THE PUZZLE CORNER: DECEMBER 14, 2013

Puzzle Number 1!

December 21st is the 100th anniversary of the first crossword puzzle. It was created by Arthur Wynne and printed in The New York World.
Although The Free Choice E-zine sadly still lacks the technology to produce interactive grids, we CAN have a diagramless crossword puzzle to celebrate the occasion.
The grid will be four squares by four squares. Can you solve the puzzle, based upon the clues below?

ACROSS
01. Bag
05. Persia, today
06. A Monkee, informally
07. Letter necessity?

DOWN
01. Drinks slowly
02. Zone
03. Feline pets
04. Body part

We'll reveal all next weekend. But for now, let's peek inside THE ANSWERS BOX and discover the results of the December 7, 2013 Puzzle Corner.

REBUS
It's time to put up the holiday tree, but we cannot resist having a little fun doing so.
A familiar word and/or phrase is represented by our decorating.
Do you know what it is?
NOEL! For there is NO L amongst the decorations!

TRIVIA TIME
While we were decorating, Christmas music was playing on the radio.
Do you know what the most (re)recorded song of all time is?
Irving Berlin's White Christmas. While Bing Crosby's rendition remains the most popular, there are over 500 versions of the song!