This is an ancient puzzle from an old book that I've never seen anywhere else. Can any of you puzzlers solve it?
If the B MT put:
If the B. putting:
$\begingroup$
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14
If the grate be (great B) empty, put coal on (or maybe in?) (colon); if the grate be full stop putting coal in (on?).
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3$\begingroup$ A game of telephone in the age of the telegram. $\endgroup$ – Ian MacDonald Jan 6 '16 at 20:55
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14$\begingroup$ Ah, UK English riddles. Makes more sense than "If the capital be period, putting coal in". $\endgroup$ – Todd Wilcox Jan 6 '16 at 21:36
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4$\begingroup$ I think one puts coal on a grate, which makes sense, since
:is a "colon." $\endgroup$ – phoog Jan 6 '16 at 21:51 -
4
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5$\begingroup$ @Holloway: I pronounce it that way. It's probably a regional thing. $\endgroup$ – Deusovi♦ Jan 7 '16 at 12:03
Never put more : over a - der You'd be an * it$\endgroup$ – phoog Jan 6 '16 at 22:11*line is a much more recent innovation, but the puzzle dates back at least to 1864. Only one of the 1864 hits includes the third line about the- der; the rest have only the two lines given here. But it may also be that the*is original but was considered too course for publication in the 19th century. $\endgroup$ – phoog Jan 6 '16 at 22:27