Ask Mr. Know It All

February 5, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By Gary Clothier

Q. Going way back to my college days, I recall that in one of my classes we discussed a figure of speech in which the main element of a statement is reversed and repeated for a more profound effect. There is a word for this. Do you know what it is?

M.W., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

A. Look up the word chiasmus. One of the most famous uses of chiasmus is from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address Jan. 20, 1961, when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Q. I was reading a newspaper from England, and one of the stories was about a person who had a court appearance. The article noted a person’s name, saying they were the “McKenzie friend.” What is a McKenzie friend?

H.L., Bar Harbor, Maine

A. In a common-law court, a McKenzie friend is someone who assists a litigant in person. This friend does not have to be legally qualified to practice law, but must have specific knowledge that could be helpful to the case. The term McKenzie friend originated in the United Kingdom from the 1970 divorce case McKenzie v. McKenzie. Before going to court, Mr. McKenzie was unable to pay for legal services, so his law firm withdrew from the case. The firm did send a representative, Ian Hanger, an Australian barrister living in London who was not qualified to practice law in the U.K. The court ruled Hanger was ineligible to assist on the case. Mr. McKenzie lost the case but appealed because he had no representation. He won the appeal and was given a retrial.

Q. In the movie “The Sons of Katie Elder,” the sheriff looks like the same person who plays the sheriff in the TV Western “The Rifleman.” Am I correct?

J.W., Cumberland, Md.

A. “The Sons of Katie Elder” (1965) starred John Wayne, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, Dennis Hopper and Paul Fix. Paul Fix (1901-1983) was a well- regarded movie and TV character actor who played Marshal Micah Torrance on the TV series “The Rifleman.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Gene Hackman was the first choice to play Mike Brady on the TV series “The Brady Bunch.”

Q. My grandson was helping me put in a post for a bird feeder. I told him we had to make certain the post was plumb. He thought that sounded funny. Come to think of it, it does. We both would like to know why we call getting something perfectly vertical “plumb”?

T.L.B., Lufkin, Texas

A. A plumb bob is a weight, usually with a pointed tip on the bottom, which is suspended with a string or plumb line. At one time the weight was made of lead; the Latin word for lead is plumbum. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how the word plumb bob came about. Later, weights were made of steel and brass. By the way, the plumb bob is one of the oldest surveying instruments known to man; ancient Egyptians used it as early as 2600 B.C.

Q. When you see a picture of a watch or clock, the hands are nearly always set for 10:10. Why?

J.P., Pasadena, Calif.

A. There are several theories as to why the hands are set at the 10:10 position. Personally, I think it’s because the hands appear symmetrical, making them look better. Also, most, but not all, timepieces have their name or logo under the 12. With the hands in the 10:10 position, the name is neatly framed, giving an attractive appearance, and one that can be easily photographed.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.