[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
San,—Interest in acrostics is not at all of recent growth. It may interest yOur somewhat sceptical correspondent to give some instances :—
" Cicero maketh mention of Sybil's acrosticke, that is to say of certeine verses of hers, whose first letters made the name of that king. (A.D. 1605.)
Camden (1637) : Our poets have their knacks as young schollers call them, as Ecchos, achrostickes, serpentine verses.'
Cowley (1656) : In which who finds out wit, the same may see in anagrams and acrostiques.' Dryden (1682) : Leave writing plays and choose for thy command Some peaceful province in acrostic land.'
Addison (1711) alludes to them in the Speckrar. Swift, in A Voyage to Laputa, gives an amusing account of how acrostics may be used. Sheridan, m Si. Patrick's Day, spea kof sending Dolly a cordial draug,ht, with an acrostic on the label. • Goldsmith, in The Citizen of the WerW, relates of the prince of
Bonbobbin that he had every accomplishment, but he could never finish an acrostic.
In The Old Curiosity Shop Mr. Slum says : It's an acrostic, the name at this moment is Warren, but the idea's a convertible one and a positive inspiration for Jarley. Have the acrostic.' Mrs. Gaskell, in Wives and Daughters, tells of an acrostic made by a lieutenant in the 53rd on the name of Hyacinth Clare. Meredith, however, is contemptuous, as in Rhoda Fleming Sir W. Wancove thought ' a more contemptible form of mental exercise was not to be found.' "
I venture to think your correspondent would both enlarge his mental horizon and his knowledge of English literature if he tried, for example, the acrostics now appearing in the Cornhill Magazine. Perhaps they would help to while away many a sad and weary hour at times.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
