Evening star., 1938-11-17
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. HdSkt,,,

BY Frederic J. Hdsktn.
reader can get the onswer to any
question OF fact by ,Drtting The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hdskin. Director. Warrington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. WhA Is the Oldest government
building now standing in the United
States?-S. j. il.
A. 1t IL the Palace of the Governors,
at Santa Fe, N. Mex. Built before 1917,
1t Is now occupied by the Museum Of
New Mexico.
Q. How tall do ferns grow?-R. c. g.
A. Some Of the largest tree ferns Of
Australia and New Zealand attain q
height Of 30 feet.
@. What Is the finest biography Of all
time?-E. L. G.
A. Boswell's Life of johnson" Is gen.
orally conceded to be the greatest Of all
biographies.
q. How much cotton was traded on
cotton exchanges in October?-R. NJ S.
A. A total Of 3,a53, 900 bales, of which
3,ls5,50o bales were traded on the New
York Cotton Exchange.
@. Please classify the various furs ac-
cording to their wearing quality.-J.G
A. Furs that are very durable are
otter, skunk, raccoon, krimmer, mink,
beaver and fisher. Those classed as
durable are fitch, Persian lamb, sable,
muskrat, kolinsky, Hudson seal and
Alaskan seal. Semi durable are fox,
opossum. nutria and marten; semi-p per-
ishable, ermine, weasel, caracul, squirrel,
leopard, rabbit lynx and American
broadtail. Those listed as perishable are
mole, chinchilla, broadtail and Indian
kid.
O.. What is the date Of the flood In
the Bible?-B. D.
A. According to Hebrew chronology,
the deluge, or universal food, Destroy
ing the earth, occurred In 234S BIC.
@. Please give brief account Of John
Brown at Harpers Ferry.-M. C.
A. On the night of October l6, 1889,
John Brown, with l8 or 20 men, at
tackled the Federal arsenal at Harpers
Ferry, taking about go citizens prisoners.
He and his followers were overpowered
on the 18th by a detachment of United
States Marines under Col. Robert E. Lee
Committed to jail the following day at
Charles Town, w. Va, his trial began
on October 27. He was convicted of
treason on October 81 and hanged on
December 2.
@. Is infantile paralysis the most Sc
rious disease of children?-E. S.
A. Infantile syphilis kills and mains
more children in . week than infantile
paralysis does in . year.
Q. Who publishes the Watch Dog7-
E. S.
A. 1t is the bulletin Of the National
Economy League.
@. How many appearances did Kate
Claxton make in The Two Orphans"?-
J. H. B.
A. She created the part of Louise the
blind girl and played it 1000 times.
@. How was the Congressional Library
started?-E. J. s.
A. The Library Of Congress was estab-
lished in the city Of Washington by an
act of Congress dated 1906, In connection
with the setting up Of the Government
in the new Capital City. The act made
An initial appropriation of 5000 for the
purchase Of books and the fitting up
of suitable quarters. The first librarian
was John Beckley Of Virginia, who en-
tered his duties in 1902. The first cat
alogue of the Library, which he printed
in April of that year, listed 964 volumes
and maps. Ten years later there were
3076 volumes and SO map charts and
plans. In August, 1914, when the Cap
itol was burned by the British, the Lii
brary, which was housed in q wooden
passageway where the rotunda now
stands, was destroyed. To replace the
loss, Thomas Jefferson offered the Gov
ernment his private library Of 6,700 vol
umes at a cost of 3,700, which was
accepted in 1915. The present building
was begun in 1886 from plans by j. j.
Smithmeyer and Paul Pelz. The plans
were modified by Edward P. Casey. The
building was completed In February,
1897, and opened the following Novem-
ber.
G. What poet laureate of England was
buried standing up?-W. G. M.
A. Ben Jonson was buried in an up
right position In Westminster Abbey.
@. Have Senators always been elected
by popular vote7-L. G.. w.
A. Originally they were elected by the
State Legislature; but in 1918 the 18th
amendment changed the method to pop
ular vote.
Order the 1899
Uncle SONS Almanac