6 DECEMBER 1969, Page 31

Crossword 1407

Across 1 Postman has lost a letter in John's island (6)

4 A loud speak-easy in one kind of society? (8)

10 One word goes to extremes in cracker jokes (7)

11 A man of policy? (7)

12 This flower comes in all colours of the rainbow (4) 13 The lady met in a spirited way (10) 16 Talking of first-class boxing (6)

17 Cards he shuffled and came to grief (7)

20 Astound Edward in a small way (7) 21 'Their lean and — songs Grate on their scrannel pipes' (Milton) (6) 24 So Hamlet wanted the speech pronounced (10) 25 Move slowly to the island (4) 27 Porker and I retreat to the north for strong stuff (3-4) 29 Sluggard's delight (7) 30 Dear Pa is in heaven (8) 31 Athenian girl from the environs of Long. wood? (6) Down 1 A thousand mice in the pan provide dry rations (8) 2 That's pretty fruity, Giuseppe! (5-6) 3 Tuneful old boy has nothing on the Orient (4) 5 Masonic quartet in a flutter? (8) 6 Not working to schedule; there's no joy in it (10) 7 Entrance and exit for the inattentive (3) 8 What a carry-on, read it! (6) 9 House master? (5) 14 About a boy in the index, it's disloyal (11) 15 The divine afflatus is missing (10) 18 Wherein Irish professional singers keep going sharp? (8) 19 Might yet reach Aphrodite's island (8) 22 Pets in increased production? (4, 2) 23 'Do good by stealth and — to find it fame' (Pope) (5) 26 Silent mourner (4) 28 Pike to be found in the garden pool (3) Solution next week Solution to Crossword 1406. Across: 1 Sea- scape 5 Barset 9 Quill pen 10 Stella 12 Emblems 13 Loriner 14 Astringently 17 Alexandrites 22 Dundrum 23 Hotspur 24 Triton 25 Tearless 26 Ingres 27 Attended. Down: 1 Sequel 2 Akimbo 3 Callers 4 Pleasure-dome 6 Astarte 7 Selenite 8 Tea-trays II Blandishment 15 Banditti 16 Bean-king 18 Aureole 19 Euterpe 20 Append 21 Prised.