Across

  1. Quadricentennial. (16)

  9. It’s wearing to have love god get one on. (7)

10. Putting down Department of Employment absence, assuming it’s true. (8)

11. Round buildings are poorly lit outside – surprised expression! (5)

12. Sell stocks - insider measures. (4)

13. In Scotland, this vision may be for sore eyes. (5)

14. Rare gas loses half its nitrogen for an eternity! (3)

15. Willow, Rose and I can make it. (5)

16. Driven insane by tropical heat - that’s just too much. (6)

19. Old Greek drinking songs are a toast in Norway and Iowa. (6)

21. A Scottish river and manuscript that cancels a bequeathed item. (6)

24. Attach wire service to vaulted passage. (6)

26. Clever sting. (5)

28. Stir tea to get taste. (3)

29. Kind of worm may be seen before work. (5)

30. I get held by an assent. (4)

31. Hat lifted, but head lost and murdered. (5)

32. No muesli is available to make liquid mixture. (8)

33. Wee devil gets rich source to collapse inward. (7)

34. Female teachers make solecisms! He sorts tricky answer. (16)

Down

  1. Ask why climbing Elba headland makes for dubiety. (16)

  2. Express regret when archery god drops line to soldiers with note. (9)

  3. Washington mountain is not so dry. (7)

  4. Quite happy with what is contained. (7)

  5. Twenty-franc gold coin for a rich, cream-filled cake. (8)

  6. “Muslin type?” I ask. “No, no,” it’s different. (8)

  7. Amin is coy about foolishness. (6)

  8. Showing merriment, revolutionary had Hitler get to a monstrous place. (16)

17. Greek letter that measures force? (3)

18. It provides digital communication, the opposite of 17 dn. (3)

20. Advances with surprising speed from teller to bank manager, for instance, and this includes vaults. (9)

22. Cult of male virility achieved at the speed of sound? Seen more often, with leaders. (8)

23. Yuan used by Benin in combo with old space station. (8)

25. Medical professional with a lot of pull? (7)

26. Tobacco pipe stem or plug. (7)

27. Till three stout loons flew ower the fell,       

      At risk o' life, their ------ to quell,

      And robb'd a neebourin' smuggler's stell,

      To carry on the waddin', o. (6)

Notes

E-mail your solutions of The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 400 by the closing date of 4 p.m. (EST) on Friday, May 16, 2025, to johnnolan755@gmail.com and include your name, postal address and your choice of a Strip T’s shirt***, should you be the drawn winner. Please include a second choice (design number and size) just in case we are out of stock of your favorite T-shirt. The items on Café Press are not in our stock and thus are not available as prizes.

Solutions can also be mailed to John Nolan, 27 River Road, Farmington, NH, 03835.

Most answers, except proper names, appear in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary tenth edition and/or The Chamber’s Dictionary, revised 13^th edition. In this "British-style" crossword, punctuation marks in clues are best ignored, as a rule.

The solution to The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 400, along with the name of the winner, and everyone else submitting correct solutions, will be published on this site towards the end of May.

***P.S. The cost of mailing one T-shirt overseas has quadrupled in recent years and is now over $24 a pop, effectively killing the trade of small businesses like Strip T’s. Thus, the prize now offered to winning puzzlers from outside the U.S. (and within if preferred) will be a signed Stephanie cartoon rather than a T-shirt.

The drawn winner of TVLPP 399, a puzzle which incorporated 11 of the 12 members of a board governing international cricket (apologies to Zimbabwe) is Carolyn Williams of Mysteryville,Texas, along with solving buddy Laura Bradford. Let us know if you would like a T-shirt or a Stephanie cartoon, Carolyn, and send your address as there are, to quote the Internet, "4,894 people named Carolyn Williams living in Texas." It's a very large state and it even has cricket teams!

