Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-04
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

@. In what States are atheists barred
from the witness stand?-J. II. X.
A. Arkansas and Maryland exclude
atheists from the witness stand. Five
States-Arkansas, Mississippi. Texas
and the two Carolinas-bar atheists
from holding Office. Belief in God is re.
quired of jurors in Maryland.
@. What disease caused Napoleon's
death?-M. V. A.
A. He died May S, 1921. of cancer
Of the stomach.
Q. How did the expression. nine
days wonder, originate?-C. w.
A. The phrase is thought to have
originated in a reference to the nine
days during which Lady Jane Grey
was styled Queen of England. Some
authorities attribute it to the nine
days after birth that puppy is blind
An old proverb says: "A wonder lasts
nine days. and then the puppy's eyes
are open."
Q. Was there an animal known as
the trench rat during the warm. G..
A. The rat known as the trench rat
so prevalent during the World War
was the ordinary field rat.
Q. Where is the Lick observa.
tory?-B. A. H.
A. 1t is about IS miles east Of
San Jose, Calf, on Mount Hamilton.
@. Please name some seaside re-
sorts near London.--B. NJ. y.
A. The principal seashore resorts
in the vicinity of London, England,
are: Southend, Ramsgate, ST. Leon.
ards, Margate. Folkestone. East
bourne, Broad Stairs, Hastings and
Worthing.
@. What kinds Of material may be
used for gas bags for balloons?-
C.. f. X.
A. Silk, cotton and linen are the
textiles extensively used in the manu-.
facture of gas bags for balloons and
airships. but all Of these materials
require the addition Of a gas-holding
treatment, such as varnish, India
rubber. goldbeater's skin and so-called
"dopes."
@. Please give an account Of Ellis
ISland.-L. V.
A. Ellis Island is a small island
in the northern part Of upper New
York Bay, a mile southwest Of the
Battery. 1t was sold by New York
State to the United States in 1903.
and for many years was used as a
powder magazine. In 1891 it was an
immigrant station. The present
buildings were erected in 1897. when
the original structures were burned.
@. Who invented whisky?-J. W. NJ.
A. 1t is not known who invented
whisky. 1t has been prepared for
many centuries both in Ireland and
in Scotland. The name is probably
from the Celtic uisgebeatha. which
was contracted to usQuebaugh.
liquor which was extensively used
zenith centuries. 1t was not quite the
same as modern whisky.
O. When was bread first called
1.-THE staff Of life"?-A. z. A.
A. The expression is found in the
104th Psalm.
@. Why are left-handed pitchers
called "southpaws"?-B. w.
A. Base ball diamonds are so con-
struoted that the pitchers left side
is in a southerly direction.
@. How many people are assisted by
the Travellers Aid during a year,
c. Y. d.
A. 1t was estimated that last year
1 300, 900 travellers took advantage of
this service. Eighty thousand of these
were under Is years Of age.
@. How many magazines and news
papers began publication last year,
M. D. II.
A. Ayers Newspaper Annual lists
$50 new publications. 1t is said that
942 were discontinued during the same
period.
@. Why do plants and flowers wilt
and sometimes die in the breeze OF
an electric fan?-C. E. L.
A. This is because the fan causes
too violent a circulation of air. which
absorbs the moisture from the plants
and flowers.
@. What is the capacity Of the pro-
posed Boulder Dam?-M. L. w.
A. The Reclamation Service says
that the capacity is as follows: $4,000
600 acre feet, with an area Of about
13O, 900 acres, or about 200 square
miles.
O. What hotel was the first to In
stall an elevator?-G. Z. F.
A. The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New
York City installed the first in 1859.