Enigma Puzzle #21

[enigma]

The Enigma Presents – Puzzle #21


This paper can bode good or ill,
A thank you note, or pay the bill,
Though not with electricity,
It’s just short of a battery.

Half from highlights needs no nag,
Finish with a first-year’s tag,
Next is Texas, only double,
Up and down, or you’re in trouble.

Military, with a mission,
The leader of the sea division,
Heavy winds could mar the day,
As Dorothy’s house is blown astray.

Woodrow’s town, a school respected,
Knight him first and he’s selected,
Say them quickly, one through four,
The rainy town has more and more.

Review the facts, and see the light,
The lower level got it right,
But now we’ve listed all but one,
Find out who’s not – you're almost done.

But order must yet be resolved,
Enigma puzzles have evolved,
Take all from here, in timely order,
Use that correction as your sorter.

[QuikSand]

There's no requirement that these be presented in rhyme, right?

[gottimd]

I am baffled, trying to figure out Verse 4....


Woodrow’s town, a school respected,


Woodrow Wilsons Hometown? Staunton
A school respected? University of Virginia

The knights thing, I am unsure of, is this peaking of the "Knights of the Round Table"?

Need some hints here, this one is impossible.

[QuikSand]

This paper can bode good or ill,
A thank you note, or pay the bill,
Though not with electricity,
It’s just short of a battery.

I'm not sure that each quatrain leads to one answer -- this one seems like it's split in two. The first two lines seem to go together, and the last two do -- but I don't see any way to connect all four.

Maybe it's a list with more than 4/5 entries...

[Buzzbee]

The Enigma Presents – Puzzle #21

Military, with a mission,
The leader of the sea division,
Heavy winds could mar the day,
As Dorothy’s house is blown astray.


This one seems like it would also lend itself to being split. The first two lines seem to be some sort of naval reference, whereas the last two seem to reference the Wizard of Oz or Kansas. No sea around Kansas.

We have a direct reference to Texas, and indirect references to Kansas and Virginina. Coincidence?

Also, in regard to the Texas reference, "up and down" in golf means to get on the green, and then make the putt. "Up" on the green, and "down" in the cup. Don't know if that is significant or not. Just tossing out ideas.

[albionmoonlight]

The Enigma Presents – Puzzle #21


Next is Texas, only double,
Up and down, or you’re in trouble.


SRV was from Texas, and his band was named Double Trouble . . .

[gottimd]

But order must yet be resolved,
Enigma puzzles have evolved,
Take all from here, in timely order,
Use that correction as your sorter.


I see your point, and I should've noticed this last verse, I guess it is hinting that things are out of order, although they rhyme. The question is, is timely order mean chronological, as in timeframes, so like each thing a specific set relates to is some sort of historical reference that must be put in timeline order?

[rkmsuf]

It's easy to grin
When your ship comes in
And you've got the stock market beat.

But a man worthwhile
Is a man who can smile
When his shorts are too tight in the seat.

[QuikSand]

Finish with a first-year’s tag,


From thesaurus.com:

8 entries found for freshman.

Entry: freshman
Function: noun
Definition: novice

Synonyms: apprentice, beanie, beginner, colt, crab, dog, first-year student, fish, fox, freshie, frog, frosh, green pea, greenhorn, learner, lowerclassman, neophyte, newcomer, novitiate, plebe, probationer, rat, recruit, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro, yearling

- - -

I've never heard of several of these, but it seems like that clue is either for "freshman" or perhaps something else from that list.

[Buzzbee]

This paper can bode good or ill,
A thank you note, or pay the bill,


Money perhaps? Good if you recieve it, ill if you are giving it. A thank you note might hint at a Federal Reserve Note. You pay the bill with money.

Reference to Woodrow - presidential reference? Dead presidents. Presidents on the bills?

Just tossing out ideas here.

[WSUCougar]

A few scattered thoughts:

I'm getting a general college sports vibe, but I can't grasp it. Perhaps teams in a conference or that have won something? I dunno.

Though not with electricity,
It’s just short of a battery.
> I think this refers to an alternate meaning of battery, like an artillery battery perhaps? Just short = only one gun or cannon?

Half from highlights needs no nag,
> high or lights

Finish with a first-year’s tag,
Next is Texas, only double,
Up and down, or you’re in trouble.
> Frogs hop up and down (TCU)

Military, with a mission,
The leader of the sea division,
> Navy? Commodores? (Vandy)

Heavy winds could mar the day,
As Dorothy’s house is blown astray.
> Kansas? Cyclones? (Iowa State)

Woodrow’s town, a school respected,
Knight him first and he’s selected,
>Virginia Cavaliers?

Say them quickly, one through four,
The rainy town has more and more.
> Seattle?

[General Mike]

could Woodrow's town, a respected school be a reference to Princeton where Woodrow Wilson was president of the school?

