Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday  Saturday Stumper is by Steve Mossberg, and it is exceedingly difficult. Forty-nine minutes for me, and I missed by one letter, an impossible cross, or what’s known as a Natick, as explained by Rex Parker, who coined the term:

Natick Principle — “If you include a proper noun in your grid that you cannot reasonably expect more than 1/4 of the solving public to have heard of, you must cross that noun with reasonably common words and phrases or very common names.”

I hereby give you 5-D, six letters, “Steamed bun from China,” and 14-A, nine letters, “‘Brain’s Scriptwriter’ per Johns Hopkins.” Those answers may not be proper names, but I think they’re obscure enough to count as a Natick. Though they might signify gaps in my knowledge. Either way, really unfun.

Some more clue-and-answer pairs of note:

6-A, four letters, “Many a golf course.” Misdirection abounds in this puzzle. I like the economy of this example.

6-D, eleven letters, “Japanese restaurant decor.” So obvious once you see it. But does one really see this decor at a Japanese restaurant? I’m not sure I have. Do ramen shops count?

9-D, eight letters, “Swiss Guard weapons.” The Vatican theme continues at 57-A.

11-D, ten letters, “OK to put away.” A clue from the eastern edge that made me think this puzzle was going to be easy.

15-D, five letters, “Make for after-dinner.” Really, really strained.

17-A, ten letters, “Fall plant.” See 6-A.

25-A, thirteen letters, “Professional poker.” Getting the last four letters helped a lot.

39-A, four letters, “How some stovewave is made.” A bit ridic.

40-A, thirteen letters, “Call for caution.” I like the colloquial quality.

41-D, six letters, “Biggest little piggy.” I somehow knew it.

48-A, four letters, “Got rubbed down.” A really strained pairing of clue and answer.

56-A, four letters, “Helen Keller cofounded it.” A fact I happen to know.

57-A, ten letters, “Serving in the Vatican.” I’m surprised that this clue made it in, because the answer is so ridiculously arbitrary. Boo. Hiss.

My favorite in this puzzle: 35-D, eight letters, “Manual art.” Recent experience helped.

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.