In two-thirds of the portraits (not profiles) an eye lay either on the centerline or within 5 percent picture-width of it, forcing the other eye toward the edge and often a slight turning of the face, as with the Mona Lisa.

One more surprise was in store for Tyler: Art schools he consulted knew nothing about this, so it may just be an unconscious tendency with artists. Neither noses nor mouths are consistently centered, meaning "the eyes have it."

Question: Pitch this one to your baseball friends: Is it possible for a player to steal first base?

Answer: It certainly WAS possible, last done by Herman "Germany" Schaefer with Detroit against Cleveland, and this was not just a batter running safely to first after the catcher dropped the ball on the third strike, which is done all the time.

It was Sept. 4, 1908, recounts Bob Dolgan in "The Cleveland Plain Dealer," and Schaefer stood on first with speedy teammate Davy Jones on third. Suddenly Schaefer bolted for second, hoping to draw a throw from catcher "Nig" Clarke that would permit Jones to score. But Clarke just held the ball. Stolen base for Schaefer. Runners now on second and third, but then astonishingly on the next pitch Schaefer stole in reverse, going back to first. Moments later Schaefer lit out to steal second again, but this time Clarke threw the ball and Jones scored. Schaefer had snookered his opponents, but never again because the bizarre tactic was then outlawed.

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Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@compuserve.com