Evening star., 1935-07-06
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

question OF tdct by iDriting The Washing
ton Euentno Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Hdskin, Director, Wdshino-
ton, d. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. Are many more automobiles in use
now than there were year or so ago?
H. E. H.
A. In 1884 automobile registrations
increased by 1,106,113 vehicles over 1898.
@. What dog is considered the great
est racing dog?-M. M.
A. Menkes All Sports Record Book
says: Mick, the Miller, is regarded as
the greatest racing dog ever known,
though his exact breeding is unknown.
He was owned by Father Brophy, an
Irish priest, who raced him in London,
1929. He beat all competition. -Four
thousand dollars was offered for him
by Arundel H. Kempton of London who
| agreed to give Father Brophy the purse
II the dog won. The priest accepted the
offer, the dog won the derby and from
1929 to 1881 the brindled 66-pound
wonder won $4,000 in purses for his
owners, and almost countless cups and
trophies He made many records, in
cluding "a seconds for 600 yards. He
was retired in 1881 and is quartered at
Walton on the Thames for breeding
purposes. He became 8 years old in
1884"
@. Is the dollar mark sometimes put
after the numerals?-L. A. K.
A. In Brazil and other Latin American
countries, the dollar sign always follows
the figures.
@. When was the peak Of motion
| picture attendance?-A K W.
| A. In 1929 when 100000 persons
| attended weekly.
Q. When were tights first used in this
| country?-H. G. r.
A. Tights were first introduced into
| the American circus in 1928 A bareback
rider was forced to appear in his un-
| derclothes, having failed to receive his
costume in time for the performance.
| Thereafter tights became the fashion.
@. Is Mothers day observed In Eng
| land?-E. r
! A. 1t has been observed there since
1913.
@. What is a rotary motor? A radial
motor?-W L. R.
A. A rotary motor revolveS about q
stationary crankshaft. A radiaI motor
| Is stationary and the crankShaft revolveS.
@. What is polenta?-E. F.
A. 1t is an Italian dish, the chief
ingredients Of which are maize meal
and salt. Sometimes wheat or chestnut
meal is used. It is made into thick
paste, cut into fngerlike strips and
baked, generally with an addition of
cheese. 1t is eaten either by itself or
with roast liver or steamed meat and
sauce.
O. How many blocks does a policeman
patrol in large city?-P. B.
A. The area of a policemans. beat
varies greatly with the neighborhood.
In the downtown district of some cities.
particularly in bad neighborhoods, 16
blocks would represent an average beat
In suburban districts, beats OCCASIONAL,
run as high as u blocks.
@. What is exorcism?-F. J. C.
A. 1t is the expelling of an evil spirit
by magic words or prayers.
Q. Why are so many laundries named
Troy Laundry?-M. B.
A. The city of Troy, N. Y, the birth
place of the collar, cuff, and shirt In
dustry, was practically the home and
for many years was the center Of the
steam laundry interests of the country.
an interest which has now extended 70
every city or place of any importance
in the land So general is the recog-
milton of this fact that the name. Troy
Laundry, is still retained by hundreds
of laundries in various parts OF the
United States and is even seen abroad.
1t was natural that the earliest organ
lied movement to produce the machines
demanded for laundering purposes
should have been made in Troy.
@. Why did Heinrich Schliemann be-
come an American citizen?-L. T.
A. The great archeologist was trav-
cling around the world in 1850. He
happened to be in California when the
territory became a State. Under the
law Schliemann became a citizen of the
United States.
@. What President was nicknamed
Long Tom?-A. M.
A. Thomas Jefferson was sometimes
called Long Tom. He was tall and
| raw-boned.
@. Why can't a mongooSe be brought
into this country?-O. j. H.
A The Bureau OF Biological Survey
says that the mongoose is not allowed
to be imported into this country be-
cause it is notorious for its destructive
character 1t is true that this small
mammal is a courageous killer of snakes.
for which purpose it is used to advantage
| in India However, it also kills poultry
and ground-nesting birds and as an
added example of its rapacity may be
cited the experience Of Jamaica, one Of
| the large islands of the British West
Indies. The mongooSe was introduced
into that island with the idea OF ex-
terminating the snakes there, but the
species ran wild, multiplied enormously,
| and in a period of only few years
| destroyed millions of dollars worth OF
poultry and game birds. Its importa-
ton into this country is therefore pro-
hibited under strict penalty of heavy
| fine. A few have reached the United
States from time to time, but they have
either been destroyed or placed in 20
| illogical parks, and there is none at the
| present time.
@. What is the largest residence In
| the world?-E. w.
rTba Vatican OF Rome with severaI