Reader remembers grammar school ditty
Comments (...)Q: When I was in grammar school (many years ago), we often sang from a songbook. One song I remember was “Reuben and Rachel.” The first verse was sung by girls and went: “Reuben, I have long been thinking, what a good world this might be/ If the men were all transported far beyond the Northern Sea.”
The boys sang the second verse, but I don’t recall the words. Can you tell me how it went? — J.C., Bechtelsville, Pa.
A: The boys sang in response: “Rachel, I have long been thinking, what a fine world this might be/ If we had some more young ladies on this side the Northern Sea.”
The song was written by Harry Birch (words) and William Gooch (melody), and it was published in Boston in 1871.
Q: If weather conditions are right, snow can evaporate without becoming a liquid. What is this process called? — S.D., Cortland, N.Y.
A: Sublimation is the process of a solid changing directly into a gas without passing through the liquid state.
Did you know? George Clooney unsuccessfully tried out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in 1977. He was only 16 at the time.
Q: I saw a picture of a good-looking pickup truck that had a handwritten, stick-on label with the name The Great Wingle. Well, I think that was the name. Is this enough for you to figure out what brand of truck this was? — K.L.U., Webster City, Iowa
A: The Great Wall Wingle is a Chinese-built compact pickup truck that has been built and marketed by Great Wall Motors since 2006. It’s also available in Australia and Europe, but not in the U.S.
Q: What is a trouser suit? I have an idea, but I’ll let you tell me. — G.K., Sedona, Ariz.
A: A trouser suit is a suit consisting of trousers and a matching or coordinating coat or jacket worn by women, mostly in Britain. In the United States, a trouser suit is known as a pantsuit, but I have a feeling you knew that already.
Q: Omar N. Bradley, a five-star general of the United States Army, passed away in 1981. He lived and worked at Fort Bliss, Texas. Bliss is an unusual name for a military base. Was the Army attempting a bit of trickery in trying to recruit soldiers? — A.B., Jackson, Mich.
A: No, not at all. On March 8, 1854, the official name of the post located near El Paso, Texas, became Fort Bliss, in memory of Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss. Bliss was Maj. Gen. (and future president) Zachary Taylor’s chief of staff during the Mexican War. Fort Bliss comprises approximately 1.12 million acres of land in Texas and New Mexico.
Q: I have heard several times that James Garner passed away. Is this true? — R.H., Fort Smith, Ark.
A: As of this writing, Garner is doing well. In May 2008, he suffered a severe stroke and underwent surgery. He was born in 1928 in Norman, Okla.
Q: I remember when I went to the shoe store with my mother and got my first pair of Keds sneakers. I have often wondered what the word “Keds” means and how the term “sneakers” came about. — M.L., Jupiter, Fla.
A: In 1916, U.S. Rubber introduced the first mass-marketed canvas shoes with rubber soles. When choosing a name, the initial idea was Peds, which is Latin for foot. Someone else held that trademark, so the name Keds was selected. The advertising company coined the term “sneakers” to suggest the quietness of Keds, making them a perfect choice for people wanting to sneak around without getting caught!
Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
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