Evening star., 1936-10-05
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the anSiDer to any
question OF fact by tDriting The Evening
Star Information Bnredu, frederic !.
Haskin, Director, Washington. d. c.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. How many States does it take TO
| block the ratification of an amendment
| to the Constitution of the United States2
IS. w.
A. Thirteen. This function Is not based
on population in any way. The Is States
with the smallest aggregate population
about six million-can block ratification
as successfully as 13 Of the most popu-
lous States.
| @. Has all the treasure on any sunken
ship been recovered?-T. B.
A. The Laurentic holds the record with
| 90 per cent recovery of the treasure car
| ried. Over five million pounds in bullion
and specie was lost when this White Star
liner was mined in 1917. BY 1924 most
Of 1t had been salvaged.
| @. What is the derivation of the word
| ambition?-L. w.
| A. This word comes from the Latin
ambitio which meant a going around.
especially of candidates for ONCE in
| Rome to solicit votes. Hence, desire
for ONCE or honor.
@. What is the value of the Vatican
and its contents?-C. T.
A. No attempt has been, or can be
made, to assess properly the value of
the Vatican, its grounds, buildings, and
contents Many millions of dollars, If
not hundreds of millions, are included
in paintings alone, and many of the
sculptures are absolutely priceless. The
Vatican covers 1874 acres and includes
over 100 rooms, many of which exceed
in size large modern churches or chapels
| The manuscript department of the Ii
brary is said to be the largest and finest
in the entire world and to be absolutely
without price.
| c. Is o. Henry's widow living?-J G.
A. The authors widow, Mrs. William
Sydney Porter, is resident Of Asheville,
NC.
@. Why did Empress Carlotta of
Mexico desert her husband at the critical
time shortly before he was executed?
F. C.
A. In 1863 she went with her husband
to Mexico and remained there till 1866,
| when the dissatisfaction against the en-
| pire forced her husband to send her from
| the land of their adoption to ask help
| in France. She could obtain no assist
ance from Napoleon III and went 10
Rome to appeal to the Pope. Before
| negotiations there were completed. her
| health gave way under the strain and
after the end of the empire and the
execution of her husband (June l9, 1867
she became totally insane. She died IN
seclusion January 10. 1927.
| O. What were the names Of the ships
! in Admiral Perrys squadron when he
went to Japan in 1853?-B. p. D.
| A. The four ships which Admiral Perry
| took on his first trip to Japan in 1853
were the following: The Mississippi and
Susouehanna (steam frigates) and the
Plymouth and Saratoga (sloops of war.
Perry was in command of the squadron
and had the rank of commodore. He
was on board the Susquehanna.
| @. Was Anne Hathaway older than
Shakespeare?-C. j.
| A. She was nearly eight years his
senior.
@. What were some of the most popu-
lar songs of 1880. j.
A. Record hits for 1885, according to
sheet music sales, were: When ! Grow
Too Old to Dream" In Little Gypsy
the Mood for Love-" and What's the
Reason I'm not Pleasin' You?"
@. How much damage is caused in the
United States by termiteS?-E. S.
A. The annual damage caused by
termites is estimated at approximately
$37, 100000.
@. What was the original purpose Of
the Mohawk Trail?-A. M.
A. 1t was used by Indians before the
| Revolution for a trading route between
their abodes and the Atlantic Coast.
@. Who are the officers in THE
Masquers," in HollyWood?-T. K.
A. The Offices and incumbents are as
follows: Harlequin, Frank Morgan;
Pierrot, Charles Chase; Ponchinello,
| Charles Miller; Croesus, Jacque Pierre:
Pantaloon, William Davidson; reader,
Frank Campeau. Instead Of a board Of
directors or governors. this club has
Jesterate.
@. Has Mongolism any particular con-
nection with the Mongolian race?-E. NJ.
A Except for the resemblance OF
slanting eyes, there is no connection.
Mongolism is a congenital malformation
usually accompanied by imbecility.
@. Why did King Prajadhipok of Siam
abdicate?-R. r.
A. There had been rumors of abdica-
tion before the actual event, while the
government was undergoing modifica-
ton. In 1884 the King and Queen went
to England to consult an oculist. Dur
ing the visit. difference arose between
the King and the Peoples party regard
ing the exercise of the Kings preroga-
tive in matters of life and death. Since
no agreement could be reached, the King
finally abdicated on March 2, 1885.
@. Was Washington Irving, author OF
"Trip Van Wrinkle" at one time Am.
bassador to Spain?-H. G.
A. He was United States Minister to
Spain from 1842 to 1886.
Alumni Always Available.