One hundred years ago, for the first time in Italy, the crossword, First riddle with black squares to separate the definitions on the chessboard. To conquer the national primacy is the Sunday of the Corriere, the weekly supplement of the Corriere della Sera born in 1899, which On February 8, 1925 he published the first riddle of crossed words. After triumphed in America, where it seems he was born, and after having also conquered England, the cross Puzzle arrives in Italy, that is, “the riddle of crossed words”.
What about Rimini? As always, the Rimini are on the piece. And as always in their own way, with fantasy, intuition, glance and speed of execution. And so that on Goliardo, periodical of the Rimini student associationdedicates half of page 5 of the number of February 28, 1925 to the investigation of crossed words. In just 20 days, from the national pages the “puzzle” lands on those from Rimini. The game is reinterpreted in an ironic-satical key and with a pinch of creativity even in the rules. Because simply writing horizontally and vertically, after all there is also the diagonal. Finally, once you find all the words corresponding to the 12 definitions and by writing them in the order of the numbers with which they are indicated, here is revealed, at the glance, a phrase of clear truth.
As for the original game also in this case to the skilled solutors of the IndoVinello, who had sent it to the editorial office by attaching a 50 cents stamp, an extraction prize is proposed: Ten shields (50 lire).
Judging by the pierce published two numbers later, the competition is very successful: 1,137 resolutions arrived, even from abroad (Barafonda and Pesaro). Eighty -four are discarded, because without stamp, 578 trashed because not exact and from the 475 remained the fate kisses Augusto Albertazziaccountant from Rimini at the Cerni and C. company to which, thus informs the Goliards, the ten promised shields were promptly sent. Then follow the publication of the phrase: urgent telegram Punto Cavaliere changed Monte Station Project with Erection Station Monta. In full goliardic style, the phrase had been satirically underlined a city problem that had held the bench for years and that would continue for many others, the famous “move upstream of the railway line” and therefore of the station. Always with the same style the piece closed with a Dolceamara revelation: «The promised shields are printed are chocolate and can be bought in pastry at 20 cents each». While receiving his 10 shields, the accountant will certainly not be escaped that to equalize the value of the 50 lire promises in prize, chocolates would still have wanted a lot. As well as the fact that the Goliards, with the operation, had grossed a nice nest egg of 526 lire in stamps, equal to the collection for a sale of 1315 copies of the newspaper!
Today, after a century, the Gambalunga library has thought of celebrating this special anniversary with an initiative to be playeda Cruciveserba Gambalunghiano, an enigmistic game that, in addition to the classic logic and linguistic skills, requires to know the library or knowing how to search in the right place. In fact, some solutions can be found by exploring the library website and the online catalog. To participate, you must complete the crosswords and deliver it, by April 1, directly to the library or send it by email to the address (email protected)