, 1935-11-14
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKN

question Of fact BY writing The
Brownsville Herald. Information
Bureau. Frederick j. Haskin. Diroc-
tor. Washington, D. c. Please .
close three 49, cents Tor reply.
q. II traffic through the Panama
Canal on the increase? ". q.
A. II had been increasing, since
the low point OF the depression, up
until this year. but the last II montA1
show a decline. For the II monthH
ended with September /. 5157 vessels
transited the Canal compared with
5254 the previous II months. The
cargo carried the last III months was
24,984,623 tons compared with 25,-
2l6,66s tons the previous IL months
q. What is a g~OOsef0Ot? II. II.
"a. GooseloOt or lamb's-quarters B
a mealy, succulent, edible weed OF
the genus ChenopOdium, found iri
gardens. fields, and waste places. ITO
has inconspicuous flowers and small
black seeds, OF which 10 produces aS
many as a half-million in q season.
In parts OF Europe, the seeds are
used Tor making bread and the young
plants as a substitute for asparagus.
q. Does the use OF schOOIbOy pa
trOls help 10 solve the accident prob
lem? "A. =. "A.
A. In the eight years that school,
boy patrols have been on the streets
OF washington. ID. c., traffic fatali-
ties to school children have decreas-
ed 80 per cent.
q. Please give some information
about an early almanac published
by Ames. L.. q.
"A. In l725. when but III years old,
Nathaniel AmeS published the first
number OF his almanac. which he
continued TO issue annually until his
death. Ii was the most famous New
England almanac OF the day with n
circulation running as high as 90 1000
copies. In form and arrangement liz
became the general pattern for Am
erican almanacs.
O. What Is the name OF the poem
written by LOngfellOw about Florence
Nightingale? :. B.
A. She is the subject Of his poem,
Santa Filomena.
q. What does the electric chair
used for executions consist or? Is IA
the most humane. form. of execu-
ton? r.. III.
A. A so-called electric chair Il
simply a death dealing apparatus
consisting Of a stationary engine,
and alternating dynamo capable Of
generating a current at "a pressure
Of 1000 volts. a death chair with sd
Unstable head rest, bindlhH
straps, and adjustable electrodes.
The first electrocution Of a human
being was William Kemmeler. alias
John Hart. on August s. 1890. at Au-
burn Prison. New York. The first
trocutions were a direct result on the
held on March 2 Of the preceding
year on several dogs, 4 calves. and
a horse, the result being painless and
instantaneous death. These cleo
trOuctions we're q direct result or tho
Investigations Of a committee ap-
pointed in the State OF New York TO
ascertain the most humane and
practical method OF carrying into eff
feet the sentence of death. In the
report, the following words were
used: Perhaps, the most potent
agent known for the destruction or
human life Is electricity. Death, as
a result. Is instantaneous upon its
application. It is the duty Of society
TO utilize for its benefit the advan-
tages and facilities which science has
uncovered TO its view. An electric
shock OF sufficient force TO produce
death cannot produce a sensation
which can be recognized
q. Where is the University In Ex-
lie? u. III.
A. The University in Exile. COM
posed Of German scholars who were
ousted or resigned from academic
posts in Germany after the advent Of
Hitlerism. L. housed In the New
School for Social Research in New
York City.
q. What Is the derivation of the
word Messiah? W.. T.
A. It is from thee Hebrew.
Mashiakh, meaning an anointed one.
Q. Who was the first governor Of
Vermont? TX. ID.
A. Thomas C~hittenden. He was
governor from 1778 to 1889 and from
1870 until his death III 1897.
q. Is Edward Johnson interested
in engaging young American singers
for the Metropolitan Opera Com
pahy? W. y.
"A. The new general manager *
reported as being especially on the
lockout for young Americans singing
III opera IN Europe under assumed
names. Two more young singers of
American birth have been engaged
for the main Metropolitan season.
Charles Kullmann. tenor, and SUI
zanne Fisher. soprano.
q. Just before Lincoln produced
the Emancipation Proclamation dur
ing a Cabinet meeting. he read aloud
an amusing story. Two men present
did not laugh. Who were they? T..
vi. 4.
A Stanton and Chase.
a. What Is a hackmatack? J.H&. G.
A. This is a popular name for the
American larch.