# Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193 "2019-10-23T21:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 68
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1341 "2019-12-30T20:20:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, we have a children’s book, featuring a character whose socks were of special significance (more so than other articles of clothing), and that character was based on a real person, and that real person’s socks ended up getting used in a fundraiser. > > Is that correct? Let’s rephrase it: \*\*We have a children’s book. One part in this book tells about a person. A child. This is a famous story. You know this story guaranteed. Everyone knows it. Anyway, years later this subject of the story hears about a fundraiser. This woman knows her socks would be of special value to this fundraiser. Her shoes would not be of much value. Her hatbox would not garner interest. The handkerchief she carried as a child wouldn’t draw extra money. No one would pay a premium for her living room couch or her hand mirror. But the socks! Yes. People would donate to own a piece of those socks! And they did. All I want is for you to tell me is why they did.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1342 "2019-12-30T20:37:13Z")
Were the socks significant as socks, or as something else? Sock puppets? ETA: Pippi Longstocking? ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1343 "2019-12-30T20:46:26Z")
Never mind my ETA, it’s much too recent. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1344 "2019-12-30T20:48:51Z")
The book is an American children’s story from the early XIX century, correct? Sleepy Hollow? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1345 "2019-12-30T21:27:28Z")
And this was from 1800-1820? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1346 "2019-12-30T21:33:06Z")
**reply to eschrodinger** Were the socks significant as socks, or as something else? **clarify the question please.** Sock puppets? **No** ETA: Pippi Longstocking? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1347 "2019-12-30T21:35:43Z")
**reply to Go\_Arachnid\_Laser** : The book is an American children’s story from the early XIX century, correct? **Early to mid nineteenth.** Sleepy Hollow? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1348 "2019-12-30T21:37:54Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > **reply to Go\_Arachnid\_Laser** : > > The book is an American children’s story from the early XIX century, correct? **Early to mid nineteenth.** > > Sleepy Hollow? **No** \*\*Is this response accurate? \*\* > [@](#): > > Was the event between 1800-1820? Yes 1821-1840? No 1841-1860? No 1800-1820 was “YES” and everything after was “NO” ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1349 "2019-12-30T21:39:55Z")
\*\*To help with a fundraiser, a woman donated a pair of socks. The socks were pulled apart into threads and the threads from these socks were each attached to a commemorative card and the cards sold to raise money. What were the cards commemorating? \*\* ××××× > [@Mahaloth](#): > > And this was from 1800-1820? **The original incident, yes. The book came later. The fundraiser later still.** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1350 "2019-12-30T21:46:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > \*\*Is this response accurate? > \*\* > 1800-1820 was “YES” and everything after was “NO” _Sorry for the confusion. The event that prompted the biographical story occurred in the early 1800’s. I do not know the exact year. That’s what I was talking about with 1800-1820._\* \*Gloomy gus wet blanket naysayers can stuff a sock in it! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1351 "2019-12-30T23:05:25Z")
Were illustrations in the book relevant? Were the socks relevant because of their appearance in illustrations? Were the socks relevant because of their mention in the text? Was the girl with the socks the main character of the book? Semi-biographical tale about an 1800s American girl makes me think Laura Ingals Wilder, but I can’t remember anything about socks in particular from those books. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1352 "2019-12-30T23:07:49Z")
Some others that I don’t know if they were based on fact, and for which I have no idea whether socks were relevant: Was the book _Anne of Green Gables_ (and/or its sequels)? Was the book _Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm_ (and/or its sequels)? Was the book _Little Women_ (and/or its sequels)? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1353 "2019-12-31T01:04:07Z")
\*\*To help with a fundraiser, a woman donated a pair of socks. The socks were pulled apart into threads and the threads from these socks were each attached to a commemorative card and the cards sold to raise money. What were the cards commemorating? \*\* ××××× > [@Chronos](#): > > Were illustrations in the book relevant? > Were the socks relevant because of their appearance in illustrations? > Were the socks relevant because of their mention in the text? > Was the girl with the socks the main character of the book? > Semi-biographical tale about an 1800s American girl makes me think Laura Ingals Wilder, but I can’t remember anything about socks in particular from those books. **No to all.** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1354 "2019-12-31T01:10:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Some others that I don’t know if they were based on fact, and for which I have no idea whether socks were relevant: > Was the book _Anne of Green Gables_ (and/or its sequels)? > Was the book _Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm_ (and/or its sequels)? > Was the book _Little Women_ (and/or its sequels)? \*\*No to all. I promise you the girl is familiar to you and to everyone reading this riddle.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![LennieB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@LennieB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LennieB)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1355 "2019-12-31T02:55:34Z")
Are we talking about socks or stockings? Were they a gift to this girl, later donor? Is this a story taught in elementary schools in the early 1950s? Asking for Boomers! Is this a story in what is considered a “Classic” novel, or is it a non-fiction work? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1356 "2019-12-31T04:08:02Z")
Little Women? Louisa May Alcott? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1357 "2019-12-31T04:19:31Z")
**reply to LennieB** : Are we talking about socks or stockings? **My sources differ, but “stockings” is actually the most common term used.** Were they a gift to this girl, later donor? **Yes**. Is this a story taught in elementary schools in the early 1950s? Asking for Boomers! **I think it is not commonly taught in elementary schools. Maybe in some. Whether the 1950’s or now, I suspect the treatment in schools is much the same regarding this work.** Is this a story in what is considered a “Classic” novel, or is it a non-fiction work? **Neither really.** ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1358 "2019-12-31T04:20:36Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Little Women? Louisa May Alcott? **No.** ---
**Author:** ![LennieB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@LennieB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LennieB)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1359 "2019-12-31T05:24:09Z")
Except for its being late 19th C., I’d say Virginia from the “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus” editorial. Maybe her Christmas stockings. Man, this is a stumper! ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2019, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1360 "2019-12-31T05:27:56Z")
> [@LennieB](#): > > Except for its being late 19th C., I’d say Virginia from the “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus” editorial. Maybe her Christmas stockings. > > Man, this is a stumper! **No** I tell ya, the key is the socks (stockings?)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=67) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=69)