Brain Teasers
A Useful Thing...
This is an old Italian riddle from 1300-1900 AD.
A useful thing, hard, firm, and white,
Outside in shaggy robe bedight;
Hallowed within right cleverly,
It goes to work both white and dry.
When after labour it comes back,
You'll find it moist and very black;
For service it is ready ever,
And fails the hand that guides it never.
A useful thing, hard, firm, and white,
Outside in shaggy robe bedight;
Hallowed within right cleverly,
It goes to work both white and dry.
When after labour it comes back,
You'll find it moist and very black;
For service it is ready ever,
And fails the hand that guides it never.
Answer
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Riddle courtesy of Trumalia.com
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Comments
WHY A PEN?? I DON'T GET IT......
Haha! Once I read the answer I was like, duh!
Specifically, this is a feather pen. At the time this riddle was created, there was no such thing as 'ballpoint.' The 'inside... hard and white' refers to the actual quill, the hard part of a feather. The 'shaggy robe' is the soft feather part. Quills are hollow, so they can hold a little bit of ink. It 'goes to work, white and dry' because before you write with one, it has no ink on it. You have to dip it in ink. So when you're done writing, the quill is 'black and moist.' It's always there to use, and if you keep it inked it won't fail you.
Maybe someone should add this to the explanation, as feather pens are no longer in use and do not readily come to mind. But this is a cool riddle!
Specifically, this is a feather pen. At the time this riddle was created, there was no such thing as 'ballpoint.' The 'inside... hard and white' refers to the actual quill, the hard part of a feather. The 'shaggy robe' is the soft feather part. Quills are hollow, so they can hold a little bit of ink. It 'goes to work, white and dry' because before you write with one, it has no ink on it. You have to dip it in ink. So when you're done writing, the quill is 'black and moist.' It's always there to use, and if you keep it inked it won't fail you.
Maybe someone should add this to the explanation, as feather pens are no longer in use and do not readily come to mind. But this is a cool riddle!
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