Evening star., 1937-03-25
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. /
reader can get the dns,Der to dny
question OF fact by ,1rtting The Epentng
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hasktn, Director, Washington, d. c.
Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. Please give James J. Braddock's
fighting record.-T. NJ
A. He has had 26 Knockout victories.
% decisions, draws, S no-decisions, 2
no-contests, / knock out defeat and 20
adverse decisions.
@. How long before Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes death did he retire
from the Supreme Court?-H. M.
A. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was
born March 8, l84l, and retired from the
Supreme Court January II, 1882, In his
92nd year. He died March 8, 1885, two
days before his oath birthday.
@. How many visitors can the hotels
and boarding houses in London accom-
modate?-E. S.
A. The London hotels have a capacity
of about 260,0O visitors, while London
boarding houses can normally accom-
modate about 250,000.
@. What substances are used in maxi
ing the nodded powder variety Of in
cense?-H B.
A. While there are slight differences
in the ingredients for the nodded
powder incense, several formulas give
benzoin, gum olibanum. styrax, balsam
and powdered bark OF cascarilla.
@. What is the origin of hot cross
buns for Good Friday?-E. T.
A. While there are several legends OF
the origin of hot cross buns to be eaten
on Good Friday, most appear to be
founded on the following: The early
Greeks offered to Apollo, Diana and
other gods, at the Spring festival, cor
responding to Easter in the Christian
church, cakes or bous round with small
horns-the round representing the
moon, on which was placed four quar-
ters representing the four stages of the
moon. The Christian church early
adopted the custom, the dough for the
buns being made Of the same dough
kneaded for the host, or the bread or
wafer used in the sacrament Of holy
communion. The bun was marked with
a cross indicating the passion Of Jesus
Christ, and the buns were said to keep
IL months without turning mouldy, and
were sometimes hung up in the house
after Good Friday as a charm against
evil spirits.
@. When did Richard Halliburton
swim the Panama Canal?-H T. E.
A. He swan it in 1928. He began on
August IA; reached Gatun Locks on the
18th, Pedro Miguel Locks on the 22d
and completed the swim from the At
lantic to the Pacific on August %. The
length Of the canal is 5072 statute miles.
@. Was iceberg lettuce originally
California type of lettuce?-H. E.
A. While the original type was inn
proved by breeding in California, it was
a New York variety.
@. What is the total value of school
property and endowments in the United
States?-A. L.
A.. The estimate is s12,o5O,OO0,O 900.
@. What is the origin of the term
Hebrew?-P. M
A. Because he came from beyond the
Euphrates River, Abraham was called
the Hebrew, from a word meaning to
cross over, and this name was given to
his descendants.
@. Please publish Edwin Markham's
THE Circle. M. F.
A. He drew circle that shut me out
Hereto. rebel, thing to flout. But
Love and I had the wit to win-We
drew circle that took him in."
@. Where and when was Harry Rich
man. the actor and song writer, born?
e. F.
A. He was born in Newark, N. j.
October 10. 1895.
@. Is it true that a flag flies day and
night over Francis Scott Keys grave?
w. P.
A. The grave is in Mount Olvet
Cemetery at Frederick, Md, and a
United States flag does fly over it day
and night throughout the year.
@. With what publication is Stanley
connected?-E. w.
A. Mr.. Walker is editor of the New
York Woman, weekly magazine.
@. Are the fables attributed to Aesop
actually his?-L. A. L.
A. Aesop is little more than shadow
of a name He was slave from Samos.
who probably lived in the sixth century
before Christ. His fables were OF
political nature in the time of the Greek
tyrants, when unveiled speech was
dangerous Two hundred and fifty years
later Demetrius of Phaleron collected
large number of fables and called them
by Aesop's name. These were turned
into Latin by Phaedrus, but it cannot
be said definitely that any of them
originated with AeSop.
@. How can a woman tell whether a
piece of silk is heavily weighted?-B. P.
A. If a sample can be obtained, burn
ing it will tell the story. II the ash
holds its shape and shows the weave the
material is heavily weighted. Such silks
wear out quickly.
O. What is the extent of the parking
lot business in the United States? How
many lots are there in New York City,
Washington, D. c., and Philadelphia?
&C. r.
A. Parking lots in this country are
doing business to the extent of $4,000.
600 a year. New York City has 255.