U.S solvers did surprisingly well, despite the theme, and included Jay Miller of Pasadena, Calif,, Tom Wilson of South Williamsport, Penn., Tamara Brenner of Elmhurst, Leslie Yonce of Richmond, Va., and over in NH, Chris Rogers of Farmington, and Rochester residents Jim & Joanne Gray, Randy Taylor, Julie Lindsay and especially Larry Reynolds, whose envelope collage incorporated stamps from Ireland, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Britain, as well as a mini-plague of crickets (the insects).

From Scotland, which plays but does not excel at cricket, was Ian Simpson of Edinburgh, along with Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg and Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali....and from the home of cricket (England), Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, Derek Harrison of Pegswood, Chris Chatwin of Kenilworth, William Stewart of Leicester, Mark Nichols of Rugby, and Andy Grady of Tutbury. 

Thank you very much, everyone, for your entries and I hope you have fun with TVLPP 400 above.

Notes

Puzzle enthusiasts are encouraged to visit http://www.crossword.org.uk/ Derek Harrison's resource website for challenging puzzles, links, tools, newsletter, and much besides.

The last 23 years of winners

No. 115 - Andy Knap of London, SW20, England
No. 116 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 117 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 118 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 119 - Karen Muller of Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
No. 120 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 121 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 122 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 123 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 124 - Karen Muller of Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
No. 125 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 126 - Joan Bittrolff, Somersworth, New Hampshire, USA
No. 127 - Not posted (stress and pressure of vacation)
No. 128 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA 
No. 129 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 130 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 131 - Joan Bittrolff, Alford, Florida, USA
No. 132 - Slipped through cracks due to computer crisis
No. 133 - Karen Muller of Meadowbank, Auckland, NZ
No. 134 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 135 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 136 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 137 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 138 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA 
No. 139 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 140 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 141 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 142 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 143 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 144 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France 
No. 145 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 146 - Huguette Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 147 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 148 - Pierre Gaillard, Olemps, France
No. 149 - Reynir Axelsson, Mosfellsbaer, Iceland
No. 150 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 151 - Régine Privet, Naucelle, France
No. 152 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 153 - Barbara Winter, Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 154 - Joan Bittrolff, Alford, Florida, USA
No. 155 - Condell Lovell Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 156 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 157 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 158 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 159 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 160 - Sylvie Chauchard of Belmont Sur Rance, , France
No. 161 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 162 - Yvette Gaillard of Olemps, Rodez, France
No. 163 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 164 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 165 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 166 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 167 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA    
No. 168 - Betty Bardy of Albi, France
No. 169 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 170 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 171 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 172 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 173 - Barbara Winter of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 174 - Nancy Moony Hebert of Alton, NH, USA
No. 175 - Jim Gaudet of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 176 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No, 177 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 178 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 179 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 180 - David Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 181 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 182 - Madeleine Dupierre of Rodez, France.
No. 183 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 184 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 185 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, New HH, USA
No. 186 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 187 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA    
No. 188 - Natalie Ryder, Bremen, Georgia, USA
No. 189 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 190 - Héloïse Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 191 - Jim Gaudet of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 192 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 193 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 194 - Hugutte R.-M. Simmonds, Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 195 - Terry Towle, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA
No. 196 - Vidya Singh of Sidcup, Kent, England
No. 197 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 198 - Condell Lovell Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 199 – T. Metzger, C. Williams, L. Bradford, Westport Maine
No. 200 - Norbert Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 201 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 202 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 203 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 204 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 205 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 206 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 207 - Wayne Maricheau of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 208 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 209 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 210 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 211 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 212 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 213 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 214 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 215 - Ian Laming, Chippingham, Wiltshire, England
No. 216 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 217 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 218 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 219 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 220 - Veronique Bonnet, Images, France
No. 221 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 222 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 223 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 224 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 225 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 226 - Hugest Simmonds, Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 227 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 228 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 229 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 230 - Condell L. Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 231 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 232 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 233 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 234 – T. Metzger/L. Bradford of Topsham, Maine, USA
No. 235 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 236 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 237 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 238 - Philippe Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 239 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 240 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 241 - David Simmonds of Crawford, Dart ford, England
No. 242 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 243 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 244 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 245 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 246 - Pat Mathews of Berwick, Maine, USA
