Today’s Cryptogram

10/05/2019 | Nikos1121

[nikos1121]

Today’s Cryptogram

Courtesy of The Arkansas Gazette. ALL I CAN SAY IS “GOOD LUCK ON THIS ONE!”

CEOANAFJ AG ODN CPCYALZ FJ GNAVNG, CJB ECGHZB. ---UCVNZY GCPCSZ VCJBFY

You can find this little fun word game, to combat early dementia and senility in us baby boomers, in several daily publications.

The way it works is a letter stands for another letter.

For example: AXYDLBAAXR is LONGFELLOW (does not apply to today's cryptogram).

Beware, the game is very addictive. If this is your first time, don't be intimidated.

PLEASE DO NOT post the answer in general comments, but DO post your time and any tips you might give the group on how you solve these puzzles as puzzle solvers love to hear how you made out.

You can certainly send your solution to my private reply, or if you need a hint for today’s Cryptogram.

[nikos1121]

If you're just starting out on these, be patient, as you'll be proficient in no time.

If you need a little help you can copy the cryptogram and paste it to Hal’s Helper below:

You can then work on the puzzle without using pen and paper.

HAL'S CRYPTOGRAM HELPER

THE IN THING NOW IS TO SCROLL DOWN TO MAGNUM44’S “HELPFUL HINT” BEFORE YOU SOLVE THE PUZZLE.

[nikos1121]

PLEASE JOIN OUR FUN AND LIVELY PING LIST (currently at 81 ) AND REGENERATE SOME NEW BRAIN CELLS.

Solution to our last puzzle: WHEN SOME MEN DISCHARGE AN OBLIGATION, YOU CAN HEAR THE REPORT FOR MILES AROUND. ---MARK TWAIN

[nikos1121]

I had some wonderful insights to yesterday's puzzle. The word "discharge" has certainly changed, and it was for many unusual in this quote by Mark Twain.

Here's from Null and Void:

The language has changed a bit since then. “Discharge” didn’t have anything to do with batteries, a gun or cannon when fired discharged a bullet or shell. Discharge also meant to remove or finish or eliminate, think discharging the static that’s making your hair stand on end.

“Report” was what was in the newspaper, or was shouted by the news vendors selling the paper. It therefore means hearing the sound of a kid hawking the newspaper ‘extree extree read all about it!!!’ In other words, something you heard before you actually got the news.

In a era of black powered and subsonic artillery shells you’s hear the sound of the gunfire before you felt the fury of the shell.

So an immodest or self-aggrandizing man would make a point of letting everyone in earshot know he’s paid a bill or returned a favor. Whether they were the target of the payment or merely a bystander. It’s really only the business between him and his creditor.

Anyone who has to tell you he’s honest or has to tell you he’s a good man, probably isn’t...

[nikos1121]

And another from Swordmaker: Hmmmmm, do I hear some Democrat politicians running for a Microphone? This one was a tough one. I got the few patterns there were, but they didn’t much unlock the archaic words Mark Twain used in his pithy remarks for a while. I did not even immediately get the author’s name, even though I once was assigned Samuel Clemons’ desk to use when I was doing some volunteer work on a project at the Sacramento Union newspaper, lo these many years ago. 2 minutes 40 seconds. I doubt many younger people unfamiliar with guns would get the allusion.

[nikos1121]

Today’s puzzle comes from yesterday’s Arkansas Gazette. You may need Hal on this one. Like yesterday’s in employs some words not seen or heard from in a while.

[ComputerGuy]

A tough one. Took longer than usual.

[1lawlady]

Holy Moly that was hard. It took me 9 minutes and I had to start over twice. I kept aspiring to stand taller in the cryptogram game and finally did. The three letter words were the key to solving for me.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Not really that hard, but it did take above average effort. The admonition, “Good luck with this one” made me look more carefully. Take a stab at the penultimate word and it should fall into your lap.

Good luck.

[ArtDodger]

Same here, the warning perked up my interest.

[Mr Fuji]

It took a solid 7-8 minutes today.

[grey_whiskers]

Yeah, that word after the comma did the trick. Otherwise, VERY difficult.
8 min.

[null and void]

I think a peak under the costume would perhaps be a little different than the author believes.

[A_perfect_lady]

I got it!! And it didn’t even take me long. I started with the usual 3 letter words that follow a comma (there’s only a few to choose from) and then kind of by-guess-and-by-gosh picked through it with relative ease. I’m amazed, too, because I never heard of that quote or that person before.

[Steven Tyler]

Thanks

[gundog]

Cripes. Got hung up on ABCDBA, and it took a while to hit on it, even though I was pretty confident about A and B.

[xrmusn]

A little more difficult than usual, and thanks for the reminder of the ‘Kings or Old Time English’ may not quite mean what we take if for.

Much like the chuckle that arises when in an old movie a Fred Astaire will be bragging about the ‘Gay old time he had last night’, had an entire different meaning in 1935 than now OR was he ‘telling’ us something?....<: <:

[nikos1121]

Did not expect that word