The Art of Hidden Messages: The Scarlet Woman treasure hunt

[bobby]

The artwork is what I am most interested in also! It is beautifully done Beth!

[GeneticBlend]

Thanks for the compliments on the artwork!

[puzzle1022]

Aug 14, 2020 14:29:00 GMT -5 eeple said:

So I think the general location might be Boston, or at least Massachusetts. The title "The Scarlet Woman" and the red letter 'A' in the final line could be referencing Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter", which takes place in Boston. Also, John Hancock was the Governor of Massachusetts, as well as a representative for Massachusetts in the drafting/signing of bunches of Revolutionary-era documents. Specifically, he's believed to have been the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, and while I can't find another significant document he signed first, if there is one, he could be the subject of the line "Twice first, his signature did he scrawl." and potentially even "He watched a red Empire come to a fall." (i.e. America's independence from the British Empire AKA 'Redcoats') This makes me think that the line "In a place of degrees, where one becomes clever," could refer to one of the multiple colleges (as in an academic degree) in the Boston area, specifically Harvard, which was attended by John Hancock. Unfortunately, that's all I've got so far, and I'm not familiar enough with the Boston area to notice any distinct references in the Image.

I believe that most of the verse directs us to Tremont Street in Boston. Here's why:

"Making soap to keep clean, a profession and art."

Benjamin Franklin's father: Josiah Franklin worked as a soap and candle maker. He is buried in the Granary Burying Ground located on Tremont Street.

"Twice first, his signature did he scrawl. 
He watched a red Empire come to a fall"

Like most of you I believe that this references John Hancock. I believe that the "Twice first" references that fact that he was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence and his signature is TWICE the size of the other signatures. John Hancock is also buried in the Granary Burying Grounds. 

"In a place of degrees, where one becomes clever"

The Suffolk University is literally right next to Granary Burying Grounds.

The rest I don't know.

The Scarlett Letter Connection:

Also on Tremont Street (literally a block up from Granary Burying Ground) is another cemetery called the King's Chapel Burying Ground which contains the gravestone of Elizabeth Pain which many believe is the gravestone that inspired the gravestone of Hester Prynne in the Scarlett Letter.  

[AJ]

"in a place of degrees, where one becomes clever, all of these places are joined together forever. But one of seven is missing. Where could it be?"

As someone mentioned, the "place" could be a college. There are a group of colleges called the "Seven Sisters" which are 7 women's colleges which are the sisters of the Ivy League colleges. 

link

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sisters_(colleges)

One of these colleges, Radcliffe, in Cambridge, Massachusetts later merged with Harvard University and could be the "missing" one. If this helps someone, good luck!

[jen]

Aug 12, 2020 17:45:01 GMT -5 retro said:

This one is proving to be a bit tougher for me than Copy Cat. Found some meaning in a few lines but not piecing it together to a location just yet.

Think I have 4-5 areas I’m looking at...haha. Can’t seem to make that connection yet either. Message me if you’d like to bounce ideas.

[susb8383]

Agreed. I love how the instructions say, "this is an easy one." NOT.