place of resort. I the nobility of England.
am
small in stature, but capable of doing a great deal of
mischief, as I once did in
London
in the year 1666.
21. Spell eye-water four letters. 22.
23.
24.
Why is swearing like an old coat Why is a thump like a hat Why is an inn like a burial-ground I ?
?
merry's book of puzzles
pmM iCOMES
THEYGAVEiyVE jira.'.lr'rt)\lihhiflifcA^r!!!:m!taiT
mmm^i
meeby's book of puzzles.
10
27. If a fender cost six dollars,
come
it
to
what
will a ton of coal
?
28.
What word
will
make
29.
My
80.
What
that to
is
shorter
it
which
if
yoa add a
syllable,
?
first is a very uncomfortable state, In cold weather it mostly abounds. My second's an instrument formed of hard steel, That will cause the stout foe to stagger and reel, And when used, is a symptom of hate. My whole is an author of greatest renown, Whose fame to the last day of time will go down.
the world
the longest and yet the shortest thing in
is
the swiftest and yet the slowest
the most and the most extended the least valued and the most regretted without which nothing can be done which devours every thing, however small, and yet gives life and spirits to every object, however great? ;
divisible
;
;
;
My first
31,
is
found in every house.
From wintry winds
My
second
is
it
guards.
the highest found
In every pack of cards.
My
whole, a Scottish chief,
By
Who
for his
And, dying, 32. 83.
Why Why
fell
life,
with glory.
handsome women
are is
praised
is
and storv, country gave his
ballad, bard,
an avaricious
man
like
bread
like
?
one with a short
memory? 34. is
What
there 85.
river in Bavaria answers the question.
Who
?
Why
is
a
an even bargain
man ?
with wooden legs like one
who haa
hobby's book of pi/zzles.
11
Id
Why is
38.
What
39.
more
tliau
a parish bell like a good story
belongs to yourself, yet
is
f
used by others
yourself ?
camps about the centre I appear In smiling meadows seen throughout the year; The silent angler views me in the streams,
40. In
And
all
must trace me
in their
morning dreams
y
mob
conspicuous I stand. Proud of the lead, and ever in command.
First in the
41. The head of a whale is six feet long his tail is as long as his head and half his body, and his body is half of his whole length. How long is the whale ? ;
A
hundred stones are placed, in a straight line, a 42. yard distant from each other. How many yards must a person walk,
them
who undertakes
in a basket stationed
Is useful
44. I ;
am
my
a
an
syllables,
article in
a useful 45.
47.
stone
is
each of which
common
an animal of uncommon intelligence
46.
lirst
1
by day and by night.
word of three
first is
not an animal, is
them up, and place
My first is a part of the day, My last a conductor of light. My whole to take measure of time,
43.
word
to pick
one yard from the
;
use
my
is
second,
third,
though whole
used in carrying burdens.
My
art.
There was a man who was not born, His father was not born before him, He did not live, he did not die. And his epitaph is not o'er him.
Why is a nail, fast Why dees a miller
in the wall, like
an old
wear a white hat?
a
my
;
man ?
MEBBT
8
BOOK OF PUZZLES,
40.
miiHi
13
meeet's book of puzzles.
14 60.
My
a letter commanding to wed, your sole till it reaches your head Nothing worth as a whole, it is plain to all men That divided in halves, it is equal to ten
Or
first is
to lift
My second, though
nothing, compared to the other,
Is
worth more as a partner than
It
moans and
it
sighs,
its
double-faced brother;
and when joined
to
my
first,
Pronounces the doom of the sinner accursed.
My
third,
On
the worth and position of neighbors and friends,
you
will find his
whole value depends
And, when both the other two following fair, Changes doom to desire, and a curse to a prayer.
My
though it formeth no part of a hundred, it can justly and evenly be sundered; found in the elements everywhere present, found in all seasons, unploisant or pleasant, the chief of all lands, and yet can not wait
fourth,
Shows where 'Tis 'Tis 'Tis
On
continent, hemisphere, empire, or state.
Though
ne'er in Great Britain suspected to lower^
each quarter of that mighty power always belonged to the animal race. In the mineral kingdom they gave it a place, A.nd, being impartial, they could not deny,
'Tis the heart of It
The vegetable order
And
its
virtue to try
yet, since creation, it
In beast, bird, or
My whole Or grown
fish, root,
you'll find
never was known branch, stem, or stone.
growing
in pasture
and barns,
carpets,warm blankets, and yarns. In England, in Saxony, France, and old Wales, And in sundry more places it always prevails. Of quadrupedal origin still it is known In bipedal families oft to be shown ; [tions in coats,
—
But the strangest of all Is
its strange forms and condiseen in the covering of sage politicians.
.'
\
MEERT
S
BOOK OF PUZZLES,
51.
^
JENNY]
mm m
iMPuLiitf'S^ ^B^iiilliiitiliiii!
1 1 I
iKiili
iili!il!!li!!l
I
II
ilfii
15
mekky's book of puzzles.
