Q: I'm 89. Years ago I read that for a happy home, one must have "a pig in the parlor and a cricket in the heart." Where did that come from? -- M.G., Charles City, Iowa

A: The saying comes from Ireland, a country famous for its words of wisdom. During tough times, the Irish kept a pig in the parlor to make sure there was enough food to go around. We need to remember, though, that a pigsty is often referred to as a pig parlor.  

As for the cricket part, I must confess I don't know. There is a Charles Dickens Christmas story called "The Cricket on the Hearth," in which a cricket constantly chirps on the hearth and acts as a guardian angel to the family. That might have something to do with it. Readers, do you have any other ideas?  

Q: Ten years ago I saw a movie with a great line about the greatest thing the devil ever did. Do you know the line and the movie? -- L.U., Burbank, Calif.

A: The line is from the movie "The Usual Suspects" (1995). Kevin Spacey's character, Verbal, says, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

Q: What was the name of the man who founded Wall Drug Store in Wall, S.D.? Was it the same man who started Trinity Heights in Sioux City, Iowa? -- W.R., Easton, Md.

A: Ted and Dorothy Hustead purchased the only pharmacy in Wall, S.D., in December 1931. Today, Wall Drug Store is probably the most famous drugstore in the United States. It has been featured on the Travel Channel, and inhabits a 76,000-square-foot building.  

The inspiration for Trinity Heights came from the Rev. Harold Cooper, who wanted to erect a statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace, in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1985, a nonprofit cooperative was formed to carry out his dream. The cooperative purchased land on which the 30-foot statue of Mary was erected in 1992. In 1998, a statue of Jesus was erected and stands 33 feet tall. Trinity Heights is open to the public.

Wall Drug and Trinity Heights are not related in any way.

Q: Many, many years ago I overheard a couple of guys talking about a woman who walked by. One gave her a rating; the other agreed. Is there really a rating system for beauty? -- C.B., Lynn, Mass.

A: More than likely you heard a joke. Or maybe you heard a rating system of 1-10, like the one in the movie "10" starring Bo Derek.

One scale of beauty with which I'm familiar is the millihelen. One millihelen is the quantity of beauty that will launch exactly one ship. Think of Helen of Troy, "the face that launched a thousand ships." Most authors believe Robertson Davies first used the term "millihelen" in his 1981 novel "The Rebel Angels." There is, of course, a negative rating in which one negative millihelen could sink one ship or possibly stop one clock.

Q: I was at camp a long time ago, and one night we sang a song about someone named O'Malley being dead in bed and he didn't know it. Are you familiar with this ditty? I'd love to know the lyrics. It wasn't very long. -- J.K., Great Neck, N.Y.

A: I think the song you're remembering is "The Buffalo Song." Does this sound familiar?

O'Malley is dead, and O'Reilly don't know it,

O'Reilly is dead, and O'Malley don't know it,

They're both laying dead in the very same bed,

And neither one knows that the other one's dead.

    

(Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)