[QuikSand]

could Woodrow's town, a respected school be a reference to Princeton where Woodrow Wilson was president of the school?

Could be... but then why bother mentioning the town, if the link is just to the school of the same name.

I'm thinking either his birthplace or just some town named Wilson (maybe named after WW?) makes more sense...

[QuikSand]

The rainy town has more and more.

> Seattle?

I can't imagine that "the rainy town" means anything but Seattle. I don't see how the other piece connects.

[rlfreeze]

I was also thinking college sports. Perhaps it has to do with conference rivalries? Just my thoughts.

[enigma]

Highlights (http://www.highlights.com/)

[Radii]

The Enigma Presents ? Puzzle #21
Half from highlights needs no nag,


With the link to the magazine, I'm going to assume this refers to the Goofus and Gallant comic strip in their magazine, with Gallant being the reference here?

[gottimd]

I think we were onto something with locations, so maybe the highlights reference had something to do with where it is published, which notes Ohio and PA in the link.

Or it could be something to do with the verse rhyme of just replacing letters of the rhymed words or counting? This one is tougher than leather.

[QuikSand]

With the link to the magazine, I'm going to assume this refers to the Goofus and Gallant comic strip in their magazine, with Gallant being the reference here?

That sounds promising...

[QuikSand]

...tough to hook "Gallant" with anything college football related, though.

[cuervo72]

There's a Gallant who is a hockey coach, but that's probably unrelated.

[gottimd]

The Mitsubishi Gallant?

[QuikSand]

There's a Gallant who is a hockey coach, but that's probably unrelated.

Does the coach's name match with any of the freshman words from above? Those two seem to be connected -- although it's implied that "Gallant" would b the first part, not the second part.

[gottimd]

I think the Gallant thing is going down the wrong path. What does the end of the sentence "needs no nag" have to do with Gallant, if Gallant is correct?

[QuikSand]

Gallant is the kid who does things the right way (good manners and such), while Goofus is the kid who is always behaving badly. It sounds like a good match to me.

[cuervo72]

Ok, I've found the catch to the puzzle, but I haven't quite solved it. I'm not going to offer up a puzzle after this, so I will leave it to someone else to find the final piece.

This paper can bode good or ill,
A thank you note, or pay the bill,

Citation

Though not with electricity,
It’s just short of a battery.

Assault

Half from highlights needs no nag,
Finish with a first-year’s tag,

Gallant Fox

Next is Texas, only double,
Up and down, or you’re in trouble.

Omaha (this I'm not certain of, but it seems to be a poker clue)

Military, with a mission,
The leader of the sea division,

War Admiral (this is the one that made it click for me)

Heavy winds could mar the day,
As Dorothy’s house is blown astray.

Whirlaway

Woodrow’s town, a school respected,
Knight him first and he’s selected,

Sir Barton

Say them quickly, one through four,
The rainy town has more and more.

Seattle Slew

Review the facts, and see the light,
The lower level got it right,

Affirmed??? I'm not 100% on this one.

But now we’ve listed all but one,
Find out who’s not – you're almost done.
But order must yet be resolved,
Enigma puzzles have evolved,

this seems to be a clue more than anything. So far, I've not accounted for Count Fleet or Secretariat.

Take all from here, in timely order,
Use that correction as your sorter.

this I thought might be Secretariat (a secretary could take things in timely order), but it might still be part of the clue.

[rkmsuf]

Look at each year they competed in a derby. maybe it's a consistent time frame. add that to Affirmed and that derby winning may be the answer.

that is if the ones listed are all derby winners...haven't checked that.

[cuervo72]

They are all of the triple crown winners.

[QuikSand]

huge breakthrough!

[Radii]

wow, awesome job

[cuervo72]

Yeah, well....I still haven't solved it.

[QuikSand]

But now we’ve listed all but one,
Find out who’s not – you're almost done.

Seems to suggest we should find all but one of them in the list -- but cuervo has found only nine of the eleven. Still one more clue in there, perhaps?

[gottimd]

Seems to suggest we should find all but one of them in the list -- but cuervo has found only nine of the eleven. Still one more clue in there, perhaps?

TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS

Year Winner Owner Trainer Jockey
1919 Sir Barton Commander J. K. L. Ross H. G. Bedwell Johnny Loftus
1930 Gallant Fox Belair Stud James Fitzsimmons Earl Sande
1935 Omaha Belair Stud James Fitzsimmons Willie Saunders
1937 War Admiral Glen Riddle Farms George Conway Charles Kurtsinger
1941 Whirlaway Calumet Farm Ben A. Jones Eddie Arcaro
1943 Count Fleet Mrs. John D. Hertz Don Cameron John Longden
1946 Assault King Ranch Max Hirsch Warren Mehrtens
1948 Citation Calumet Farm Ben A. Jones Eddie Arcaro
1973 Secretariat Meadow Stable Lucien Laurin Ron Turcotte
1977 Seattle Slew Karen L. Taylor William H. Turner Jr. Jean Cruguet
1978 Affirmed Harbor View Farm Lazaro Barrera Steve Cauthen

[QuikSand]

I keep expecting to see another post to this thread by the new enigma...

