A PUZZLE TO SOLVE:Pergetti was the last castrato to appear in England, on the concert platform, in 1844. It was said of him that:
"We go still further, and in regard to our own country, which does not style itself civilised, but in the centre and fountain of civilisation, we pronounce it as little less than heterodox (not to say a paradox) to encourage by suffrage (excuse the two terminals -age) we write with vehemence - a very stupid and ancient adage ( -age again) now deservedly exploded, with runs, or rather hops, thus:
"Sbgrmld- vxgspl - zb - tdmmpg - qz"
"You see there are no vowels, and the adage cannot utter itself, feel it ever so intensely. We think, therefore, we are justified in pronouncing a contradiction in Great Britain, thus thoughtlessly to give currency to an unvowelled adage!"
This was written by the Editor of the "Musical World", after hearing Pergetti's first performance; he did not stay for the second. Very much a "Disgusted of ." comment: but who can solve the puzzle? Nobody, but nobody, has managed it so far! Let me know (velluti@cix.co.uk) if you can!
A-1 
