In memory of 16, 25 who greatly enjoyed solving the puzzle when it first appeared in March 1974. Like Ximenes, he taught me a great deal about crosswords. He became a great friend, always helpful and always entered my Christmas clue-writing competitions. I, and many more, will miss him very much. The puzzle appears here by kind permission of THE TIMES/LISTENER which is greatly appreciated. APEX.
The five unclued lights are a theme-word and four variations. One further light, which some solvers could connect with the theme-word, has a normal clue. Half the remaining lights of each length have Misprint clues with one letter only misprinted in the definition part of the clue. The other half have Printer's Devilry clues. Each devilled clue is a passage from which the printer has removed a hidden answer, closing the gap, taking liberties with punctuation and spacing, but not disturbing the order of the remaining letters. Thus, in the sentence 'Ximenes once had a solver in Hobart, so I'm told' ARTS is hidden: the clue might be 'Ximenes once had a solver in hobo, I'm told'. Each passage, when complete, makes sense. Solvers must discover which type of clue is being used in each case. The ten unchecked letters of the five unclued lights can be found in the leaders of The Crediton Echo, The New Zealand Herald and The Kensington Review. Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary 1972 Edition is recommended.
Across
1. For a survey of the thousand, is leaving to count them (6)
7. Lady turns up in a stag - Arden party (4)
12. The upper aim easily done with short right (5)
13. Slick frozen around the north (6)
16. Birds Scots catch before returning (6)
17. The demands of the organised Ma's sex acting (5)
18. One in foreign drama group with bent back sweeps (9)
24. One with shame pinching a florin (5)
30. Hobbling out and about, one has a large beat (6)
31. To the new bent - a welcoming card (5)
33. Three prizes may be won by the solve - MP Ted to enter (4)
34. A fool about to tell jests (6)
Down
1. Female and a right cat (5)
2. Once I had a little pot and it's not with me (6)
3. Do you like watching bra masked by TV interviewer? (5)
4. Cheat, not very old, after an Indian title (6)
5. Little English under skirt and vest (4)
6. The children of ten tot ales in school (6)
8. Take a mixture of gin and rum (4)
9. Storm at Lord's - after the raid need attention (9)
10. In reading a sin, wantons are approved by one local authority (7)
15. Shot in the Highlands wounding a leg (4)
18. Jane larking about with tar in the grange (7)
19. The winner of the race was a lank outsider (4)
21. In the convent bath - a solitary? No, a King! (6)
22. Dunces chatter about left over work (6)
23. The coloured glaze of cell, so admired at the Pottery Show (6)
26. Senior race having turned up noses (5)
27. Cops were slow in arresting the bat ripper in the Club (5)
28. Sunday under the car - you'll need a smock (4)
29. The discontented squaw of the brave - in digs a lot (4)
This puzzle was first published as Crossword 2,287 in The Listener.