No. 247 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France
No. 248 - Paul Nyack, Rochester Hills, Minnesota, USA
No. 249 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 250 - Nigel Cowley, Cooksbridge, East Sussex, England
No. 251 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 252 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 253 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 254 – T. Metzger, C. Williams, L. Bradford, Maine USA
No. 255 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 256 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 257 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 258 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 259 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 260 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 261 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 262 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 263 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 264 - Jeanine Bonnet of Images, France
No. 265 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 266 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 267 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 268 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 269 - David Simmonds of Crayford, Dart ford, England
No. 270 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Alton Bay, NH, USA
No. 271 - Trudy Metzger on an island in Maine, USA
No. 272 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 273 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 274 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 275 - Huguette R.-M. Simmonds, Rodez, France
No. 276 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 277 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France
No. 278 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 279 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 280 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 281 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 282 - Carolyn Williams, Topsham, Maine, USA
No. 283 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 284 - Jane Cornville, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, USA
No. 285 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 286 - Rich Pardoe, San Francisco Bay, Calif., USA
No. 287 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 288 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 289 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 290 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 291 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 292 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 293 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester NH, USA
No. 294 - Joanne Gray of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 295 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 296 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 297 - Barbara Trow, Dover, NH, USA
No. 298 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 299 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 300 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 301 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 302 - Clara Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 303 - Gron Roberts, Neath, West Glamorgan, Wales
No. 304 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 305 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 306 - Laura Bradford, Venice, Florida, USA
No. 307 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 308 - Derek Harrison, Bedlington, England
No. 309 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 310 - Jane Carville, Wolfeboro, NH, USA
No. 311 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 312 - Keith Simmonds, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
No. 313 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 314 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 315 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 316 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 317 - Patricia Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 318 - David Simmonds, Crayford, England
No. 319 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No, 320 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 321 - Gron Roberts, Neath, West Glamorgan, Wales
No. 322 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 323 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 324 - Trudy Metzger of Titusville, Florida, USA
No. 325 - Brian Dungate of Brighton, England
No. 326 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 327 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 328 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 329 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 330 - Derek Harrison, Bedlington, England
No. 331 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 332 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 333 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 334 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 335 - Patricia Miga of Southlake, Texas, USA
No. 336 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 337 - Ian Laming, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England
No. 338 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 339 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy,  England 
No. 340 - Barbara Trow, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 341 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No, 342 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 343 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 344 - Laura Bradford, somewhere in Maine USA
No. 345 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 346 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 347 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 348 - Ann Holme of Salisbury, England
No. 349 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 350 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 351 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 352 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 353 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 354 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 355 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, England
No. 356 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 357 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 358 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No, 359 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, England
No. 360 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No. 361 - Matt Mitchell of Glenside, Penn. USA
No. 362 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 363 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 364 - Stephen Wortley, Tooting, London, England
No. 365 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 366 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 367 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 368 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 369 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 370 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 371 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA  
No. 372 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, Northumberland, England
No. 373 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 374 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 375 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No, 376 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, England
No. 377 - Laura Bradford of Maine or Florida, USA
No. 378 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No, 379 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 380 - Barbara Trow of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 381 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 382 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No. 383 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 384 - Tom Wilson of So. Williamsport, Penn. USA
No. 385 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 386 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 387 - Garth Higginbotham of Llandudno, Wales
No. 388 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 389 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA  
No. 390 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 391 - Chris Chatwin of Kenilworth, England
No. 392 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, Northumberland, England

No. 393 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA

No. 394 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA

No. 395 - Leslie Yonce of Richmond, Va., USA 

No. 396 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England

No. 397 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia

No. 398 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland

No. 399 - Carolyn Williams, Texas, USA