New-York tribune., 1911-12-31
BOBBY" BURNs's SHOES.


Bobby" Burns for instance, never both
cred about rights or lefts Of shoes because
rights and lefts had not been thought OF
in his DAY. He was born at Alloway, Scot
and on January %. 1859. and died at Dunn
fries. Scotland, on July 25. 1876. Shoes were
first made for separate feet in lS0o-too late
for Bobby TO benefit.
That's a simple enough proposition, isn't
IT, There was catch to that one. which
suggests the Idea Of working II on on
some Of your friends II has merit over
the old When is a door not door,? catch
by reason Of double dose Of information
Why, YOU may ask, didn't Isaac Newton
carry an umbrella? Wouldn't 1t nave
saved his head a nasty bump II he'd held
one over him when his famous apple fell?
/, Would-but he couldn't The umbrella
vas not used Ia Europe until 1869 ana
Newton, who was born at Woolsthorpe'
Lincolnshire, England, on December Z0'
1872. died at KensingtoH on March q, l'2"
Really. there's nothing like having dates
al ones finger tips. But dates themselves
seem 10 give the lie at times. How did 1t
happen that Edmund Spenser who wrote
poetry while Shakespeare was writing his
plays. never saw the bard's Hamlet
They brcathed the same air Of London at
tLc same time-and Hamlet public
property Read on. Edmund Spenser was
horn At London in 1852. and died there on
January lS. 1899 William Shakespeare was
born at stratford, in April 1854 and died
there on April %, 1916. These dates, how
ever show no reason for Sponsors appar-
tnt neglect, or snub. Of the others tragedy.
II1 lat
It, for the play was first produced In 1901
two years after Spenser died.
As the late Imri Fox, the prestidigitator'
used to exclaim after turning a simple
but apparently difficult trick. Wonderful!
Marvellous" But that was close one.
The Battle Of Lexington was fought be-
tween the British soldiers and the Ameri-
can farmers on April 10. IT'S. The event
marks the FIRST bloOdshed Of the American
Revolution II was a victory for the
Americans. Their loss was eighty-eight
mon, while the British lost 273. The knee
brteches? On loose fitting trousers did
not supersede the knee breeches until 1874
THE FIRST PARASoL.
NAY we infer that Martha Washington
vas not averse 20 tan. Whether or not. she
o1es not enter into our realm. We know
she never carried parasol TO ward off
Inc suns rays because parasols were de-
Nlsed by the Duchess Of Rutland and first
used, in England. in 1920 Martha Wash
ingion ass born In Virginia In May, 1872.
end died II Mount Vernon. on May %,
Ne So pride had nothing 10 do with the
Ctse
stetl pens are OF course. more recent
thsn the country's birthday-July T. 1916,
me Declaration Of independence being
signed by ffty-siX members Of the Cont
mental Congress AS steel pens were not
made until 1896 First coming from Birmng-
nam. Ensland the signers used the goose
Gull. mighty instrument. which has not
Only declared the individuality Of the
United States but has Transcribed the his
Tory OF art. science and warfare
You may ash II King George never
scratched match on his shoe where did
he scratch It? Bless you. my children, he
never scratched one or saw one scratched.
ne died al Windsor on January 29 1920.
having been born at London on June 4.
I'Se' and the match was not invented until
laA. In that year the friction match APP
peared In England. and In 1884 the lucifer
was introduced. II IS interesting TO note
.hat the first matches used In the United
states. In 1881. sold for one cent each.
now then. you will say--with the history
!" the Bank Of England In mind-the next
instance on the list is indeed a peculiarity
}" personality. But. Ike the others cited.
popularity OF time, for, while the
nahk Of England practically came into e1-
N,ehce when Thomas and James Coutts es-
"Ollshed the firm Of Coutts Co.. bank
' IN the eighteenth century, and the
-1'ihDardS. in the thirteenth century. had
Engaged In like business. savings banks
we're not In evidence In the United States
sH'l lsz2 when the first one was started
rhiisdelphia nor, indeed, were savings
AIMS anywhere conducted until, in l7eI
n, was opened al :5erne. Switzerland. As
bennington died on December H. 1899, he |
-" no opportunity To deDOsit what. as "A !