The Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

CROSSWORD SCHOOL

Eight students, in the form of Across rows of entries, make their way through crossword school from the first grade to the twelfth. This class of students is unusual in that four of the eight skip a grade (don’t include one of the letters in a Down column), while the other four repeat a grade (use one letter from the Downs twice). The letters that are skipped or repeated, when written on the blanks to the right of the diagram, show what these students have in common. Unfortunately, each grade (Down column) has one dropout—a single letter that drops out of the diagram to the blank below its grade. Taken together, these letters will indicate what the dropouts have in common. Clues are given (with lengths withheld) in order as they occur within their rows and columns. Answers include five proper nouns.

See page 112 for Puzzler contest details. The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 100.

STUDENTS

a. Audited rough part of a curriculum Spoil average grade attained by the two

b. In southern high school, runner possibly shows a lack of knowledge Campus radicals taking French for the means of coasting

c. Asylums include polar opposites Political organization broken apart after a coup’s ending

d. Determination that hurts tree Best boy in A Christmas Carol wearing birthstone

e. Sail with yachting groups in the sound

One log turned white

f. Olympian ate primarily chicken in Barcelona

Swimmer sees about plunge

g. Health food restaurant finally returned saucer?

Stuff sprayed by police sarge at riots (two words)

h.Cincinnati team has legal case for compensation

Least accident-prone aircraft outside of Air Force One, ultimately

GRADES

1. Munch, eating a small nut Teach inaccurately about past Republican episode

2. Harlot reformed by mythic maiden’s seducer Pronounced correctly in Spanish and English

3. Figure out moving van rule

Put a cover over cross containing iron

4. Short Romans use modified rakes Wrong initiated by degenerate lout!

5. Swallowing a drink of booze, pictured a city in Michigan Following leader, bullies meanly give bad treatment (hyphenated)

6. Oiliness affected dropouts?

Good deal on American narcotic

7. Elementary rock—before its time? With gym equipment turned around, notice low points

8. Tooth’s lost outside piano bar that’s very popular {two words)

Force return of first man after arrival

9. Expansion—capriciously put a lid on it

Part of a letter terminates the wrong way

10. Article with more outrageous proposition

Joke left principal of elementary swallowing last of her mouthwash 11. Broadcaster’s sound is particularly wooden?

Some Americans unfortunately sank at sea

12. Unfriendly to audience in lodge Eating perch, mind weight problem

NOTE: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, send an addressed, stamped long envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

Answers to the August Puzzler

“CELESTIAL NAVIGATION”

1. ARISTARCHUS (anag.) 2. DYAN (hidden) 3. A-VA-TAR 4. MEN-TO-R 5. B-AS-TARDY 6. P(LAY)ACT 7. L(UP)INE 8. PLIE(d) 9. STA(R)VES 10. LAW-N 11. TABULAR (anag.) 12. STAR(T)LING 13. BUS-TARD (rev.) 14. (f)ATTEST 15. STU(R)DY 16. CARDS (double def.) 17. MENSA (anag.) 18. M(E)CC-AS 19. BAN(IS)TER 20. COSTA RICAN (anag.) 21. DU-L-L 22. YANKEE (hidden) 23. (pr)AlRlE-R 24. POLK-AS 25. C(US-T)ARD 26. STOLE (double def.) 27. GAUL (homophone) 28. T-RYSTER (Terry’s anag.) 29. STARE-TS 30. CANOEIST (anag.) 31. A-CUTE .32. TO(I)L (lot rev.) 33. DIN-G 34. STA(RKNA)KED (rank anag.) 35. WIN-TRY 36. A-RID 37. E(PAUL)ET (tee rev.) 38. CORNSTARCH (anag.) 39. TYING (hidden) 40. UPS-TART 41. OVER(HUN)T 42.TENT(H)S 43. REDRESS (double def.) 44. MU(STAR)D (rats rev.)