Puzzle layiton Number 1420 by Mel Taub published by www.doublecrostic.com 2005-12-26

Quote: "the german language compounds new words out of old in german a glove is a hand-shoe if the glove had existed first the shoe would have been a foot-glove the military tank is said to have been called at first schutzengrabenvernichtigungsautomobil

Mel informs us that the last word in the quote, broken down, literally means "trench annihilation automobile."

1faddist One caught up in a craze
2onsight As soon as visible (2w)
3livelong Whole; entire
4lambent Flickering
5edwardian Immediately post-Victorian
6takeheed Pay attention (2w)
7tobesure Certainly (3w)
8target Objective
9haphazard Hit or miss
10exhaustive Thorough
11eggshell Yellowish-white
12comet Cosmic mass with a tail
13onthebeach Retired from naval service (3w)
14nightgown In which Wee Willie Winkie runs into town
15outofreach Unattainable (3w)
16militia Citizens army
17youngmen Beaux (2w)
18outofhumor Moody; cross (3w)
19floss Sine qua non in dental hygiene
20evasive Tricky; hard to grasp
21daring Bold
22invasive Tending to infringe
23twofaced Hypocritical (hyph)
24ontheball Alert; competent (3w, slang)
25rudeness Discourtesy
26solong Ta-ta (2w)

Acrostic: follett the economy of editors