Tough Tarbell Trivia

[Joe Di Cola]

(09-06-2012 11:32 AM)Rob Wick Wrote:  OK, I'm going to call this one. You were SO close, Joe, but not quite enough.

Here is the rundown:

1. He lived in Springfield--Roland W. Diller lived in Springfield.
2. He knew Lincoln--That was a double-meaning clue. Of course, Diller knew Lincoln, but He Knew Lincoln was also the title of what seems from her royalty statements to be Tarbell's most successful book.
3. He Knew Lincoln first came to national prominence when Edgar White Burrill recited it on the Eveready Hour in 1923.

The main character in He Knew Lincoln was a druggist named Billy Brown.

The answer is, Roland W. "Rollo" Diller was the inspiration for Tarbell's Billy Brown character.

Best
Rob

Rob,

Thanks for the information, This was a great challenge and, again, I find your trivia stumpers to be a great deal of fun to work on. I did not realize that HE KNEW LINCOLN was such a popular work. One of my favories of Tarbell's Lincoln works is THE EARLY LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. I have a 1896 edition in my collection.

All the best,

Joe