Hedgehog in the Cage
Encyclopedia
Hedgehog in the Cage is a mechanical puzzle
popular in the Czech Republic
which features prominently in the "Dobrodružství v temných uličkách" (Adventures in the Dark Alleys) trilogy of adventure stories by Jaroslav Foglar
. The puzzle consists of a small sphere with protruding spikes of various lengths contained within a cylinder perforated with holes of different sizes. The challenge posed by the puzzle is how to release the sphere (the hedgehog) from the cylinder (the cage).
. The first known model of the puzzle was patented by the American inventor Clarence A. Worrall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, on 7 April, 1896. It has been suggested that Worrall's invention was inspired by a Japanese puzzle called the Snake and Star, which appeared in the catalogue of the games manufacturer Selchow & Righter on 25 May, 1895. The principle of both inventions is similar: solving the puzzle involves finding the correct position and angle that allows the object ("the hedgehog" or "the star") to be removed from its entrapment in the cage or the snake.
The Hedgehog puzzle seems to have arrived in Czechoslovakia around 1935. It was produced at a toy factory in Roudnice nad Labem
. It was not until 1940 that it achieved its remarkable level of popularity, when Jaroslav Foglar published "Záhada hlavolamu" (Mystery of the Conundrum), the first part of his sequence of stories about the Rychlé šípy
(Rapid Arrows) boys' club.The first edition of the novel was published in sequels in a popular magazine Mladý hlasatel (Young Harold) from 1940. Rychlé šípy comics series began to appear in the magazine Mladý hlasatel (Young Harold) in December 1938, and gradually became the most popular series in the history of the Czech comics
. However, their adventures involving the Hedgehog in the Cage are written in the standard novel form.
Later the boys from the Rychlé šípy club appear on the scene. They have decided to publish a magazine, Tam-Tam, and in search of interesting stories to include in it they stray into Stínadla
(The Shades), the neighbourhood where Tleskač used to live. They discover an old sexton
at St Jacob's, who remembers Jan Tleskač and tells them about the Hedgehog. They manage to infiltrate the Vontové (Vonts), a secret society set up by another group of boys from Stínadla. Following Tleskač's death, his Hedgehog had become the society's symbol of leadership. The Rychlé šípy find Tleskač's diary and discover the secret of what is hidden inside the puzzle, including the instruction of how to remove the Hedgehog from the Cage.
They make friends with Ota Losna, a candidate for leadership of Vonts and the title of "Supreme Vont". Losna promises that if he wins the election, he will let the Rychlé šípy borrow the Hedgehog. He does win, but the Hedgehog falls into the hands of the father of Mažňák, Losna's opponent in the election. Mažňák Sr. was Tleskač's teacher in the locksmith's workshop, and he may have been responsible for Tleskač's death, as he was driven by the desire to gain possession of Tleskač's invention. During the dramatic climax of the story, Mažňák Sr. accidentally falls into a drain and loses the Hedgehog. Shortly after that he dies, poisoned by effluent he has ingested. The Hedgehog in the Cage, along with the secret of the invention of the flying bicycle, is lost underground in the drain.
broadcast a TV series based on the novel.
The Removing the Hedgehog from the Cage World Championship has been held annually in the Czech Republic since 2000.
In 2010, an exhibition was held in the Galerie jedné věci gallery in Prague to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the novel's publication. 70 variants of the puzzle were displayed in the exhibition. Among them was a golden Hedgehog in the Cage and Tleskač's bicycle.
Mechanical puzzle
A mechanical puzzle is a puzzle presented as a set of mechanically interlinked pieces.- History :The oldest known mechanical puzzle comes from Greece and appeared in the 3rd century BC....
popular in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
which features prominently in the "Dobrodružství v temných uličkách" (Adventures in the Dark Alleys) trilogy of adventure stories by Jaroslav Foglar
Jaroslav Foglar
Jaroslav Foglar was a famous Czech author who wrote many novels about youths and their adventures in nature and dark city streets.-Early life:...
. The puzzle consists of a small sphere with protruding spikes of various lengths contained within a cylinder perforated with holes of different sizes. The challenge posed by the puzzle is how to release the sphere (the hedgehog) from the cylinder (the cage).
History
Although known mainly through the children's stories written by the Czech Jaroslav Foglar in the 1940s, Hedgehog in the Cage has its origins in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The first known model of the puzzle was patented by the American inventor Clarence A. Worrall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, on 7 April, 1896. It has been suggested that Worrall's invention was inspired by a Japanese puzzle called the Snake and Star, which appeared in the catalogue of the games manufacturer Selchow & Righter on 25 May, 1895. The principle of both inventions is similar: solving the puzzle involves finding the correct position and angle that allows the object ("the hedgehog" or "the star") to be removed from its entrapment in the cage or the snake.