16
What
is
that
54:.
When
is
a boat like a knife
65.
What
53.
Bight
which
but never out of
invisible,
is
?
part of
London
is in
?
.<
France
i
67.
How many black beans will make five white Why is a dandy like a haunch of venison
58.
What
56.
ones?
?
kin
own son
father's
59.
Why
60.
What
that child to
is
its
father
who
a rose-bud like a promissory note
is
is
not
its
?
biblical
father calling his son
name
is
?
there which expresses a
by name, and
his son replying
?
61.
Why
is
an orange not like a church bell
62.
Why
is
the largest city in Ireland likely to be the
largest city in the world
?
63. Three-fourths of a cross,
An
Two
What
65.
Why
eQ. G. a.
circle complete. ?
should doctors attend to window-sashes ?
^
What
68. Spell
What ?
and a
smells most in a drug shop
is
that
one can see where
69.
circle complete,
triangle standing on feet,
semicircles,
64.
supper
and a
upright where two semicircles meet,
A rectangle
67.
?
which every one can divide, but no
it
has been divided
hard water with three letters of
the
?
letters.
alphabet come too late
for)
MERBY
8
BOOK OF PUZZLES.
17
merry's book of puzzles.
18 72.
as one letter, and written with three, are, and two only in me ; there Two letters I'm black, blue, and gray, single, I'm double, I'm
Pronounced
am read from both ends, and the same either way, restless and wandering, steady and fixed, am I And you know not one hour what I may be the next. I
I melt,
and I kindle
—beseech, and defy,
watery and moist, I am fi«ry and dry. scornful and scowling, compassionate, meek light, I am dark, I am strong, I am weak. I'm piercing and clean, I an?, heavy and dull Expressive and languid, contracted and full.
I am I am I am
I'm a globe and a mirror, a window, a door, An index, an organ, and fifty things more. I belong to all animals under the sun. And to those who were long understood to have none.
My language And
is
plain,
though
it
can not be heard,
I speak without even pronouncing a word.
Some
call
me
a diamond
Others talk of
my
—some say I am jet
water, or
how
I
am
set.
I'm a borough in England, in Scotland a stream. And an isle of the sea in the Irishman's dream. The earth without me would no loveliness wear, And sun, moon, and stars at my wish disappear.
Yet
so frail is
my
That a speck gives 73. to
"What vessel
move 74:.
is
tenure, so brittle
me
that
pain,
which
my joy.
and a drop can destroy. is
always asking leave
?
Translate the following into Latin 42, 8 rocks, e e e e e e e e e e, 46. 2. 14. 8. 0.
75.
How
is it
with a forceps with an awl ?
;
that you can work with an awl, but not while I can work with a forceps, and not
Sierrt's book of puzzles,
19
merbt's book of puzzles.
30 77.
word the master gave to Dick, Dick scratched his head, and looking rather thick, Eeplied, '-''Hereafter it would make it stickP
Add^ was
the
*^Dick," cried the master,
*'
rudeness
is
a sin
;
FU surely put you inP
Behold the stocks, ** That," answered Dick, " won't alter it a feather, Hereafter it would make it hold togetJierP " Dick," said the man, *' if you insult me so, Your shoulders and my rod I'll put in CoP " 'Tis all the same," said Dick, *' my worthy master, Hereafter
would make
it
it stick tJie
faster,
'^^
78.
Why is France
79.
"Why
is
a
80.
Why
is
the hour of noon on the dial-plate like
woodman
pair of spectacles 81.
82.
Why
is
like a skeleton
like a stage actor
the best baker most in
Whether old Homer plain for
it is
want of bread
?
is
not clear
;
—the bard, though wont to roani,
one liquid, never had
left
home.
84. 85.
What two
?
?
not proper 86.
reasons
why
whispering in company
?
My
first is found on the ocean wave. In the spring, the pit, and the mine My second below earth's surface you have, Where seldom the sun can shine.
My
whole your dinner-table must grace, seldom fails to obtain a place.
And 87.
a
tippled wine or beer,
Why is a coward like a mouse-trap Why is green grass like a mouse
83.
?
?
Julep or cider, history
But But
?
Why
is
a gooseberry pie like counterfeit
money
!
is
MEEEY 88.
8
BOOK OF PUZZLES.
21
89.
Why
does a fisherman blow his horn
90.
Why
is
?
there no danger of starving in a desert ?
Take half of the needle By which sailors steer
91.
Their ship through the water,
Be
Do
cloudy or clear
it
not really break
This of
But
this
my
makes
it,
first.
thanksgiving or Christmas,
My With
second you see
;
care well compounded,
From
My
it
things were worst
your mind take
in
And At
all
and tree. some people
grain, shrub,
whole
like
Who make great pretense, Of words have a plenty, But no great stock of 92.
How is
when he 93.
it
that Methuselah
sense.
was the
oldest
man,
died before his father ?
