Rough Riders USA Facts for Boys and Girls

I don't know which of the umpteen Petersburgs in this country this is from. One of them had a Cannon Shoe Store back in the 50s and handed out this wheel to all the kiddies. We know the name of at least one of them: Lucy May. Her name is inscribed on one side -- in case there was some dispute over it in the schoolyard?

While I find the presidents wheels dull as dishwater, I do like most of the geography wheels. Who doesn't want to know the state motto of Wyoming ("Let arms yield to the gown") or the state flower of Mississippi (Magnolia)? At first, I was a little confused by what this wheel says are the states' nicknames. I just couldn't believe Georgia's nickname is The Cracker State, or that West Virginia's nickname is The Panhandle State. Believe it or not, it was true at some point. Georgia is now either The Peach State or, oddly, The Empire State of The South. West Virginia is now, of course, The Mountain State.

Anyway, this is a nice little wheel for any kid wearing smart and sturdy shoes. It measures 4.25 by 5.25 inches. It's double-sided -- half the states on each side and with the same illustration. It's in good shape, too. I like the red grommet; it's a nice touch. I don't know how old this is, but it predates the addition of Alaska and Hawaii.