For those who like a puzzle, here’s a very old one, not just a puzzle but an acrostic rebus. Two weeks later the answer to this puzzle appeared in the paper, please see below. Did the lady appreciate it though?
“For the LINCOLN, RUTLAND, and STAMFORD MERCURY.
ACROSTIC REBUS,
On Miss ——–.
A Creature fierce whom Hercules did tame,
A goddess who for gard’ning is in fame;
A city where an ivory statue stood;
What queen Semiramis to build thought good;
The first idolator —a monarch he;
Join these initials and the name you’ll see
Of an ingenious, lovely, charming fair,
Who’s lately caught my heart in Cupid’s snare.
Stamford. LEANDER.”
Stamford Mercury, 2nd February, 1789
“For the LINCOLN, RUTLAND, and STAMFORD MERCURY.
Answer to the Rebus in our paper of January 2.
NO sooner I the th’initals [sic] had set down,
Directly then appear’d the name of BROWN.”
Stamford Mercury, 16th February, 1789