Pam Dahlberg, age 15 of Annapolis, Md., for her question:

WHEN WAS THE FABIAN SOCIETY STARTED?

The Fabian Society is a British socialist educational organization that is affiliated with the Labour Party. It was founded in London in 1884 by a group of middle class intellectuals who wished to promote equality for all through collective ownership and democratic control of the nation's resources.

Believing in peaceful and gradual change, the group members took their name from the ancient Roman general Fabius Cunctator, who wore down a powerful enemy by using delaying tactics and avoiding decisive battles.

Many talented people joined the group, assuring its early success. Among the members were dramatist George Bernard Shaw, novelist H.G. Wells and sociologist Beatrice Webb.

Devoted primarily to education and social research, the Fabians never constituted themselves as a political party, but in 1900 they participated in founding the Labour Representation Committee, which later became the Labour Party.