The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-03-09
Twas not on Alpine snow OF ice,
But honest English ground,
Excelsior was their device
But sad the fate they found,
They did not climb for love or fam
But follow'd duty call;
They we're together in their aim,
Rlt narted In their AL.

But lolIow' q duty's call;
They we're together in their aim
But parted IN their fall
The late Bishop Wilberforce, who re
/ lieved more grave studies by occasional
pleasantries ofwit and humor, construct
ed an enigma on oman" by the employ
ment of a whole string of words having
1--WE or more meanings each. "All pro
nounce me a wonderful piece of mechan-
ism and vet few people have numbered
the strange medley of which l am COM
prlised. | have a large box and two lids,
/ two caps. two musical instruments,
number of weathercocks, two established
measures, some weapons Of warfare, and a
great many Titles article that carpenter
cannot do without. Then have about
me a couple of esteemed fishes, and
great many of smaller size, two lofty
/ trees. and tie fruit of au indigenous
plant, a handsome stag, and great num-
/ Der of small kinds of game; two halls or
places of worship, two students or
/ scholars. the stairs of hotel, and hall
/ score of Spanish gentlemen to attend on
me. I have what is the terror to the
slave. also two domestic animals and a
number of negatives" We should have
said--but most readers will soon see this
/ for themselves-that there are here not
only similar words with dissimilar mean
/ mos. but also words having the same
! sounds though differently spelled. Many
eniemas have been put forth with an an
nouncement that the author would give
a prize of a sum of money to any person
who would find out the correct solution.
It. NAV be doubted whether such liberal
itv IS anvE Sag more than bit OF wag-
gerry. There was one which was attrib-
uted sometimes to Lord Chesterfield,
sometimes to Miss Steward, and tor a
correct solution of which Il 900 was
offered. We should be sorry to guaran-
tee either the attribution or the offer.
One form of it is in twenty-five lines;
another in fourteen. The latters runs
thus;
The noblest object in the works Of art;
The brightest scene that nature doth impart;
The well known signal in the OF peace
The point essential in tenants lease
The plowmanis comfort when he holds the pillow;
The soldiers duty, and the lovers VOW
And a planet seen between the earth and sun;
A prize which merit never yet has woni
A Vife's ambition, and parsons dues;
A nQiser's idol, and the badge OF the Jew
II how your happy genius can divine
The eorrespon ent word TO every line,
By the first letters will be plainly found
An ancis Mt city that is much renown
Three or four attempted solutions of
this are extant. -but all poor and INSULT
Gent. Another enigma, much talked of
at Oxford a few years ago, and said to
have been written by a university man
in high position, who offered fifty pounds,
to any one who could guess it, assumed
the followed form
When from the Arx's capacious round
The world came forth in pairs.
Who was IL that first heard the sound
OF boots upon thu stairs?
1t is certain that many attempts have
been made to solve tbs, prize or no prize;
we have seen three, discordant as to re-
suit, but ingenious individually.