Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-12-25
SOME FAMOUS RIDDLES.
CURIOUS VERSES OF THE LONG
AGO TIME.
Klns Solomon Himself was Csc Of the Earliest
and Host Successful Riddle Makers
Here ID . Collection Of the Most
Famous Of All the Riddles.

Here II . Collection Of the Most
Famous Of All the Riddles.
In all ages of the world riddles have
provided amusement for the Ingenious,
the wise and the witty.
They are found in all languages and
have been o sOurse OF diversion to all
classes of people. from the grave phi
losopher in his study to the merry
clown in the circus, while anciently
the guesser OF riddles was supposed to
be gifted. And while this play upon
words is sort Of witty pastime with
US. the riddle once hold IL far higher
place. After inventing it, men began
to make it into kind OF game. Bets
were made on the answer and sides
chosen, each side backing its cham
pion, and it is related that King Solo.
mon once won large sum OF money
for his superior wit in guessing riddles.
The Oldest riddle on record. with
which no doubt everyone is familiar,
may DO found in tho book of Judges,
chapter IA. verses 14-18.
The riddle propounded by the tabled
Sphinx to the people OF Thebes is prob
ably the most celebrated in the long
list OF philosophical riddles, the So
luton OF which won for Epidus (son
OF Lafus, king of Thebes) a kingdom:
'What is that which goes on four
legs in the morning, two in the day.
time, and in the evening on three?"
The answer is Man, who creeps in
infancy, walks erect in maturity, and
in old age uses a staff.
The Germans ask, ''What can go in
the face of the sun and yet leave no
shadow?" Answer. the wind.
The African puts 1t in this way:
What flies forever and never rests?"
and the Persian says, what is wing
less and legless, yet flies fast, aud is
never imprisoned"
Cleobulus, one of the "Sevea Wise
Men OF Greece" was famous riddle
maker. his riddle OF the year being an
example of his skill in that limo:
There is father with twice six sons.
These sons have thirty daughters
apiece. parti-colored, having one
cheek white and the other black, who
never see each others face, or live
above twenty -four hours" Answer
1.-The year, months and days.
This is not very witty. but what
medieval enigma is?
The riddle was much cultivated in
the middle ages. An old book en-
titled demands Joyous" but which
we should torn amusing questions.
was printed by Wynken de Worde. the
second expert printer. in 1911. From
this book. Of which there is said to be
but one copy extant. We Gull a few
Demands"
"Who we're the persons who once
made all. sold all. bought all and lost
ALP" Answer-"A smith made an
awl and cold it TO shoemaker, who
lost it."
"What is the worst bestowed charity
that we can give?' Answer-"Alms
to blind man, for he would be glad
10 see the person hanged who gave /,
, to him."
'What is that that never freezeth?''
Answer-''Boiling water"
''What man gstteth his living back
ward?" Answer-"The ropcmaker.
The Reformation put stop TO riddle
making for awhile, but in the seven
teenth century it revived again. and II
France it soon rivaled in popularit!
the chanson and madrigal.
, A riddle ascribed to- Canning. where,
by the addition Of letter. the wore
cares Is changed into one OF the
sweetest words in the English Ian
guage. is very fine. IT runs as follows
IA word there is of plural number,
Foe to ease and tranquil slumber.
ANY other word you take,
And add an IS twill plural make.
!. But il you add an IS to- this,
So strange the metamOrphosis,
Plural is plural now no more
And sweet what bitter was before"
Could We imagine the stately Charlie
- James Fox INDUCING in riddle-making
It Yet here is one Of which he is tn
y author, and which has long been in
a "Mother Goose's" rhymes:
O Formed long ago, yet made to-day,
IL Employed while others sleep
;. What none would like to give away,
And none would like to keep"
:. You arose from tho answer tn
10 mOrningt
- And Letitia Barbaald! Fancy h
"a sitting down gravely to propour
:, enigmas. She did. however, and vel
cleverly. too, as seen by the followin
:. on Il river:
:. Il always murmur, yet never weep.
% always lie in bed, but never sleep,
ST My mouth is wide aud larger than my he
t. And much disgorgcs, though tits nov
10 | fed