Jeff Alexander, age 15, of Jackson, Miss., for his question:

WHAT IS THE MIDAS TOUCH?

When you say that a person has the Midas touch, you are saying that he is able to make money in everything he does. To call a person a Midas is to say that he is wealthy.

Midas was a character in Greek mythology who had the power to turn everything he touched into gold. At first, Midas' miraculous power pleased him, but he soon discovered the gift was a curse. Even his food turned to gold the moment he touched it.

Midas prayed for help and was told to bathe in the river Pactolus. Midas washed himself and the magic touch left him. But the sands of the river turned to gold.

Midas came back a bit later in mythology to judge a musical contest between Apollo and Pan. When he awarded the prize to Pan, Apollo became angry and turned Midas' ears into those of an ass.