The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-23

The anagram has gradually lost the
prestige it once held with the witty. wise,
and learned, and now takes place with the
riddle, puzzle and like expedients pour
passe lie temps
The sometimes wonderful and striking
results however, obtained by re-arrang-
irg the letters of words or phrases so as
to form new words or phrases which should
relate in some manner to the meaning OF
the original, may perhaps explain the
dignity which this species of literary
amusement once enjoyed.
Thus if the letters of the common mono
syllable live be transposed, there may
be obtained evil and vile" an apparent
confirmation in the eyes of the believer in
the mystic power of the anagram, should
any exist in these times, of the doctrines
of the pessimist. The conservative hnds
in the word revolution" the anagram
love to ruin, ard in radical reform
rare mad frolio.' These anagrams con-
form TO the rule insisted upon by many
which permits no change, addition or
omission of letters in the operation of
traEsposing, thus forming what is known
as the pure anagram. This rule is Eot
always strictly conformed with, however,
some persons going so far as to substi
tute letters not contained in the original
word or phrase. when the meaning they
desire is incomplete.
In order to show the possibilities of
this now little Draetieed amusement the
following selection of pure anagrams, ar
ranged alphabetically. may be cited:
Astronomers. moon -starers; catalogues,
got as a clue. Christianity. l cry that l
lFgiD
crinoline. inner coil; determination, l
mean to rend it: elegant, neat legs; French
Revolution violence run forth; funeral.
real fun; gallantries. all great sins; i'm
patient. Tim in a pet; Is pity love?-posi-
lively; lawyers. sly ware; matrimony.
into my arm: melodrama made moral;
midshiDman, mind his map; misanthrope,
spare him not: Pensioners, / hire par
sons: penitentiary, nay, l repent it; poor
house. o. sour hope; potentates, ten tea
pots; Presbyterian. best in prayer; pun
ishment. nine thumps; Spanish marriages.
rash games in Paris; surgeon, go, nurse:
sweetheart. there we sat: telegraphs,
great helps; universal suffrage, guess
fearful ruin
The aasgrams made upon the names of
famous persons are in some instances re-
markedly apropos. The English especially.
al least in past times have sought for
indications of character or destiny in the
names of their heroes, as well as aptly
hitting OF" the peculiarities of eceen-
tries.
One of the finest heroic anagrams was
that wrought upon the name OF Horatio
Nelson after his great victory at the bat
tie of the Nile. This anagrsm, however,
is in Lstin-"Hoaor est a Milo Honor is
from the Nile). Very inferior ia the Eng
fish 20, a nations hero" OF Florence
Nightingale, the aragram, Fit on, cheer
ing angel was very popular in the life
time OF that heroine. The professional
character of William Nor. the great law
yer. was happily described in the anagram,
Il moyl in law" Howell, in his letters.
says: With infinite pains and indefatl
gable study he came TO his knowledge OF
the law; but | never heard a more perth
nent snagram than was made of his name"
or William Shakespeare, II ask me. has
VIII a peer?" is not bad. One night
Charles H. then fleeing for life, wrote
upon a window Of Newton Hall. Derby
shire, the anagram on Carlos Rex"
''Cras ero lux" tomorrow | shall be light.
During the Gladstone Disraeli leader
ship Of the two political parties in Eng
land, each side found anagrams favorabls
to their own views and adverse to those
of the enemy in the names of the re-
spective champions. Thus the Tories made
sir" and of Gladstone's, &c leads not"
The Wings resolved the name of the great
Hebrew into idle airs and of the full
cognomen of their own indominable cham
pion. William Ewart Gladstone, evolved
the following anagrams, "A man to WELD
great wills, Go, administrate law well,'
I'm waste no glad wartime"
First and foremost of all our own ana
grams is that wrought from the name of
the country. In United States" are found
In te Dens stat God stands in thee.
and what may be taken as a corollary OF
this statement, 'Inde tute etas" thence
thou standest safely. A remarkable re-
ply to the motto borne upon a RevOlu-
tionary flag, Don't tread on me- is
found in the anagram "A te desistunt'
(they keep off from thee)
The name OF Henry Wadsworth Long
fellow Yields the anagram won half the
New Worlds glory" The Southerners
found in General Butler the designation
"Genl real brute II is a pity that the
custom OF making anagrams has died out
or We might look for some revelations re-
garding the coming Presidential campaign
from those skilled in the art of trans
posing letters.