Evening star., 1938-07-13
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

SN/0kJ l. 1NI1 NkJ
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
A reader can get the anssoer to any
question OF fact By prtttna The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
J. Hdsksn, director. Washington. d. C.
Please tnclose stamp for reply.
Q. Where was the first large electric
sign In the United States?-H. w. G..
A. In 1895 large electric sign was
erected at the corner Of Fifth avenue
and !wenty-third street, New York City.
Illuminating the words Manhattan
Beach Swept by Ocean Breezes."
@. What is the origin Of the name Of
Switzerland?-L. G.
A. The confederation is named from
the ancient canton of Schwyz, which,
with Uri and Lower Unterwald, formed
a defensive league in 1891, and became
formally Independent Of the Holy Ro-
man Empire in 1648. The name Switz-
erland, In its German form, has been
used officially since 14l5.
Q. Who laid the cornerstone Of Bun.
ker Hill Monument?-J. H. G..
A. The cornerstone was laid by Lafay.
cite in 1925, the 50th anniversary Of the
battle. The monument was dedicated
in 1S43, Daniel Webster delivering the
grafton.
@. In what movie did Richard Bar.
thelmess make his first appearance?-
H. l..
A. His first screen role was in "War
Brides" which starred Na1mova.
@. What was the remark made by DR..
William Lyon Phelps about Mickey
Mouse when he conferred a degree on
Walt Disney?-T. K H.
A. In presenting Mr.. Disney with the
honorary degree Of master Of arts, the
distinguished Yale professor spoke Of
the artist as one who "labored like
mountain and brought forth a mouse
with which he conquered the whole
world"
@. Why did Voltaire change his name?
e. j. H.
A. The writer was named Francois
Marie Arouet. Accused Of rejecting on
the government in some Of his poems,
he was imprisoned in the Bastille. While
there he took the name Of Voltaire, say
ing that he hoped to have better luck
with his new one than with the old one.
@. What is the largest shellfish in the
world?-C. F.
A. The giant clam Of the coral islands
in the Pacific The shells often weigh
400 pounds or more and the clam is said
fn live an {o
@. Are there any walled cities in
America?-H. j. K.
A. Quebec is the only walled city in
America.
@. OF what are shoe buttons NADER
L. w. R.
A. The ordinary shoe button is made
Of papier-mache. In the process of
manufacture the buttons are saturated
with linseed oil or amber varnish to
give greater f1rmness. They are then
dried, again coated with hot amber var
nish and baked. In finishing they are
polished with pumice, given the desired
coating Of color, dried. and again coated.
This process is repeated for three or
| more coats.
@. How many bells are there at Mis-
| sion Inn, Riverside, Calif.?-J. w.
A. The collection, which was started
by the late Frank A. Miller, includes
| nearly 700 bells.
@. What was the real name OF Mata
| Hari, the spy?-E. q. H.
A. Her real name was Gertrude Zelle
Macleod.
Q..What king could not walk until hs
was years old?-J. H. c.
A. Charles Of England was very
backward as a child, unable to speak
until his fifth year or to walk until his
| seventh. He outgrew both defects, be-
coming active in outdoor sports and
making himself an accomplished scholar.
@. What is parcel-post SUPERVISOR
w. H. B.
A. At the larger post offices selected
men are designated as parcel-post super
visorS. They devote a large part of
their time to calling on mailers or po-
tential mailers, educating them as to adj
vantages of parcel-post service, adjust
ing complaints and entertaining sug-
| gestions.
@. What was the name Of the man
who tried to explore the Arctic Ocean
| in a submarine?-J. H..
A. In 1881 Sir Hubert Wilkins at
tempted to explore the floor Of the Arctic
Ocean in an old American submarine
which he renamed the Nautilus The
ship failed him before any progress was
made.
@. When were the first airedales
brought to this country?-J. L. H.
A. According to Ken Charles G. Hop
ton showed the first modern airedale in
New York in 1896, prior to the time the