Twentieth Century Standard Puzzle Book by A. Cyril Pearson

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Twentieth Century Standard Puzzle Book by A. Cyril Pearson

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By Robert Nguyen Posted on Dec 11, 2025

In Category - Geography

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Book Language: English

Hey, have you ever wondered what people did for fun before smartphones and streaming? I just found this weird little time capsule called the 'Twentieth Century Standard Puzzle Book.' It's not a novel—it's an actual puzzle collection from 1907, and it's fascinating. It’s filled with Victorian-era brain teasers, riddles, and conundrums that were meant to entertain families in the parlor. Reading it feels like opening a forgotten drawer in your great-grandparents' house. The real puzzle isn't in the book; it's trying to figure out what this book says about the people who bought it over a century ago. It's a charming, slightly baffling peek into a completely different idea of entertainment.

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PLAY, CURIOUS CALCULATIONS, WORD AND LETTER PUZZLES, SOLUTIONS. III.--WORD PUZZLES, MISSING WORDS, LETTER PUZZLES, ANAGRAMS, PICTURE PUZZLES, PALINDROMES, SOLUTIONS. =Also by the same Author= PICTURED PUZZLES AND WORD PLAY. Profusely Illustrated. Crown 8vo. Cloth. =PART I.= CONTENTS PAGE MAGIC SQUARES, PUZZLES, TRICKS, ENIGMAS I-1 CHARADES, ETC. I-80 RIDDLES AND CONUNDRUMS I-104 NUTS TO CRACK I-115 SOLUTIONS I-148 MAGIC SQUARES No. I.--FOUR HUNDRED YEARS OLD! In Albert Dürer’s day, as in Milton’s, “melancholy” meant _thoughtfulness_, and on this ground we find on his woodcut, “Melancholia, or the Genius of the Industrial Science of Mechanics,” a very early instance of a Magic Square, showing that Puzzles had a recognised place in mental gymnastics four hundred years ago. [Illustration] No. II.--A SIMPLE MAGIC SQUARE Much time was devoted in olden days to the construction and elaboration of Magic Squares. Before we go more deeply into this fascinating subject, let us study the following pretty and ingenious method of making a Magic Square of sixteen numbers, which is comparatively simple, and easily committed to memory:-- +--+--+--+--+ | 1|15|14| 4| +--+--+--+--+ |12| 6| 7| 9| +--+--+--+--+ | 8|10|11| 5| +--+--+--+--+ |13| 3|2 |16| +--+--+--+--+ Start with the small square at the top left-hand corner, placing there the 1; then count continuously from left to right, square by square, but only insert those numbers which fall upon the diagonals--namely, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, and 16. Then start afresh at the bottom right-hand corner, calling it 1, and fill up the remaining squares in order, from right to left, counting continuously, and so placing in their turn 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, and 15. Each row, column, diagonal, and almost every cluster of four has 34 as the sum of its numbers. No. III.--ANOTHER MAGIC SQUARE +--+--+--+--+--+ | 1|20|16|23| 5| +--+--+--+--+--+ |15| 7|12| 9|22| +--+--+--+--+--+ |24|18|13| 8| 2| +--+--+--+--+--+ | 4|17|14|19|11| +--+--+--+--+--+ |21| 3|10| 6|25| +--+--+--+--+--+ In this Magic Square the rows, columns, and diagonals add up to 65, and the sum of any two opposite and corresponding squares is 26. ENIGMAS 1 A MYSTIC ENIGMA He stood himself beside himself And looked into the sea; Within himself he saw himself, And at himself gazed he. Now when himself he saw himself Within himself go round, Into himself he threw himself, And in himself was drowned. Now if he had not been himself, But other beast beside, He would himself have cut himself Nor in himself have died. No. IV.--A NEST OF CENTURIES +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |22|47|16|41|10|35| 4| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ | 5|23|48|17|42|11|29| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |30| 6|24|49|18|36|12| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |13|31| 7|25|43|19|37| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |38|14|32| 1|26|44|20| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |21|39| 8|33| 2|27|45| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ |46|15|40| 9|34| 3|28| +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+ The numbers in this Magic Square of 49 cells add up in all rows, columns, and diagonals to 175. The four corner cells of every square or rectangle that has cell 25 in its centre, and cells 1, 7, 49, 43, add up to 100. 2 One morning Chloe, to avoid the heat, Sat in a corner of a shady seat. Young Strephon, on the self-same errand bound, This fairest flower of all the garden found. Her peerless beauty set his heart aflame, Three monosyllables expressed his aim. At a respectful distance he conversed About the weather; then became immersed In other topics, lessening the while The space between them, heartened by her smile. The same three simple words, now joined in one, Expressed their happy state at set of sun. No. V.--THE MAKING OF A MAGIC SQUARE An ideal Magic Square can be constructed thus: Place 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in any order in the five top cells, set an asterisk over the third...

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Continue Reading Full Book

So, this book is exactly what it says on the tin. Published in 1907 by A. Cyril Pearson, it's a collection of puzzles. There's no plot or characters in the traditional sense. Instead, you get page after page of word games, mathematical problems, logic puzzles, and visual riddles. It was the era's equivalent of a big book of crosswords or a brain-training app, designed for long evenings at home.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a quiet delight for anyone curious about everyday history. The puzzles themselves are a snapshot of a slower, more analog world. You'll find problems about dividing parcels of land, calculating train speeds, and deciphering coded messages that feel both familiar and strangely antique. The language and cultural references are pure Edwardian England. It’s less about solving every puzzle and more about enjoying the mental atmosphere of a bygone era. Holding this book makes you appreciate how the simple human desire to be challenged and entertained hasn't changed, even if the methods have.

Final Verdict

This is a niche but wonderful find. It's perfect for history buffs who like social history, puzzle enthusiasts curious about the origins of their hobby, or anyone who enjoys odd, quiet books that offer a direct connection to the past. Don't expect a thrilling narrative. Do expect a thoughtful, charming, and uniquely tangible piece of history. It’s a conversation starter and a brain-tickler all in one.

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This publication is available for unrestricted use. Knowledge should be free and accessible.