Evening star., 1936-10-19


Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C,
Please teclose stamp for reply.
@. Please name the first Jew to serve
in a Presidents cabinet.-J. G.
A. Oscar Solomon Straus, q New York
business man, was the first cabinet men,
ber of Jewish faith. He served as Sec
retary of Commerce and Labor from
December II, 1906, to March 4, 1909. in
the cabinet Of President Theodore
Roosevelt.
@. Where is there the least rainfall?-
w. H. B.
A. africa, Chile, has the minimum
amount that has come under observa-
ton. The average rainfall for II years
was only 0.02 inch q year and there
were only measurable showers within
that time. r
@. What are the A c countries Of
South America and why are they So
called?-J. D. H.
A. The A B c countries OF South
America are Argentina, Brazil and Chile,
so termed from their initials and because
they are the most powerful and most
progressive of the South American
nations.
@. Where does Death Valley Scotty
lve?-H. D.
A. Walter Scott death Valley Scotty)
lives on a ranch in Grapevine Canyon,
Inyo County, Calf.
@. How many commissioners of edu-
cation have been in ofice2-J. L.
A. The names of the United States
commissioners of education with the
years of their tenure are as follows:
Henry Barnard, 1867-70; John Eaton,
1870-1886; NJ R. H. Dawson, 1869;
William T. Harris, 1889-1906; Elmer E.
Brown. 1906-11; Philander P. Claxton,
l9ll-21; John James Tigert, 1929:
William John Cooper, 1929-33; George
F. Zook, 1e33-34; John w. Studebaker.
1884.
@. How much is paid out in taxes by
the petroleum industry?-J. r. H.
A. Total taxes levied on the petroleum
industry and its products in 1885
amounted to $1,127 ,259 ,232.
@. Was Edgar Guest born in this
country?-A. J.
A. The poet was born at Birmingham,
England.
@. When did Ruth Chatterton play
in The Rainbow"?-M. H.
A. She was leading lady with Henry
Miller in that play in 1912.
@. What is the largest family OF
plants?-T. OD.
A. The largest family of plants, con-
tanning about ne-tenth of all Towering
plants, is the thistle family. To this
belong the aSters, goldenrod, daisy and
thousands of others.
@. Did Gelett Burgess ever teach az
the University of California7-J. r.
A. The writer was instructor in topo-
graphical drawing at the university from
189l-94.
@. What is the origin of the term
"horse latitude"?-A. B.
A. Horse latitude is the name given
to the belt of calms in the North At
lantic Ocean between the region OF
westerly winds of the higher latitudes
and the region of trade winds OF the
torid zone. Authorities differ in re-
gard to the origin of the name, some
claiming that it was derived from the
fact that vessels with a cargo of horses
were often so delayed on account OF the
calms that the animals perished from
lack of water.
nIz 1; Nh of HA
nouncer for the March of Time. e. j.
A. The voice of Time" on the screen
and air is Cornelius Westbrook van
Voorhis. He attended the United States
Naval Academy but left without COM
pleting his course to travel. For while
he acted as master of ceremonies at the
Silver Slipper Night Club. Mr. Van
Voorhis has been on the radio six years
under various names. He is IS years old.
@. What is the limit of the Pennsyl-
vania State debt as established by law?-
H.H.
A. The Constitution of Pennsylvania
specifically provides that the aggregate
debt of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania is never to exceed one million
Isl 100000 dollars, provided, however.
tndJ the NIeneIdl Assembly may duIAlOA-
ize the issuance of bonds in the sum Of
one hundred million 100000 000 dol
lars, for the construction and main
tenance of highways.
@. OF what were the early golf balls
fnade?-H. w.
A. The early golf balls were made OF
feathers tightly stuffed into leather
cover. The "gutty" ball treally gutta
percha) was first used in 1848 in Scot
land, while the rubber cover was 1902
innovation in England.
@. What is the largest inland body
of water in the world?-H. K. G.
A. The Caspian Sea is the largest. 1t
extends about TOO miles in north and
south direction and varies in width from
100 to 300 miles It's area is estimated at
168, ,765 square miles.
@. Who coined the phrase, pathetic
fallacy"?-J. w.
A. It was invented by Ruskin to desig-
nate the illusion that external objects
seem actuated by human feelings, par
ticularly when one is under great emo
tional strain.
A Rhvme at TWILIGHT