See U.S. Free

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32120, 16 October 1969, Page 3

See U.S. Free

Though Mrs Saltie Ann Robbins, of Washington, D.C., has never travelled, she has published a book entitled “See America Free,” says a news release from the United States Information Service.

In the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, there are more than 3000 interesting places to see free of charge, she found.

These include such attractions as the world’s largest butterfly farm in Long Island, New York, which has more than 5000 species; and the Lotus Chinese Fortune Cooky factoid in Chinatown, San Francisco, where a visitor may find out whether the paper “fortunes” are put into the biscuit before or after it is baked. Before writing the book, Mrs Robbins said recently, she checked every local chamber of commerce and every tourist and convention association in the United States for information. She sent out j more than 10,000 letters in two years. Her first attempt at publish-1 ing a list was a booklet of 44 pages, which she printed herself and handed out to friends. Then she sent copies to more than 300 newspaper travel editors.

Appreciation of her work encouraged her to write a full book on the topic. This one has more than 170 pages. She compiled it while her children were having daytime naps.

Light Twins.—The Auckland twins, who at birth had a combined weight of 31b lOoz, now at six months of age have a combined weight of 191 b 12oz. At birth the girls equalled the world record for the lightest surviving twins.—(P.A.)