 [Index]
Reproduced here are various Mathematical Puzzles from
The Old Farmer's Almanac,
published continuously since 1792. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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If you like solving puzzles,
maybe you'll want to give these from the 1958 issue of The Old Farmer's
Almanac (OFA) a try. I through V are pretty straightforward, but
VI and VII are a tad strange. Don't overthink VI and VII because they're not
brainiac material. I plugged part of the solution into Google and could not find
anything that indicates they descend from some great works or prose. I worked
them out to demonstrate what I mean. Puzzles I through V do not contain any
tricks, just solve them as presented and you'll have no problem. Thought
processes were different back in the day, as is evidenced by looking at some of
the other OFA puzzles in the list
below.
Old Fashioned Puzzles
 I - Conundrums
1. Why do young ladies prefer to inflect verbs rather than nouns?
2. What confections were carried in Noah's Ark?
3. Why is Sunday the strongest day of the seven?
4. Why is life the riddle of all riddles?
II - Questions
1. A man went into a store and said. "If you give me as much money as I have
in my pocket I will spend ten cents." This being done, the man then went into the
second store, and said the same thing with the same result. He then went into a
third store and said the same thing with the same result. After the third purchase
he had no money left. How much had he when he went to the first store?
2. If a fish weighs ten pounds and half its own weight how many pounds does it
weigh?
3. A train starts daily from San Francisco to New York, and one daily from New
York to San Francisco, the journey lasting seven days. How many trains will a traveller
meet in journeying from San Francisco to New York?
III - Riddle
Those who have me do not wish for me;
Those who have me do not wish to lose me;
Those who gain me have me no longer.
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IV - Conundrums
1. When does a caterpillar improve in morals?
2. What is it, which, if you name it, you break it?
3. Why is a star like an old barn?
4. What grows the less tired the more it works?
VI - A Puzzle
A ne pit a PHO na. W.O-MaN
who's
O-ld ear;
the N. WA. RE.
Bene.
AT.HT,HISS.T.O.NEL.
I.
Eskas the Arin, eg Raye,
Hang'd F.Ro. mabusy;
LI. Feto LI. fel essc
Lay bye art Hand c.
Lay S.H. eg. O! therp
Elf and D (No.)- Toe art hh.
Erselfy ewe epi. N.G.
Fri End sl et mead.
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V - Enigma
There is a thing that nothing is,
And yet it has a name.
'Tis sometimes tall and sometimes short;
It joins our talks, it joins our sport,
And plays at every game.
VI - Another Puzzle
Sea. bat. evo. U.R.G.
Rie fan DD, Ryy.;
Our eye sfo r
Wha!-Tavai, LS. a
Flo O! do; ft. earsw
Hok now S. b u
T inar un o fye a?
R. sin, so metal L.
Pit Chero , R Br. O.
A. D. Pansh ein H;
Ers Ho! p m- A
Y bea g- a IN!
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 Answers to Old Fashioned Puzzles on page 48
I - Conundrums
1. They like to conjugate rather than decline.
2. Preserved pears (pairs).
3.
Because the others are week (weak).
4. Because we must all give it up.
II - Questions
1. 8%. 2. 20. 3. 14.
III - Riddles
A lawsuit.
IV - Conundrums
1. When it turns over a new leaf.
2. Silence.
3. Because there are r-a-t-s in
both. 4. A carriage wheel.
V - Enigma
A shadow.
VI - Puzzle
An interpretation of 3 or 4 lines is sufficient to show how the puzzle is made
out. (provided by OFA)
An Epitaph of a woman who sold earthenware.
Beneath this stone lies Katharine Gray,
Changed from a busy life to a life of clay.
By earth and clay She got her pelf.
And now she's turned to earth herself, etc.
This is my translation. I could not figure out some of the
words. I begin with one long string of letters without the punctuation and
capitalization, then separate the words. Some do not work well, so I assume the
bit is from a European form of English.
- Anepitaphonawomanwhosoldearthenwarebeneaththisstonelieskasthearinegrayehangdfromabusylifetolifelessclay byearthandclayshegotherpelfanddnotoearthherselfyeweepingfriendsletmead
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An epitaph on a woman who sold earthenware beneath this stone lies kasthearine gray ehangd
from a busy life to lifeless clay by earth and clay she got her pelf and dno to earth herself ye weeping
friends let me ad.
VII - Another Puzzle
- Seabateyourgriefanddryoureyesforwhatavailsafloodoftearswhoknowsbutinarunofyearsinsometallpitcherorbroadpansheinhershopmaybeagain.
- Seabate your grief and dry our eyes for what avails a flood
of tears who knows but in a run of years in so metall pitcher or broad pan she in
her shop may be again.
Posted December 27, 2023
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