Evening star., 1935-11-29
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

L ~ AsN0SfsS d AuShtWs Il
reader can get the anstDer to ann
question OF fact By Driting The Washing.
ton Eventng Star Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Hdsktn, Director, Washing
ton, d. C. Please inclose stamp TOR reply.
@. What present-day Governor has
had the longest service in ofice?-G. II.
A. Gov. c. Douglass Buck of Delaware
is dean of the present Governors in poirt
Cf service. He has completed seven years
as chief executive of the State.
Q. Why was Sir Philip Gibbs knight
ed?-M r.
A. He was knighted, in 1920, for his
distinguished service as war correspond
ent in the World War.
@. How many writer's are employed b.
the w. P. A. in compiling the American
Guldebook and what are their salaries?
F. L. M.
A. To date the Works Progress Admin
istration has announced that $500 Jobs
have been given to unemployed writers.
1t is expected to engage 1900 more. The
men receive in most instances the top
figure OF $94 month.
@. Who invented the non-sinkable life
boat?-P. J. H.
A. Joseph Francis, American inventor
and boat builder, patented in 1887 non
Sinkable llfeboat which was widely used
for several decades after 1850 He vas
the founder of the American Shipwrsck
and Humane Society, developed a coru-
gated metal lifeboat and used his same
invention in the construction Of steamers.
He received the Congressional Medal, The
Franklin Institute Medal and internaA
tional recognition for his work.
@. Does the new Government farm 'or
treating drug addicts receive any one who
is willing to take the cure?-J. nc.
A. At present it does not. Its capacity
is not great enough to take Federal pris-
onerS and offenders. 1t is hoped that
facilities will ultimately be provided :or
persons who voluntarily submit them
selves to the Public Health Service :or
treatment.
@. When did Mark Twain's famous
jumping frog story appear?-L. B.
A. This story by Mark Twain 1855,
known as THE Celebrated Jumping Frog
of Calaveras County" appeared first in
the New York Saturday Press as Jim
Smiley and His Jumping Frog"
@. What became Of Boston Corbett?
j. c. S.
A. Boston Corbett was born in London
in 1882, came to America as a boy and
lived in Boston some time before the
Civil War. In 1887, after having been
through difficult period, he was elected
to be an assistant doorkeeper at the
House of Representatives in Topeka,
Some years later he was declared insane
and admitted to the State hospita. in
that city. On May 26, 1888, he left the
hospital grounds for a walk, in charge
of an attendant, suddenly leaped upon a
pony which had been tied nearby and
disappeared. What became of him has
been mystery from that day to this.
@. Who started the development Of the
atomic theory?-R. E.
A. The beginning Of the atomic theory
may be traced to the Speculations of the
ancients. Democritus, a Greek phios-
OpllCl VI IllC 441JlI CCIlIuly, NdS
the earliest to consider the construction
of matter. The foundation of the nod
ern atomic theory is attributed to Jofn
Dalton, schoolmaster of Manchester,
England, whose theory was DEVELOPED
between 1903 and 1906. Before his tine,
however, a number of philosophers and
scientists, notably Boyle, Newton, Bacon,
Descartes, Hooke and Locke, were inter-
ested in this problem.
@. Where is Lombard street,
T. w. H.
A. This is a London street which 1as
given its name to the financial section
of the city. From the thirteenth century
until they were baniShed by Queen Eliza
beth foreign merchants, many of whom
were from Lombardy, were established
there as merchants, money lenders and
bankers.
@. What does it cost to send news
paper correspondent to Ethiopia?-E r.
A. Exclusive of equipment, it costs ap-
proximately $700 to transport a person
comfortably from New York to Adds
Ababa.
Q. What caused the crash of the He-
ing bomber at Wright Field on Octooer
30?-A. N.
A. The findings of the board of inVes-
tigation were to the effect that the ani-
dent was caused by a locked condition
of the rudder and elevator surface con-
trols, which made it impossible for the
pilot to control the airplane. The rea-
son for this condition has not been ee-
termined.
@. How many millionaires were there
in the United States shortly before the
Civil War?-W. A. @.
A. In 1856 one of the most complete
and interesting efforts to compile COR
rect list of wealthy citizens was made.
William Astor headed the list with for
tune of $6O00,000. Then followed Stephen
Whitney. $5,000,000; William H. Aspn-
wall, $4,000,00O, and Joseph Lennox. So
10000. In all 27 millionaireS are listed.
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton