/
THE SQUIRE'S CHRISTMAS PUZZLE PARTY
is a hard nut, and should only be attempted by those who flatter
themselves that they possess strong intellectual teeth.
"Master Herbert Spearing, the son of a widow lady in our
parish, proposed a puzzle in arithmetic that looks simple, but nobody
present was able to solve it. Of a truth I did not venture to attempt
it myself, after the young lawyer from Oxford, who they say is very
learned in the mathematics and a great scholar, failed to show us the
answer. He did assure us that he believed it could not be done, but I
have since been told that it is possible, though, of a certainty I may
not vouch for it. Master Herbert brought with him two cubes of
solid silver that belonged to his mother. He showed that as they
measured two inches every way, each contained eight cubic inches
of silver, and, therefore, the two contained together sixteen cubic
inches. That which he wanted to know was—' Could anybody give
him exact dimensions for two cubes that should together contain just
seventeen cubic inches of silver.'" Of course the cubes may be of
different sizes.
The idea of a Christmas Puzzle Party, as devised by the old
Squire, seems to have been excellent, and it might well be revived
at the present day by people who are fond of puzzles and who have
grown tired of Book Teas and similar recent introductions for the
amusement of evening parties. Prizes could be awarded to the
best solvers of the puzzles propounded by the guests.
65
F