[gottimd]

Same here, I tried to get in but got locked out of my own account for 15 minutes. I was bored out of my mind at work knowing I couldn't post or respond to any threads in that little amount of time.

[Danny]

I keep expecting to see another post to this thread by the new enigma...

This is a good thing. It looks like people might be trying to figure it out instead of posting random triple crown winners as a password.

[rkmsuf]

I've tried a few but missed. I'm thinking it's a year or number of years.

Take all from here, in timely order,
Use that correction as your sorter.

Start from Secretariat and sort how?

[enigma]

.
ANSWER KEY FOR ENIGMA PUZZLE #21

The verse makes backhanded reference to all but one of the eleven winners of horseracing’s Triple Crown, then requires some letter shuffling to find the correct answer. Explanatory notes are below.

- - -

This paper can bode good or ill,
A thank you note, or pay the bill,

A Citation can either be a commendation, or a notice of a legal violation requiring a fine.

Though not with electricity,
It’s just short of a battery.

Assault is a crime that does not involve the physical elements of a full-fledged battery.

Half from highlights needs no nag,
Finish with a first-year’s tag,

The Children’s magazine Highlights featured an instructive series called “Goofus and Gallant,” while a first year student or freshman is sometimes called a Fox.

Next is Texas, only double,
Up and down, or you’re in trouble.

Omaha is a poker game, similar to Texas Hold ‘Em, but played with four cards instead of two, and usually winnings are split High/Low.

Military, with a mission,
The leader of the sea division,

The allusions to War and Admiral, simply need to be placed together for the name here.

Heavy winds could mar the day,
As Dorothy’s house is blown astray.

[I]”Blown astray” by heavy winds is a backhanded reference to the house being whirled away by a tornado (Whirlaway).

Woodrow’s town, a school respected,
Knight him first and he’s selected,

In Wilson, BC lies Barton College, recipient of many awards as a fine regional liberal arts school. Add the knighted title of Sir to complete the name of the first TC winner.

Say them quickly, one through four,

[I]Here, you are being asked to Count in a Fleet manner.

The rainy town has more and more.

The city most notorious for rain is Seattle, and “more and more” conjures up a synonym, Slew.

Review the facts, and see the light,
The lower level got it right,

An appellate court, when agreeing with the decision of a lower court, will render the verdict Affirmed.

But now we’ve listed all but one,
Find out who’s not – you’re nearly done.

With ten Triple Crown winners mentioned, the only one remaining is Secretariat.


But order must yet be resolved,
Enigma puzzles have evolved,
Take ten from here, in timely order,
Use that correction as your sorter.

There are 11 letters in SECRETARIAT, as there are 11 winners of the Triple Crown.

The horses revealed from the verse are in this order:

CITATION
ASSAULT
GALLANT FOX
OMAHA
WAR ADMIRAL
WHIRLAWAY
SIR BARTON
COUNT FLEET
SEATTLE SLEW
AFFIRMED
SECRETARIAT

But the correct chronological order of the winners is this:

SIR BARTON
GALLANT FOX
OMAHA
WAR ADMIRAL
WHIRLAWAY
COUNT FLEET
ASSAULT
CITATION
SECRETARIAT
SEATTLE SLEW
AFFIRMED

In sorting the eleven horses correctly, we set a pattern for rearranging a list of eleven items. Follow this same pattern with the letters of SECRETARIAT (e.g. you moved CITATION from position one to position 8, to the “S” becomes the 8th letter), and you get a scrambled version of his name (in lower case, of course):

acretrestia

q.e.d.

[General Mike]

Ok, I've found the catch to the puzzle, but I haven't quite solved it. I'm not going to offer up a puzzle after this, so I will leave it to someone else to find the final piece.

Say them quickly, one through four,



Count Fleet fits that clue to a T

[gottimd]

Did someone get it?

[QuikSand]

Have to think so...

[cuervo72]

Count Fleet fits that clue to a T

Count Fleet is actually one that I missed, the single line clue threw me off.

What I couldn't get was resolve the order, which prevented me from solving the puzzle.

[Radii]

wow, that's a great puzzle. Good job. The answer and the anagram is fascinating.

[WSUCougar]

I wasn't within a furlong of this one. *cough*

[rkmsuf]

so what's the answer?

[gottimd]

acretrestia

[WSUCougar]

mintjulep

[Buzzbee]

horsesass

[cuervo72]

Count Fleet is actually one that I missed, the single line clue threw me off.

What I couldn't get was resolve the order, which prevented me from solving the puzzle.

I'm a doof...actually, I pretty much *had* solved the puzzle...