Frances McFarland, age 15, of Lake Charles, La., for her question:

WHO WAS WASHINGTON IRVING?

Washington Irving was the first American writer to gain fame in other nations, as well as in his homeland. He invented some great literary characters, including Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane.

Irving was born in New York City in 1783 and was named for President George Washington. Before he was 20 years old, his letters were appearing in a New York newspaper.

Irving traveled extensively and also joined his brothers in the hardware business. But his main interest was in writing, and soon his work was widely published and admired.

In "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon," Irving told the tales of Rip Van Winkle who returned home after a 20 year sleep, and the famous "Legend of Sleepy Hollow."