THE SQUIRE'S CHRISTMAS PUZZLE PARTY
and there was always one night devoted to what was known as
"Squire Davidge's Puzzle Party." Every guest was expected to
come armed with some riddle or puzzle for the bewilderment and
possible delectation of the company. The old gentleman always
presented a new watch to the'guest who was most successful in his
answers. It is a pity that all the puzzles were not preserved, but I
propose to present to my readers a few selected from a number that
have passed down to a surviving member of the family, who has
kindly allowed me to use them on this occasion. There are some
very easy ones, a few that are moderately difficult, and one hard
brain-racker, so all should be able to find something to their taste.
The little record is written in the neat angular hand of a young
lady of that day, and the puzzles, the conditions of which I think it
best to give mainly in my own words for the sake of greater clearness,
appear to have been all propounded on one occasion.
55.—
The Eleven Pennies.
A guest asked someone to favour him with eleven pennies, and
he passed the coins to the company, as depicted in our illustration.
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