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A Cryptogram Just For Fun
Did you think the anagram was tough? Aw, c'mon! The following CRYPTOGRAM should take you at least
15 minutes to solve. If not, report to the nearest Genius Division, where Remi will
continue your studies.
This is the first code that Marmalade solved. It was found in a newspaper in Nova Scotia, Canada during her travels there. First, here's a sample with the solution.
One letter stands for another. In this sample, A is used for the three L's, X for the two O's, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.
Here's the sample: AXYDLBAAXR
(Answer: LONGFELLOW)
Now, here's the code that you must decipher. It's a quotation, followed by the name of the author (also in code).
N JGNEF N WD KSJJST JGWE JGS ISBIAS VGB WTS JTZNEL JB TSPBTD DS.
--S.V. GBVS
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[ Hints, and eventually the Solution, follow ]
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The first letter must be either "A" or "I", and I is an outstanding probability given the self-absorption of writers in general.
I jgIef I wd ksjjst jgwe jgs isbias vgb wts jtzIel jb tspbtd ds.
well, whenever you see I xxxxx I, chances are the xxxxx is "think", especially if you already know the middle letter in xxxxx is "I". This is a big breakthrough.
I THINK I wd ksTTst THwN THs isbias vHb wts TtzIel Tb tspbtd ds.
Then it's clear that s = E to make "TH" into "THE", and if the w in "THwN" cannot be "E" then it must be "A". Also, the only possibility for "wd" after "I THINK I" seems to be "AM", given that w is "A". So we have "I THINK I AM kETTEt" and most likely k=B and t=R, making "I THINK I AM BETTER THAN THE". With all these revelations we have :
I THINK I AM BETTER THAN THE iEbiaE vHb ARE TRzINl Tb RspbRM ME.
:vHb must be a subject type word because it is followed by "ARE" so it must be "WHO". This creates the following:
I THINK I AM BETTER THAN THE iEOiaE WHO ARE TRzINl TO RspORM ME.
Now it's obvious
I THINK I AM BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO REFORM ME.
- E.W. HOWE
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