Ask Mr. Know It All

By Gary Clothier

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. 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!

Q. I’ve long known the phrase “out like Lottie’s eye,” meaning out cold or passed out. But who is Lottie?

K.H., Snyder, Texas

A. No one, including me, has the slightest idea who Lottie is.

One theory says there was a speakeasy in Chicago called Lottie’s Pub, where everyone turned a blind eye to what was going on inside. It’s not very convincing, but that is the best of possibilities.

Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde fame) wrote a note to his sister, Nell, in which he said, “I’m just going on ‘til they get me, then I’m out like Lottie’s eye.” In that instance, Barrow is more likely referring to his death.

Q. From time to time I hear people professing to be agnostic about certain subjects. Where did the term originate?

J.L., Eunice, La.

A. Thomas Henry Huxley, an English biologist, coined the word “agnostic” in 1869 because he was tired of being called an atheist. Although Huxley coined the term, agnostic points of view had existed for several thousand years. An agnostic is a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.

DID YOU KNOW?

George Segal was the first choice for the 1979 film “10.” The role ultimately went to Dudley Moore.

Q. I was fortunate enough to attend the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. After the games, I spent several weeks touring countries in that area. I had many memorable experiences, including a paprika-flavored sausage called something like koolin. What is the name of the sausage? Is it available in the United States?

L.M.O., Union City, N.J.

A. The sausage is called kulen, and it is made of minced pork, though some add beef to the recipe. Kulen is a product of Croatia and Serbia. Paprika adds the red color and tangy flavor to the sausage. Traditionally, it is made in the autumn and allowed to cure over the winter.

I did a quick search, but was unable to locate any mail-order company that sells kulen. However, you live just across the river from New York City

I’m sure you can find the sausage there.

Q. I’m not a true fan of baseball, but I do enjoy the beginning of spring training — it means winter is almost over! I have a question about the New York Mets: What are Mets?

R.W., Memphis, Tenn.

A. In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants relocated from New York to California. The National League expanded and made room for a new team — the New York Metropolitans, named after the 19th-century New York team of the same name. Over time, the team’s official name was shortened to Mets.

Q. My all-time favorite female singer is Adele. When and where was she born? What is her full name?

T.M., Hurricane, Utah

A. Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born May 5, 1988, in London. ù

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

2012 Gary Clothier