The Hedgehog puzzle seems to have arrived in Czechoslovakia around 1935. It was produced at a toy factory in Roudnice nad Labem
Roudnice nad Labem
Roudnice nad Labem is a small town on left bank of the Elbe River . It has about 13 500 inhabitants and covers an area of 16,67 km². The town is situated near the famous hill Říp, which is well known for its legendary connection with Praotec Čech....
. It was not until 1940 that it achieved its remarkable level of popularity, when Jaroslav Foglar published "Záhada hlavolamu" (Mystery of the Conundrum), the first part of his sequence of stories about the Rychlé šípy
Rychlé šípy
Rychlé šípy is the name of a fictional club of five boys, consisting of Mirek Dušín, Jarka Metelka, Jindra Hojer, Červenáček , Rychlonožka and a dog named Bublina . They were invented by the Czech writer Jaroslav Foglar. Rychlé šípy are universally known in the Czech Republic and Slovakia,...
(Rapid Arrows) boys' club.The first edition of the novel was published in sequels in a popular magazine Mladý hlasatel (Young Harold) from 1940. Rychlé šípy comics series began to appear in the magazine Mladý hlasatel (Young Harold) in December 1938, and gradually became the most popular series in the history of the Czech comics
Czech comics
- History :The beginnings of the comics genre in the Czechoslovakia are connected with the popular magazine Mladý hlasatel , published in the 1930s. In 1938, the magazine began publishing a popular comic series Rychlé šípy, written by Jaroslav Foglar and drawn by Jan Fischer...
. However, their adventures involving the Hedgehog in the Cage are written in the standard novel form.
Mystery of the Conundrum
The Hedgehog in the Cage plays a key role in the story and its sequels in the trilogy, "Stínadla se bouří" (The Shades are Revolting) and "Tajemství velkého Vonta" (Secret of the High Vont). The novel tells the story of a young apprentice locksmith Jan Tleskač, who invents a flying bicycle. Tleskač also owns a copy of the puzzle, which he refers to as the "Hedgehog in the Cage". He succeeds in removing the hedgehog from its cage, splits the sphere in two parts and hides the plans of his invention inside it before reuniting the two hemispheres and replacing the Hedgehog inside its Cage. Shortly after, Tleskač meets his death in mysterious circumstances (falling from the tower of St Jacob's church).Later the boys from the Rychlé šípy club appear on the scene. They have decided to publish a magazine, Tam-Tam, and in search of interesting stories to include in it they stray into Stínadla
Stínadla
Stínadla is fictional quarter from adventures of fictional club Rychlé šípy, where happened the most of their adventures from trilogy "Adventures in the Dark Alleys" .- Meaning of word Stínadla :...
(The Shades), the neighbourhood where Tleskač used to live. They discover an old sexton
Sexton (office)
A sexton is a church, congregation or synagogue officer charged with the maintenance of its buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard. In smaller places of worship, this office is often combined with that of verger...
at St Jacob's, who remembers Jan Tleskač and tells them about the Hedgehog. They manage to infiltrate the Vontové (Vonts), a secret society set up by another group of boys from Stínadla. Following Tleskač's death, his Hedgehog had become the society's symbol of leadership. The Rychlé šípy find Tleskač's diary and discover the secret of what is hidden inside the puzzle, including the instruction of how to remove the Hedgehog from the Cage.
They make friends with Ota Losna, a candidate for leadership of Vonts and the title of "Supreme Vont". Losna promises that if he wins the election, he will let the Rychlé šípy borrow the Hedgehog. He does win, but the Hedgehog falls into the hands of the father of Mažňák, Losna's opponent in the election. Mažňák Sr. was Tleskač's teacher in the locksmith's workshop, and he may have been responsible for Tleskač's death, as he was driven by the desire to gain possession of Tleskač's invention. During the dramatic climax of the story, Mažňák Sr. accidentally falls into a drain and loses the Hedgehog. Shortly after that he dies, poisoned by effluent he has ingested. The Hedgehog in the Cage, along with the secret of the invention of the flying bicycle, is lost underground in the drain.
Cultural references
From the 1940s onwards, the puzzle was manufactured in Czechoslovakia in a variety of forms and sizes. It became particularly popular in 1969 when Czechoslovak TelevisionCzechoslovak Television
Czechoslovak Television was founded on 1 May 1953 in the former Czechoslovakia. Around its dissolution into Czechia and Slovakia in the end of 1992, ČST was abolished, and the new companies, public service broadcasters, emerged:...
broadcast a TV series based on the novel.
The Removing the Hedgehog from the Cage World Championship has been held annually in the Czech Republic since 2000.
In 2010, an exhibition was held in the Galerie jedné věci gallery in Prague to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the novel's publication. 70 variants of the puzzle were displayed in the exhibition. Among them was a golden Hedgehog in the Cage and Tleskač's bicycle.
External links
- Ježek v kleci, an audio story available at the website of Radio Wave (Czech Radio)