THE JOY OF CROSSWORDS: BRAIN CALISTHENICS WITH FUN , SURPRISES, AND AMAZING SOLUTIONS.

This puzzle was constructed by Arthur Wynne in 1913. During the following fifty years the "guidelines" for constructors changed dramatically. The rules came from the "newspaper of record," The New York Times. In 1942 (quite late in the game), its publisher, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, decided that a Sunday crossword puzzle wouldn't hurt the paper's stature. But it was not until 1950 that the now famous and beloved daily puzzles appeared.

Although it doesn't conform to contemporary 15x15 or 21x21 grid models, this is the diamond puzzle that began it all. Can you solve it?

It all began with FUN!

Here is how the clues were written:

2-3. What bargain hunters enjoy.

4-5. A written acknowledgement.

6-7. Such and nothing more.

10-11. A Bird.

14-15. Opposed to less.

18-19. What this puzzle is.

22-23. An animal of prey.

26-27. The close of a day.

28-29. To elude.

30-31. The plural of is.

8-9. To cultivate.

12-13. A bar of wood or iron.

16-17. What artists learn to do.

20-21. Fastened.

24-25. Found on the seashore.

10-18. The fibre of the gamuti palm.

6-22. What we all should be.

4-26. A day dream.

2-11. A talon.

19-28. A pigeon.

F-7. Part of your head.

23-30. A river in Russia.

1-32. To govern.

33-34 An aromaic plant.

N-8. A Fist.

24-31. To agree with.

3.12. Part of a ship.

20-29. One.

5-27. Exchanging.

9-25. To sink in mud.

13-21. A boy.

This, the world's first crossword puzzle, was constructed by Arthur Wynne, who was the Feature Page Editor at The New York World newspaper.

return to "Listening for Words"

Remain curious.