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This riddle comes from a book published in 1884—can you figure out the answer?

Euphemisms allow us to discuss some grim or controversial topics employing a more palatable turn of phrase. These expressions were coined to disguise everything from capital punishments to diseases, death, slavery, and cannibalism.
Paul Anthony Jones|
These trails will really get your heart pumping.
Mary Beth Skylis|
Edgar Wallace wanted to promote his first novel with more than just traditional ads—but his brilliant idea almost became his downfall.
Jane Alexander|

Government and Politics

From tragic factory fires to toxic food scandals, some safety laws we may take for granted today actually have some pretty unsettling backstories.
Colin Scanlon|
The WPA helped everyone from Jackson Pollock to Louise Nevelson.
Ellen Gutoskey|
These odd architectural features are remnants of a time when people had to pay if they wanted to look outside.
Tim Brinkhof|
The CIA's encrypted art sculpture has puzzled cryptographers for decades. The man with the answers is finally ready to clue them in.
Jake Rossen|
Fears of nuclear war led to a fleeting craze for fallout shelters stocked with crackers, body bags, and guns.
Jake Rossen|
Tens of thousands of fallout shelter signs, with three yellow triangles in a black circle, are visible on building façades today. They serve as grim reminders of the hottest flashes of the Cold War. So why are they still around?
Tim Brinkhof|
You never want to butt-dial the cops by mistake. But if you do, here’s what happens next.
Jake Rossen|
Residents of Washington, D.C., have no governor, no voting representation in Congress, and only limited local authority. The reason is simple: D.C. isn’t a state. Let’s break down the history and future of D.C. statehood.
Zoë Randolph|

Presidents

This quiz challenges you to name all the U.S. presidents as fast as possible.
Ellen Gutoskey|
You’ll be happy these folks aren’t your relatives.
Shayna Murphy|
Can you tell the difference between quotes by the 26th president of the United States and quotes by characters on the hit HBO show?
mentalfloss .com|

War

The medieval masterpiece—embroidered on a 230-foot piece of linen—depicts bloody battles and a royal betrayal that changed the history of England.

Mystery

In 1981, 58-year-old Polly Melton went for a hike in a well-traveled national park. She never returned.
Jake Rossen|
In summer 1993, hundreds of people claimed to have found hypodermic needles inside cans of Pepsi. Was it a hoax, a disgruntled employee, or something worse?
Jake Rossen|
A deep dive into the origins and meaning of the classic nursery rhyme “Little Miss Muffet.”
Ellen Gutoskey|
What caused some of these ominous events still remains a total mystery.
Lorna Wallace|

Misconceptions

The idea that older people need less sleep is just one common misconception.
mentalfloss .com|
If you’ve ever caught yourself sympathizing with ChatGPT, you may have fallen for one of these common misconceptions about AI.
Bethel Afful|
Both the Arctic and Antarctica are cold and icy, but that’s basically where the similarities end. 
Bethel Afful|
Hearing NFTs explained as “non-fungible tokens” only makes sense if you already know what ‘fungible’ means.
Jason Serafino|
Should you be worried about animal attacks when you’re menstruating?
mentalfloss .com|

Royalty

Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.
Colin Scanlon|
It all began in 1952 when then-Princess Elizabeth was caught without a black outfit when the circumstances called for one.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Over the past 900-plus years, more than 30 monarchs have called Windsor Castle home. It has also been the site of several royal weddings—including Prince Harry's 2018 nuptials to Meghan Markle.
Lucas Reilly|

Civil Rights

William Shatner’s lip lock with Nichelle Nichols wasn't TV’s first interracial kiss, but it might have been the most controversial.
hourglass in yellow

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