Harper\'s Magazine - 03.2020

PUZZLE

MAIL CALL

By Richard E. Maltby Jr.

The diagram is a 15 Down, appropriately

enough, since ten of the other unclued entries

are contributors to a 1 Across. Some of these un-

clued entries may require a trip to a dictionary.

Remember dictionaries?

Clue answers include nine proper nouns and

one foreign word. Answers at 9A and 37A are un-

common, and 21D is an alternate spelling. As al-

ways, mental repunctuation of a clue is the key to

its solution. The solution to last month’s puzzle

appears on page 65.

across

1. See instructions (4, 2,5)


2. What Mary had is leaning with its head to the
   right (7)


3. Certain springs and summers in Europe, after the first
   of June (5)


4. Clever verbal traps upsetting to church gaining fuel on
   the borders (7)


5. Magazine issue that reads like it’s in Hebrew! (4)


6. See instructions (8)


7. See instructions (5)


8. A giant in any way? (2,3)


9. At first, something’s not odd, but then again it is! (5)


10. See instructions (6)


11. See instructions (7)


12. Creates a bond in false teeth (10)


13. Be good and be appealing (3)


14. Stoner tripping from sage (6)


15. See instructions (6)


16. See instructions (6)


17. Nerve center initially shed—zap, it’s off (7)


18. First signs of spring easily reported by European (4)


19. Mobile cell in zoo hid PR releases (8)


20. Wary, like a dirty look? (5)


21. She appears finally in lion saga, all gaga (4)


22. In some loveless entanglement? It’s the pits! (5)


23. See instructions (8)


24. One about to die from heat? Just the opposite! (7)


25. Flash judgment—from the start, questionable (5)


26. Antihero is narcissistic and, deep inside, is sick (7)


27. See instructions (9)


28. Broadway composer who sounds like a lot of other
    composers? (7)

down

1. See instructions (7)


2. Reschedules gurus and takes off a watch (8)


3. Famous football player? Just a little bit (6)


4. Père’s “Frère Jacques” is translated as “clone” (5)


5. Lay in trauma, distressed, needing infusion of a
   vitamin (7)


6. Trades in timers, bursting with energy, coming in
   second (7)


7. Company that has its ups and downs? Oh, it is! (4)


8. Bad feeling relative to a code (7)


9. Fighting and winning (8)


10. Last of eggs not quite fresh? Send it back—we’re
    enthralled (5)


11. See instructions (10)


12. Number on a five-dollar bill tells where you live,
    colloquially (4)


13. Part of vegetable that you can reach? (7)


14. Characters in love in North and South, and such
    like? (6)


15. “Change tone imperceptibly”—great ad for makeup (7)


16. ’S a machine gun, says this girl (4)


17. Deadpan demeanor often aces being moved (5,4)


18. Recall concerning getting laid up (6)


19. See instructions (6)


20. I’m into the stock index, getting dope (4)


21. Flushing person partial to being kosher in service (6)


22. Rally recap? (7)


23. A life-changing role for Michael Caine (5)


24. Dan Brown’s albino sails off (5)


25. Petitions from others like 29D? (4)


26. Something you have a right to see? (3)


27. Online volume not OK for some Africans (3)

Contest Rules: Send completed diagram with name and address to “Mail Call,” Harper’s Magazine, 666 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10012. If you

already subscribe to Harper’s, please include a copy of your latest mailing label. Entries must be received by March 6. The sender of the first correct

solution opened at random will receive a one-year subscription to Harper’s Magazine (limit one winner per household per year). The winner’s name

will be printed in the May issue. The winner of the January puzzle, “Theme and Vari-variations,” is Katherine Unterman, Bryan, Te x.

PUZZLE 87

24

40

31

36

39

30

37

33 34

35

49

32

42 43

45 46

48

44

50

47

41

51

25 26

29

22

16

19

28

13

18

15

20

23

17

21

14

12

9

1 2 34 5

10

678

27

11

38