Evening star., 1936-03-12
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY Frederic J. Haskin.

A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact BY Uriting The Euentng
Star Information Bureau. Frederic J.
Hdsktn, Director, Washington, D. C..
Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. How near completion is the Grand
Coulee Dam, in Washington?-A. G.
A. The Grand Coulee contract Is AZ
per cent complete.
G. How many trade associations are
there in this country?-S. D. A.
A. About 1000, Of which some $500
are national or interstate, 500 State or
regional and 1000 local.
@. How many guests can be seated In
the White House dining room2-T. r.
A. The state dining room Of the White
House will seat comfortably 80 guests.
@. How did the Big Brother movement
ortginate?-S. D. G.
A. The movement grew out Of q sug-
gestion made in 1904 to the Mems Club
Of the Central Presbyterian Church of
New York by Ernest K. Coulter, clerk of
New Yorks first Juvenile Court.
@. What Is the meaning of Moscow?
-J. r.
A. The word comes from Moskva, the
name Of a river signifying, in Finnic,
place for washing.
@. What is the total area of the colo
nieS held by France?-H. j.
A. Frances colonial possessions total
1881, ,789 square miles In area, of which
more than 100000 square miles are in
Africa.
@. Is the Burlingtonis crack train, the
Zephyr, money maker or it Is run at
loss?-L. B. r.
A. In its first year the Zephyr proved
that it could be operated at profit.
@. Please describe the Maine Desert
M. p.
A. It lies within the village Of Free
port. This desert Is Of comparatively
recent formation and covers about 800
acres. The land was formerly green
fields and pastures The soil was shall
low and the sand Immediately beneath.
definitely known-some say that grazing
sheep cropped the grass to the roots and
destroyed the turf; others attribute 1t
to fire. A second desert lies in the vicin-
ity of Waterville, Me. This Is much
smaller.
@. How much did the race track at
Santa Anita. Calf, cost?-H. r. G.
A. Santa Anita was built at an initial
cost of $1,250,00O. Since then $275,000
has been spent in improvements.
@. Why is the rainbow room In Rookie
feller Center so called?-L. r.
A. The room has color organ which
automatically converts vocal, instru-
mental or organ music into appropriate
color harmonies.
@. Did President Lincoln visit Gen.
Mcclellan at Antietam between Septem-
ber II and September %, 1862?-P. w. T.
A. AS it has been established beyond
any doubt that Lincoln visited Antietam
only once and that the date of his visit
was on October /, the only possible con-
clusion is that he did not visit the bat
tlef1eld between September II and Sep
tember %.
@. Is there a museum Of folk arts?
-E. H.
A. The Folk Arts Museum is In New
York City, at Riverdale dodge lane,
north of 264th street,. It contains q
collection of American primitive paint
ings and sculpture, as well as rugs. fur
niture, glassware, farm implements and
wardrobes. Many European countries
are represented.
@. Is it easier to heat fresh air than
stale air?-L. A. T.
A. The Bureau of Mines says that
fresh air does not heat easier than stale
air. For health reasons fresh air is
necessary, therefore the air in a room
should be changed at regular intervals.
@. If a person who walks in his sleep
is called a somnambulist, what is the
corresponding term for one who talks
in his sleep?-J. B. K.
A, The term Is SomniloqulSt.
@. What famous scholar was called IN
school the dumb ox?-F. r.
n. 4kllS SODIl4ACt Wdo 64sC4 " NV
Thomas Aquinas by the Dominican
rovices in the monastery at Cologne.
They found the nickname well suited TO
the young monk, who was shy, retiring
and rotund On one occasion, however,
Albertus Magnus, their master, inter-
rogated him on some very abstruse
metaphysical problems. His answers
displayed such intellect that the great
master, addressing the other students.
said: "You call him the dumb OK; one
day his believing will be heard through
out the world"
@. How many people die daily from
cancer in this country?-S. w. r.
A. The death rate from cancer in the
United States averages about 300 per
day.
@. Why was the peninsula OF Southern
Greece named for Pelops?-E. H.
A. pelops was a Phrygian prince,
grandson of Jupiter. Expelled from
Phrygia, he came to Ellis, where he mar
ried Hippodamia, daughter of Oenomaus,
whom he succeeded on the throne. By
means of the wealth he brought with
him his influence became so great In
the peninsula that it was called Pelopon-
nese, the Island of Pelops.
n What trode did Samuel GomperS