Here is a second installment of olden wordplay. I'm starting a new thread just in case it takes off on some wild tangent as often happens around here. I'm copying some previous info so new folks don't have to refer back to the original post.

Here, now, from a book in my 19th Century schoolhouse published in 1829, "The Boy's Own Book' --
out of a chapter therein entitled "The Riddler" which features charades, conundrums, enigmas,
rebusses, anagrams, and logogriphs are the following selections (I'll come back and edit in the
answers in white in a day or so...remember, we're thinking of the year 1839 here in both a linguistic and historical context...good luck!):


CONUNDRUMS:

1. What word of five syllables is that, from which, if you take one syllable away, no syllable remains?
Answer: Monosyllable -- no syllable. (I love this one!...my favorite out of the whole chapter!)
2. Why is Ireland likely to become very rich? Answer:Because its capital is always Dublin (Doubling).
3. What question is that to which you must answer "Yes?" Answer: What does Y, E, S spell?
4. Why is the Prince of Wales like a cloudy day? Answer: He is likely to reign (Rain).
5. What word makes you sick, if you leave out one of its letters? Answer: Music...(ed. note - especially our very own musick!
6. Decline Ice cream. Answer: I scream, thou screamest, he screams.
7. Why is a Welshman, on St. David's day, like a foundering vessel? Answer: He carries a leak--(leek).
8. Why do we all go to bed? Answer: The bed will not come to us.
9. What step must I take to remove the letter A from the alphabet? Answer: By B heading it -- (beheading it)
10. Why is the letter G like the sun? Answer: It is the centre of light.
11. How can you take one from nineteen, and leave twenty? Answer: XIX -- XX.
12. Why is grass like a mouse? Answer: The cat'll eat it (The cattle eat it.)

REBUSSES:

1.
To three-fourths of a cross, add a circle complete;
Then, let two semi-circles a perpendicular meet;
Next add a triangle that stands on two feet;
Then, two semi-circles, and a circle complete.
Answer: TOBACCO

2.
Reverse a snug apartment, and you'll find
A dreary marsh presented to your mind. Answer: Room; moor.

ENIGMA

I've seen you where you never were,
And where you ne'er will be;
And yet within that very place,
You shall be seen by me.
Answer:In a looking-glass.

CHARADES:

1.
My first makes all nature appear with one face;
My second is beauty and music and grace;
And if this charade is not easily said,
My whole you deserve to have thrown at your head.
Answer: Snow-ball.

2.
My first is nothing but a name;
My second is more small;
My whole is of so little fame,
It has no name at all.
Answer:Name-less.

ANAGRAMS:

1. Golden land. Answer: Old England.
2. No, appear not at Elba. Answer: Napolean Bonaparte.
3. It's in charity. Answer: Christianity.
4. Sly ware. Answer:Lawyers.
5. Best in Prayer. Answer:Presbyterian.
6. No more stars. Answer:Astronomers.

ENIGMA:

A lady in prison received an animal as a present from her niece, which signified to her "Make your escape;" in reply she sent back a fruit which imported "It is impossible to escape." What was the animal, and what was the fruit?
Answer:The animal sent was an antelope (Aunt elope). The fruit returned was a cantelope (Can't elope).

Reckon that's enough for awhile... answers in white in a couple of days. PMs welcome. Enjoy!

I haven't solved any of your riddles, but I did discover that "conundrum" has an interesting etymology.

conundrum .
16th-c. Oxford University L slang for pedant, whim, etc.; early sp. quonundrum
1 a riddle whose answer contains a pun (Ex.: “What‘s the difference between a jeweler and a jailer?” “One sells watches and the other watches cells.”)
2 any puzzling question or problem

conundrum

Thanks, Dr. Bill! I was wondering about that. I always loved the word, conundrum, and use it frequently, but always in the second context...never heard it applied to a riddle before, until I found this book ("The Boys' Own Book"...there's a "Girls'" version too). Thought they were just stretching the meanings a bit to be cute and more enticing with the various riddles...note charade as well.

Answers? Pliss.

The answers are now up in white for "The Riddler" - Part 2 on the original post on this thread. All comments, questions, or discussion welcome.

Just bumping this back up to the top for those who might've missed the answers.

I have seen a good number of these in another publication... something I read as a Boy Scout long ago... hmmmm....

My Favorite
12. Why is grass like a mouse? Answer: The cat'll eat it (The cattle eat it.)