Evening star., 1937-02-15
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
A reader can get the dpstDer to any
question OF fact by ioriting The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hdsttn. Director. Washington, d. G.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. At what temperature does a cigar
burn? A cigarette?-E. H. r.
A. A cigar burns at from 300 to 900
degrees Fahrenheit, depending on vari-
GUS conditions. A cigarette burns at
lower temperature, which has not been
exactly determined.
Q. How many people visit Mount ver-
non in year?-C. M. L.
A. Between 100000 and 100000 visit
Mount Vernon annually. The greatest
number to visit the home of George
Washington in a day was 5000, on
Sunday in April, 1884.
@. To whom did the land originally
belong on which Greenwich Village, New
York City, is situated?-E. w.
A. In Revolutionary days the present
village was the country estate of Sir
Peter Warren, British admiral in the
French and Indian War.
Q. What is anosmia?-E. G. H.
A. Anosmia is lack of the sense of
smell. This deficiency may be due to
nasal obstruction or to disease of the
nerves concerned in smelling.
@. When was the word American
ism first uSed?-W. B. R.
A, The term came into use through
newspaper discussion Of the interna-
tional conference at Washington in
1889 and 1890.
Q. BY what authority does the Gov
ernment control all water power on
navigable rivers?-C. j.
A. The Federal water power act Of 1920
gave the United States Government con-
troll of all water power on navigable
rivers.
@. In what States is a holograph will
valid?-D. E: C.
A. A will entirely in the makers own
handwriting, duly signed and dated but
not witnessed, will be held valid, if in
the courts opinion the makers wishes
are clear and unmistakable, in Alaska
and the following States: Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Idaho, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana. Nevada,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Okla
homa, South Dakota, Tennessee. Texas,
Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and
wyoming.
@. What do professional shoppers
charge?-C. D.
In New York City the charge for
professional woman shoppers is usually
$40 for full day. Figures are not avail
able as to hourly rates or rates in other
cities.
@. How long did it take to make the
first United States census compared with
the time required today?-H. F.
A. The first census, in 1870. required
18 months. while the 1880 census was
taken in 80 days.
Q. Please give some information about
pineapple cheese.-E H.
A. This cheese, which is said to have
had its origin in Litchfield County, Conn,
about 1845. is so named from the fruit
whose shape 1t bears. 1t is hard, rem
net cheese made from the whole milk
of cows and rather highly colored. The
curd is pressed into the desired shape
and the cheese Is then dipped for a
few minutes in water at lao degrees
Fahrenheit, and then for "A hours is
put into a net which gives 1t the dia-
mond-shaped corrugations. 1t requires
several months to ripen during which
time the surface is rubbed with oil.
@. What is a bellwether?-T. C.
A. 1t is wether or sheep which leads
the flock, with bell on his neck. A
wether is ram. especially a castrated
one.
@. How many college students are
receiving aid from the National Youth
Administration?-H. G. F.
A. A total of 124,8l8 students in 1886
colleges and universities are now receiv-
ing aid from N. Y. A. projects.
Q. When was Wagners Die Walkure"
first produced?-H. M.
A. 1t was first produced in Munich
June 26, 1870, and in the United States
on April 2, 1877, at New York City.
@. Has much study been given to right
and left handedness?-M. v.
A. Parsons, one of the authorities, lists
40 pages of titles, including hundreds Of
works, which have been written on the
subject.
@. What figure Of speech is employed
in such expressions as the kettle boils'f
S. A.
A. The substitution Of one noun for
another which is closely associated Is
called metonymy.
@. Is the hymn beginning God of our
fathers, whose almighty hand leads forth
in beauty all the starry band" and en-
titled National Hymn" in some hymnals,
officially our national hymn?-B. w.
A. There is no national hymn ap-
proved by the Government in any way
except The Star Spangled Banner"
There are several hymns. including
America" which have practically 3
national status, inaSmuch as they are
known and loved throughout the Nation.
@. Please give some information about
Gibraltar-W. II.
A. Gibraltar is rocky promontory
near the southern point of the 1herian
Peninsula and commanding the western
entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. It
is colonial possession of Great Britain.
Covering about 2 square miles it con-