Abridged commentary of The NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD IN GOTHIC.
07.04.08
July 4, 2008 Friday, July 4, 2008 Puzzle by John Underwood, edited by Will Shortz USA, USA, USA(13D. Start of a patriotic cheer, 40A. Middle of a patriotic cheer, 61D. End of a patriotic cheer), along with AMERICAFIRST (20A. 1916 work by 28-Across), JOHNPHILIPSOUSA(28A. Subject of this puzzle),STARSANDSTRIPES(48A. Title subject of a 28-Across work) and THEMARCHKING(55A. Sobriquet for 28-Across) are the interrelated entries of this Fourth of July crossword puzzle, a beautiful word celebration from the NYT for the 232nd birthday of the United States, following the prescription of John Adams that it be observed as a “day of deliverance” in more ways than one, with “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty … pomp and parade … shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other from this time forward forever more.” Plenty to LOVE(3D. It is “resistless in battle,” wrote Sophocles) in this puzzle; including 6D. Barbara Kingsolver’s “OTRA América” and SUSAN(22D. Sontag who wrote “In America”) the ROTC(18A. Org. offering college scholarships) and the SAR(38D. Fraternal patriotic org.); however, were it not for the generously interrelated subject of the crossword, a few entries might be difficult to discern from their clues -- no matter, here’s what’s on the Fourth of July MENU (10A. It might include hot dogs and baked beans).Celebrate!
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Friday, July 4, 2008 Puzzle by John Underwood, edited by Will Shortz USA, USA, USA (13D. Start of a patriotic cheer, 40A. Middle of a patriotic cheer, 61D. End of a patriotic cheer), along with AMERICAFIRST (20A. 1916 work by 28-Across), JOHNPHILIPSOUSA (28A. Subject of this puzzle), STARSANDSTRIPES (48A. Title subject of a 28-Across work) and THEMARCHKING (55A. Sobriquet for 28-Across) are the interrelated entries of this Fourth of July crossword puzzle, a beautiful word celebration from the NYT for the 232nd birthday of the United States, following the prescription of John Adams that it be observed as a “day of deliverance” in more ways than one, with “solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty … pomp and parade … shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other from this time forward forever more.” Plenty to LOVE (3D. It is “resistless in battle,” wrote Sophocles) in this puzzle; including 6D. Barbara Kingsolver’s “OTRA América” and SUSAN (22D. Sontag who wrote “In America”) the ROTC (18A. Org. offering college scholarships) and the SAR (38D. Fraternal patriotic org.); however, were it not for the generously interrelated subject of the crossword, a few entries might be difficult to discern from their clues -- no matter, here’s what’s on the Fourth of July MENU (10A. It might include hot dogs and baked beans). Celebrate! 
