Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-12-05
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

| Stop minute and think about this
| fact: You can ask our Information
! Bureau any question of fact and get the
| answer back in a personal letter. 1t Is
a great educational idea, introduced into
| the lives of the most intelligent people
| in the world-American newspaper
readers. 1t is part Of that best pur-
pose of misrepresentation. There is
no charge except cents in coin or
stamps for return postage. Get the
| habit of asking questions. Address your
! letter to The Evening Star Information
! Bureau, Frederic J. HaSkin, Director,
Washington, d. c.
O. Why has the Navy charge Of all
the blimps and dirigibleS?-J. G.
A The Joint Board of the Army and
Navy decided that the Navy should have
charge Of the construction and develop
ment of lighter-than- craft so that
the work would not be duplicated by
the two departments.
O. Are the ballots cast in a British
general election preserved as the ones
cast in this country must be?-A. L.
A. After a general election the voting
papers used in each constituency are
placed in sealed bags and taken to the
monument room in the Victoria Tower
in the House Of Parliament. Here they
remain for a year and a day They can
be produced by petition under the cor
rupt practices act.
c. How far from Los Angeles Is
Sequoia Park?-F. G.
A. 1t is 270 miles, and on account
of the good road Is considered an easy
days automobile ride.
Q. Please give the story Of the Lost
Battalion in the World WAR;. w. B.
A. The Lost Battalion is the name
given to the 308th Regiment, United
States Infantry, commanded by Lieut..
Col. Charles w. Whittlesey. WhittleSey
was ordered to advance through the
densest part Of the great forests of the
Argonne during the World War in order
to take a certain point and hold it. Far
in advance of the other troops, he was
soon surrounded by the enemy and at
tackled for four days and nights More
| than 100 hours passed without his men
obtaining any food and only a little
water. The majority of his command
was killed or wounded, but Whittlesey
refused to surrender. He was eventu-
ally relieved.
@. What were the popular dances In
the time Of WaShington?-L D.
A. The minuet and the waltz were
among the popular dances Of Washing
tons day. So also was the jig. Among
the unusual names of dances were THE
Successful Campaign" "Burgoynes De-
feat" and "Clintons Retreat" Miss
Peggy Champlain chose THE Success
full Campaign" to open the ball when
she danced in Newport with Gen.
Washington.
Q. What does Singapore" mean?-
c. M.
A. The name of the capital Of the
Straits Settlements is Malayan, and
means "lion's town"
Q. In what year was Twas the
Night Before Christmas" written?-
| H. D.
A. 1t was written in 1922.
G. Are pigskin gloves really made
from the skin Of pigs?-U. S. e
A. They are made from the skins of
wild pigs, such as the peccary of the
Southwestern United States and Mexico.
The bramble scratches on these gloves
are supposed to be an indication that
The skins are actually from wild animals,
Q. How many men have been en-
| ployed in building State roads this
years.. E.
A. More than $4,000 men have been
thus employed in 1881.