Conundrums and Riddles.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 46

Conundrums and Riddles.

A prevalent form of the conundrum is that which demands a resemblance or dissimilarity between two things that are incapable of comparison. The answer must therefore be based upon a play of words. But the conundrum is very miscellaneous. Thus— l. " Why is a naughty boy like a postage stamp?". Answer: "Because you lick him and stick him in a corner." This provoked a counterpart.

2. "What is the difference between a naughty boy and a postage stamp ? " Answer : " The one you lick with a stick, and the other you stick with a lick." 3. "How do you know that birds in their little nests agree?" Answer: "Because else they would fall out." 4 "Who Rains most at a coronation— the

king or his people?" Answer: "The king gains a crown, the people a sovereign." 5. « What is the difference between a lady and her mirror?" Answer: "One speaks without reflecting, the other reflects without speaking." 6. "When is it right to take anyone in?" Answer : " When it rains."

7. " Why is the figure nine like a peacock ? " Answer : " Because it is nothing without its tail."

The term conundrum covers a variety of absurd questions and answers. There is a funny old book, printed in 1511, by Wynkyn de Worde, with the title, " Demands Joyous," —that is to say, Merry Questions. Many of them are not calculated to be found out. Thus : " What is that which never was and never will be ? " Answer : " A mouse's nest in a cat's ear."

As the riddle usually turns upon metaphorical expression, and every kind of rhetorical figure, we naturally come to it with minds prepared to thread the labyrinth of verbal intricacies and subtle analogies. And out of this rises a new opportunity for the cunning questioner. A type of riddle is generated by taking advantage of the general impression that the terms of the question will be ingenious and recondite and far-fetched.

The result is often so different from what is expected, that although it may be true, and even very true, yet it produces the effect of a sheer "sell." "Maria said to John, 'My father is your father, and my mother is your mother, and yet we are not brother and sister.' What was Maria?" Answer: " Ma-ri-a[r] was a liar."

Among the literal sort are these :— " Why do ducks go under water?" Answer t "For divers reasons." This riddle was a novelty about the year 1845, and it soon provoked this counterpart, by no means equal in quality :—": — " Why do they come up again ? " Answer: "For sundry reasons." "Where is happiness always to be found?" Answer: "In the dictionary." " What is that which is often found where it is not ? " Answer : "Fault." "What fish has its eyes nearest together ? " Answer : " The smallest." "When does a man sneeze thrice ? " Answer : " When he can't help it." " Which is the largest room in the world ? " " Answer ; "The room for improvement."— Cornhill for November.