Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

States obtain absolute time? And how
Is 1t obtained and given to all parts CT
the country?-D. NJ B. sd
A. The United States Naval OBJ
servatory has three standard clocks run
ming in constant temperature vaults.
electrically wound and sealed to keep
the air pressure constant. Meridian
Circle observations Of selected stars are
taken regularly on clear nights, End
from these observations the errors of
standard clocks are determined. The
observatory sends out tins signals. Cor
rect time Is given over radio networks
as an advertising device.
@. Please give short biography CT
the new Secretary of State.-J. q.
A. Henry L. Stimson was born in
son Of Lewis Atterbury and Candacc
(Wheeler) Stimson married Mabel w.
White of New Haven July 6, 1893: ad-
mitted to the bar in 1891; member Of
the firm Of Root & Clarke in 1893 and
Winthrop & Stimson in 1901; United
States attorney for the southern district
of New York, 1906-09; Republican can
didate for governor of New York in
1910: Secretary Of War in Taft's adj
ninistration from May, 1911. to March.
1918; Governor General of the Philip
pine Islands from 1927 until 1929.
@. What is the origin Of the express
sion "standpatters" in politics2-F s. S.
A. Pat is an adjective, probably from
the French pat" meaning that which
suits the purpose Of the occasion or
meaning exactly suitable. The express
sion is used In poker to refer to hand
so satisfactory that its holder does not
care to exercise the privilege Of dis
lir1nr 1sax ~ dc he
expression stand pat" This came to
mean opposition to a change of any
kind, especially in United States politics.
The phrase in this sense was first used
to express the attitude Of leaders Of the
Republican party by Senator Hanna in
1902.
@. What is ''lightwood"?-H. G. B.
A. The Forest Service states that
lightwood is wood heavily saturated With
resin. The wood in long-leaf pine Is Of
this variety.
@. When was Frank James In prison?
M. M.
/ A. After Jesse James death Frank
surrendered and was held in jail in
Missouri awaiting trial for more than q
year. He was never convicted Of any
charge, however, and spent the last 80
years of his life as a farmer.
@. What has become of q vessel
stranded on the rocks above Niagara
Falls?-C. B.
A. The Niagara Falls Chamber Of
Commerce says that the stranded yes
sci is the subchaSer Sunbeam. This
vessel was purchased by Seymour LaSker
of the Lasker Iron Construction Co. OF
Chicago from the United States Gov
eminent to be converted into private
yacht. While en- route to Chicago IN
charge of Capt. Charles Mcmahon,
through mistake the vessel went down
stream instead of up. and the error was
net discovered until 1t was too late.
The vessel went on the rocks about one
half mile above the Falls and about
1000 feet from shore. The crew Of
three men was rescued with some diff
Guilty. The boat is still there. and -
firmly anchored on the rocks that there
appears to be no probability Of its
breaking loose.
@. How many radio addresses did
Herbert Hoover and Al Smith make In
the presidential campaign?-N. c. B.
A. Hoover made s addresses and
Smith made Is.
@. Why was the womans garment
known as a basque" so called?-E. H.
A. It derived its style as well as its
name from a similar garment worn by
the peasants of the Basque country in
France and Spain