Ripley's Believe It or Not! [antikvár]

PREFACEWe ransacked the Believe It or Not! files to produce material on the subject of Number 14.Some years ago a Frenchman named Quatorze (Fourteen ) called at our office. He informed us that the family name was assumed by an ancestor who was a professional fourteenth guest whenever thirteen were about to sit down at table!Another Frenchman produced proof that he was the father of three sons whom he named: Fourteen, Twenty-eight, and Forty-two (multiples of fourteen) because each of the three was born on the French National HolidayJuly 14!In ancient Rome the aristocracy proudly identified itself as belonging to "The Fourteen Steps." Only the Roman aristocracy was privileged to occupy the first fourteen steps leading from the orchestra in any theatre!Two hundred years ago, the European interest rate on bonds was one-fourteenth of the face value. This would work out at about 7% per cent per year.We visited a town in Germany called "The Fourteen Saints." Fourteen of the town's boys gave their lives in World Wars I and II.Having assembled this material, we proudly launch the new Believe It or Not! bookfourteenth of the series. It contains a wealth of new material, all authenticated and factually illustrated.The writer of this preface and his distinguished colleague Paul Frehm consider the presentation of this edition as one of life's more luminous moments.Norbert Pearlroth Research Director Believe It or Not!