Know It All

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The first paint-by-number kit was an abstract painting. However, abstracts were not popular with 1950s consumers. The best selling paint-by-numbers kits were landscapes, seascapes, animals and clowns.

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Confident in their product, Palmer Paint Products’ slogan for their paint-by-numbers kits was "Every man a Rembrandt!”

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Seventeenth century artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. (1606-1669), born in the Netherlands, was married to Saskia van Uylenburgh, (died 1642) a cousin of a successful art dealer. The relationship helped introduce Rembrandt to the elite who commissioned portraits.

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Rembrandt’s "Portrait of Nicolas Ruts” (1631) is on permanent exhibit in the Frick Collection in New York.

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The Frick Collection in New York is housed in the former residence of Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). At the time of his death, millionaire Frick bequeathed his New York mansion and his collection of art to become a public gallery of fine art. He provided an endowment of $15 million for the maintenance and improvements of the gallery.

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Henry Clay Frick made his fortune as a coke and steel industrialist in Pennsylvania. Frick obtained control of a large area of coal deposits and was able to supply the city of Pittsburgh with the coal necessary to fuel the city’s steel industry.

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Coal burns hotter than wood.

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Flint and steel can be used to start a fire. Flint struck onto a piece of steel causes a spark that will light kindling on fire. Many campers use this fire-starting technique.

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The Camp Fire Girls was established in 1910. The group was founded to provide teenage girls a chance to enjoy outdoor activities. It was America’s first interracial, nonsectarian organization, open to all girls.

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In the 1970s, boys were allowed to participate in Camp Fire activities and, in the 1980s, the name of the organization was changed to Camp Fire Boys and Girls. Since 1993, the group has been known as Camp Fire USA.

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Members of the Girls Scouts are between the ages of 5 and 17. There are five program levels for girls in Girl Scouting, depending on their age. The first level for the youngest Girl Scouts is the Daisies. Do you know what the other levels are? See answer at end.

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The first publication of a recipe for s’mores was printed in a Girl Scout handbook from 1927 called "Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.”

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Aug. 30 is National Marshmallow Toasting Day.

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Marshmallows were originally made by boiling the soft inner pulp from the roots of a plant called the marsh mallow. The pulp was mixed with sugar until very thick. Today, marshmallows are made from sugar, corn syrup and gelatin.

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Just Born Inc. introduced Marshmallow Peeps in 1953. The process for making Peeps was mechanized the following year, which made Just Born the world’s largest manufacturer of novelty marshmallow candy.

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Answer: Girls Scouts who are 5 and 6 years old are Daisies, 6- to 8-year-olds are Brownies, 8- to 11-year-olds are Junior Girls Scouts, 11- to 14-year-olds are Cadette Girl Scouts, 14- to 17-year-olds are Senior Girl Scouts. Girls Scouts was established in 1912. Today there are four million members of Girls Scouts of the USA.

Know It All is by Kerry McArdle. It runs in the weekend and Wednesday editions of the Daily Journal. Questions? Comments? Email knowitall@smdailyjournal.com or call 344-5200 ext. 114.