Evening star., 1936-08-24
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC }. HASKIN.

/ ID EASDEhk1 .. nASAfVs
A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by ioriting The Erentns
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hdsktn, Director. Washington, D. c.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Does Maine vote for presidential
electors in September?-A. H.
A. 1t does not. The State election Is
held in September. but presidential
electors must be chosen on the frst
Tuesday after the first Monday in
November.
@. Are there more than one species
Of penguins at the South Pole?-J. M. H.
A. There are at least four.
@. What is kapok?-E. r.
A. Kapok is the down from the seed
pods of the Randoe tree, grown chiefly
in Java, but to some extent in Ceylon
and the Philippine Islands. The United
States imports around 100000 tons per
year. Due to its residence 1t Is used
in the manufacture Of pillows and mat
tresses. Its buoyancy makes it useful
in the manufacture of life preservers.
1t has been found that 1t is an excellent
insulating material for both heat and
sound.
@. Where did Billy Sunday, the
evangelist, preach his last sermon?
Were there any conversions?-M. L.
A. On October q, 1885. his last sermon
was preached at a Methodist Church in
Mishawaka, Ind. There were 80 con-
verts.
@. Please explain the slang phrase,
Behind the 8-ball."-J. M. M.
A. The National Billiard Association
of America says: 1T Is generally con-
ceded that the 8-ball is the most diff
cult for the player to see clearly In
the execution of his shot. This, because
it is black, naturally, the edges Of the
ball, or in fact any part of the ball, do
not stand out as clearly as colored.
Therefore, professional players. II pos.
sible. avoid being forced to play the
8-ball from difficult position or with
the cue ball a long distance from the
8-ball, because 1t is more difficult to see
clearly. In reality, this fact was what
started the now common saying, be-
hind the 8-ball,' used in the players
vernacular in the sense that being in
any kind Of dificult point on the table,
many times calls for the remark that one
is behind the 8-ball.' In other words.
they use this to explain any dificult
situation which may confront them in
the game"
O. Were the original Siamese twins
really Siamese or were they Chinese?-
j. w. L.
A. Siam was the place of their birth.
but both parents were Chinese.
O. Please give the names of some
deep lakes.-W. H. r.
A. Lake Baikal has reported maxi
mum depth of $500 feet; Crater Lake,
1000 feet; Lake Tahoe, 1850 feet; Lake
Chelan, 500 feet. Lake Superior exceeds
1000 feet while Lakes Huron, Michigan
and Ontario each exceeds TOO feet.
G. What is an Italian greyhound7-
Mr.
A. This is fancy variety Of the true
greyhound in miniature. The dogs should
not exceed to IN pounds in weight,
and the females pounds. Symmetry Of
head and neck is essential to perfection.
They range from black through the blues
to fawn and even all white.
@. When was Alsace Lorraine given
this name?-P. s.
A. The term came into use after the
Peace of Frankfort in May. 1871. 1t was
used to describe the country formed by
Nzmarck out Of the whole of Alsace
and part Of Lorraine, both provinces hav-
ing been annexed from France. These
two countries had had a separate exist
ence since the fifth century, when after
$50 years of Roman domination and
civilization, they were invaded by the
Germans.
@. How many kinds Of wild roses are
there in this country?-H. G.
A. Some 40 species Of wild roses grow
in North America.
Q. Where was John Hay, the states
man, born?-L. G.
A. He was born in Salem, Ind.