My first is
a negative greatly in use, people begin when they mean to refuse; second is Fashion, or so called in France,
By which
My
But, like other whims,
An
article
With
is
always in use
the servant of chance. is
my
whole.
texture and form under fashion's control
But, alas
!
not a thing can
Although many have four
it
see which goes by,
sights,
and
all
have one
eye. 94.
What
is
that which, supposing
its
to be four inches, length nine inches,
inches, contains a solid foot
?
greatest breadth
and depth three
MEBEY 95.
S
BOOK OF FUZZLE8.
d3
mekrt'b book of puzzles.
24
My
96.
tongue
And
My
voice
And
is
long,
my
yet I breed no
breath
you hear both
yet I have no
is
strong,
strife
and near,
far
life.
A
waterman rows a given distance, a, and back 97. again in h hours, and finds that he can row c miles with the current, for d miles against it. Required, the time of rowing down, the time of rowing up, the rate of '^urrftnty and the rate of rowing. 98.
As
I
Up
starts
was beating on the
far east grounds,
my
a hare before
two greyhounds
The dogs, being light of foot, did fairly run, To her fifteen rods, just twenty-one And the distance that she started up before, Was six-and-ninety rods, just and no more ; Now, I would have you Merry boys declare ;
How far 99. Is
it
they ran, before they caught the hare.
possible to put twelve pieces of
rows, and have four in a
row
money
in six
?
A
100. gentleman sent a servant with a present of nine ducks, with this direction " To Alderman Gobble, with ix. ducks."
The servant took out
three,
and contrived
direction corresponded with the
number
How
neither erased uor altered a letter. 101.
Four
As
letters all
form
who
me
it
so that the
of the ducks.
did he do
quite complete,
breathe do show
Reversed, you'll find I
am
the seat
Of infamy and woe. Transposed, you'll see I'm base and mean, Again of Jewish race ;
Transposed once more, I
To hide a lovely
face.
oft
am
seen
Hs it I
MEKKY'S BOOK OF PUZZLES. 102.
25
mebkt's book of puzzles.
fJO
My
name
an article given For ladies and dandies to put on their linen ; It comes from the forest, I've heard people say.
103.
And
My
the
first is
made from
is
second
The juice of mouth
the skin of an animal gay.
fruit that
a
is
to
sour,
it is
comes from the South, and 'twill pucker your
;
candy shops all over the town, And, stranger to say, it is almost round. 'Tis foHind in
My
whole
is
an article that is often seen fields almost covered with green;
In the gardens and It is
And
My
104.
very sweet, and also pleasant to eat, in hot summer days affords a rich treat. first is
half of
second makes sense of cry of a kitten
bined
;
my
my
;
my
fourth
what implies good-humor; first is
;
my
a consonant and vowel com-
with the addition of the initial of
fifth,
would imply silence and boys and girls prize liighly.
third,
;
105. I
am composed
My "
106. if
2, 8, 9, is
my
whole
is
my
what many
of twelve letters.
dug out of the numeral
a substance
6, 11, 12, 8, is
a
earth.
an ancient instrument of war. former times. a vowel.
*'
4, 2, 3, is
" " " "
12, 8, 1, is a vessel used in 5, is
my
third sounds like the
4, 7, 1, 9, is a
10, 9,
is
hard substance.
a pronoun.
My whole is now before you. My first is appropriate, my second
you guess
it.
'tis nine to one ^[y whole elevates the sole above the
earth.
107.
"Why
108.
What do we
is
a conundrum like a all
do when we
monkey first
?
^et into bed
?
MEERT 109.
110.
S
BOOK OF PUZZLES.
27
merkt's book of puzzles.
28
111. There is
one word in the English language which harm ; change a in it, and you make it "an act of cruelty. is
universally considered a preventive of
certain letter 112.
My
may be
first
And
fashioned of iron or wood,
window
or door for safety is placed ; In village or town it does more harm than good, Leading people their health, time, and money at
to waste.
My
second's a lady, bewitching and
And Will
fair,
and strive ; dawn, and be wearied with care,
for love of her people will labor
rise before
And
My
pursue her with ardor as long as they live. whole is what ladies admire and approve.
— — the purchaser's prize
The shopkeeper's boast
;
ninepenny chintz 'tis a one-shilling glove is something which makes people open their
'Tis a It
eyes.
113.
At what
distance must a
body have
quire the velocity of 1,600 feet per second 114.
Of
115.
Why
116-
My
w^hat trade is
is
the sun in
fallen to ac-
?
May?
a small horse like a young rausk-melon
first
With
must grace a legal deed. companion, firm and red
its
;
help in marriage, too, they need, Before the blessing can be said.
Its
My
second half a hundred
If in the shortest
is.
way you
spell
You soon must guess me after this, I may as well the secret tell.
My
whole, by his celestial strains
Bears the rapt soul to worlds above
The Great
And
Creator's
tells
power proclaims,
of the Kedeemer's love.
?
MEBBY
S
BOOK OF PUZZLES.
29
117.
118.
"^-^msi^!^
^
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