Evening star., 1936-10-28


question OF fact by writtno The Euentng
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hasktn, Director, Washington, D. c.
Please inclcse stamp for reply.
Q. Is it true that Maryland has since
1892 returned vote for the man who /.
won the presidential election?-H. r.
A. This is true as to the popular vote
as to electoral vote. there have been
exceptions.
@. How many airplanes have been built
in the United States?-B. w.
A. The Bureau of Air Commerce says
that, roughly speaking. the total number
of airplanes manufactured in the United
States from the beginning of the in-'
dustry through 1885 was $1,000.
@. What section of the country has
the heaviest automobile travel? What
route has the heaviest travel?-A. M.
A. The American Automobile Associa-
tion says that the area around New York
City has the heaviest traffic in the United
States. The entire length Of route No.
carries the greatest volume of traffic in
this country. &.
O. What kind of lifeboats has the
Queen Mary?-R. H. C..
A. The Queen Mary is equipped with
"a unsuitable motor lifeboats made of
steel and having a capacity of 145 per-
sons each. This is the largest feet of
lifeboats carried on any ship.
@. How did Halloween originate?
". T.
A. Halloween and the ceremonies that
formerly attended it long antedate
Christianity. The chief characteristic in
the ancient celebrations of Halloween
was the lighting of bonfires. The ancient
belief was that on this night, the one
night in the year, ghosts and witches
were abroad. The main celebration of
Halloween was, no doubt, Druidical be-
cause the DruidS held great Autumn fes-
tivals on or about the date of November
i, and lighted great bonfires in honor
of the sun god as a thank offering for
the harvest of the year. The Druids also
supposed that the wicked souls that had
been condemned to live in the bodies of
animals were allowed to come forth on
the eve of the festival. The custom of
lighting bonfires on Halloween night sur
vived until recent years in the highlands
Of Scotland and in Wales. On the inva-
sion of the Romans, certain character
istics of the celebration of Pomona such
as offering of apples and nuts, were in
troduced into the celebration of the
Druids.
@. What is sweet wine?-J K.
A. Sweet wine is wine in which the
alcoholic fermentation has been arrested
and which contains, in 100 cubic cent?
meters, not less than one gram of sugar
and for sweet red wine not less than
thirteen-hundredths gram of grape ash
@. Where was the first tunnel in the
United States built?-D. G.
A. 1t was the Schuylkill Navigation
Canal, above Auburn, Pa. 1t was COM
menced in 1918 and was opened to traffic
in 1921. 1t is no longer in use.
@. What is the origin of the Office OF
poet-laureate of England?-H. M.
A. There is no authentic record of the
earliest office. In the reign of Henry III
Q2l6-1272) there was a Versifcator
Regis who was paid 100 shillings year.
Godfrey Chaucer (1328-14OO) assumed
Tie IlIle OI pOeL-lduTeaCe ana IN l3OJ
got royal grant of yearly allowance
of wine.
@. Will the creation Of Boulder Dam
Lake effect the climate of the region?
H. S.
A. The Weather Bureau says that the
creation of this reservoir cannot exert
any appreciable influence on the general
climate and weather of the region, al
though, Of course, slight effects on tenn
perature and humidity will be produced
| in the immediate vicinity. No noticeable
! climatic effects were observed due to the
| formation of the Salton Sea.
@. Who is the oldest member of the
| Supreme Court?-R. w. H.
A. Justice Brandeis, who is 70, is the
| oldest.
@. When was the first professional
marionette performance in this country? &?
w. r. H.
| A. The first production was at the
| Chicago Little Theater, in 1915, under
the direction of Maurice Browne and
Ellen Won Volkenburg.