Evening star., 1938-04-06
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the ansuer to any
question OF fact by ,Driting The Euenino
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
iIaskin, director, Washington. D. c.
Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How many birds does the average
cat kill?-C. f. T.
A. The Garden Encyclopedia says that
estimates place the number of birds
killed annually by each house cat at so,
and adds that the number killed by half
wild cats is doubtless several times as
large.
@. Does sound travel faster than a
bullet?-L. G. M.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that the speed of bullet may be
either greater or less than the speed Of
sound The speed of sound in air is
about 1100 feet per second. A pistol
bullet may travel as slowly as 700 feet
per second and the bullet from a rife
may reach the speed of 1000 feet per
second.
O. What is the origin Of the name
Easter?-M. j.
A. The name Easter comes from that
OF the ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess of
spring, Eastre, in whose honor festival
of spring was held in the month OF
April. 1t is from these old-time pagan
festivals that many of our Easter GUS
toms have come. Easter also contains
survivals of the Passover feast of the
Jews, observed in memory of the COM
ing out of Egypt.
@. How long has Hitler been In power
in Germany?-E. H. B.
A. President Won Hindenburg died Au-
gust 2, 1884. The cabinet on August /,
1884, adopted this decree: THE Office of
Reich president is herewith united with
that of Reich chancellor. In conse-
quence, the authority of the Reich presi-
dent is herewith transferred to the
Fuehrer and Reich chancellor, Adolf
Hitler. He designates his deputy. This
law becomes effective from the moment
OF the death of Reich President Won
Hindenburg." The result of the plebi-
scite, on August 10, 1884 gave Hitler
801 per cent of the votes cast.
@ Who originated the abbreviation
of S. A. for sex appeal?-J. M.
A. Menckens The American Lam
guage" credits the term S. A. to Jack
Conway of the staff of Variety, who
died in 1925
G. On what occasions may a tuxedo
or dinner coat be worn?-B. c.
A. A dinner coat is correctly worn at
the theater. at most dinners, at all in
formal parties. when dining at home or
in restaurant. Mrs. Post adds that it
is correct every evening everywhere ex-
cept when full dress is required. It is
never correct to wear a tuxedo In the
daylight.
@. What is the altitude OF Lookout
Mountain where Buffalo Bill is buried?
H. " G.
A. The altitude Of Lookout Mountain,
near Golden, Co.. is 7,375.25 feet.
What is the origin of the phrase,
DARBY and Joan"?-A. L. E.
A. 1t is applied to the type Of loving,
old-fashioned, virtuous couples The
names originated In a ballad called
THE Happy Old Couple" probably writ
ten by Henry Woodfall. and the charac-
ters are said to be John Darby Of Bar
tholomew Close, who died in 1880. and
his wife. The ballad is also attributed
by other authorities to Matthew Prior.
@. Please give list of some Princeton
| graduates who are headmasters or prin-
| cipals of private schools-J. M. G.
A. A few Princeton alumni who hold
such positions are William M. Agar.
| Newman School; Tertius van Dyke, Gum
merry School; Robert T. Hall, Lake For
| est Day School; Frederic E. Camp,
Chestnut Hill Academy; E. Boyd Nor
| row, Gilman Country School; Walden
| Pell. H. st. Andrews School,; Charles H
Breed, Blair Academy; T. j. Edward
| Pulling, Millbrook School; E. Laurence
Springer, Pingry School; F. r. P. Van
Syckel. Columbus Academy; Emory j.
Middour, Staunton Military Academy:
| Charles A. Robinson and John c. Bucher.
co-prlncipals Of Peekskill Military Acad-
emy; Duncan McCulloch, jr., Oldfelds
School, and Alfred S. Campbell, Seven
oaks School.
Q. Please give the names of some
actors and actresses whose parents were
also on the stage or screen.-L. r. M.
A. A partial list is as follows: Noah
Beery, jr.; Jane Wyman. Paul Stone,
Mary Rogers, Constance Bennett, Joan
Bennett, Martha Raye, Wally Reid, jr.:
Dennis O'Keefe, Paul Mum, Frank Nc
Hugh, Joan Blondell, Olympic Bradna,
Tom Brown, Creighton CLANCY, Broder-
ick Crawford, Douglas Fairbanks jr.;
Gladys George and Fernand Gravel.
@. Was Mrs Woodrow Wilson ever
granted pension by the Government?
H. H.
A. Mrs. Wilson was granted a pension
of $4,000 year by the act of Congress
on February 49, 1929.