Cory Weller, age 8, of Eugene, Oregon, for his question:

What were the first matches like?

Long ago they rubbed sticks or bashed stones to strike a light. But the first real matches were invented in the year 1827, which was about 146 years ago. The inventor was a man named John Walker. He was a druggist and he lived in London, England. Walker not only invented the first real matches, he also made them himself arid sold them in his store.

He made them from splinters of wood, neatly trimmed to a length of about three inches. The tips were dipped into three moist chemical mixtures and allowed to dry. Modern matches are made somewhat the same way, though different chemicals are used to create a safer flame. The first matches were pulled through a folded sheet somewhat like sandpaper. They burst into flame with several small bangs, a shower of sparks and a horrible smell.