H. B. P. stumps an expert, 1857

Word puzzles were the lifeblood of more than one 19th-century American periodical for children. Subscribers just couldn’t seem to get enough of them; they enjoyed writing them; they enjoyed solving them. (An algebra problem stumped mathematically minded subscribers to Robert Merry’s Museum for months.)

One puzzle in particular was actually designed to stop puzzle-solvers in their tracks. Submitted in 1856 by a female subscriber to Woodworth’s Youth’s Cabinet signing herself “H. B. P.,” it was printed in the January 1857 issue and hadn’t yet been solved before the February 1857 issue was released. It was, a note in the February issue pointed out, intended to be difficult and had stymied an adult who boasted that there was no word puzzle he couldn’t solve:

About ten years ago, H. B. P. was one day conversing with a learned man, a professor in a literary institution, upon the subject of enigmas, puzzles, etc., etc. He observed that he had never seen an enigma, nor did he believe that one could be made, which he could not solve. H. B. P. politely doubted his never-failing skill in this respect, and said that she was certain that she could make an enigma which he could not solve. He desired that she would try it; and she accepted the challenge. She wrote several enigmas for his investigation, each succeeding one more difficult than the other; and one by one he made them out, although which increasing difficulty. At last this one appeared, prepared, the author admits, with great care and no little thought, and he failed to solve it. Many persons have since tried it, and all with the same result: so that it must be in truth a difficult enigma …. (Woodworth’s Youth’s Cabinet, February 1857; p. 66)

The puzzle was solved a few months later after one subscriber mounted a siege against it which can only be described as “heroic.” (Answer next week.)

enigma by H. B. P. (from Woodworth’s Youth’s Magazine, January 1857; p. 188)

I am composed of 29 letters.

My 18, 14, 29, 3, 12, 21, 16, was a celebrated jurist and legal writer.

My 8, 24, 4, 12, 26, 5, 9, is a musical instrument used both in ancient and modern times.

The bee is said to sleep upon the fragrant blossoms of the 11, 28, 5, 2, 24, 19.

My 1, 9, 27, 15, 25, 20, may be either theoretical or practical, adequate or inadequate, distinct or confused, common or uncommon.

My 15, 5, 13, is a river in Europe.

The exquisite flowers and shells of my 22, 2, 21, 14, 28, were permitted to adorn the paintings of Domenichino and Dolci.

My 27, 4, 10, 17, 21, 10, is so fleet a racer, that he is hunted on horseback and taken with the lasso.

My 7, 6, 15, is of the order of Capuchins.

My whole is the name of a hero.