Evening star., 1938-08-24
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN,
reader con get the ansuer to ann
question OF fact by ,mittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
J. Hask'n, director, Washington, D. C.
F'edss 'nclose stamp TOR reply.
o. Who was the first foreign star In
American movies?-L. F.G.
A. Sarah Bernhardt starred in a pro-
duction Of Queen Elizabeth" in 1912,
a. How many people have been in
jured on the Mount Washington cog
railway in New Hampshire?-L. r. S.
A. The railway has been operating
since 1869 without an injury to a pas
senger. The cog railways fame has
spread abroad to such an extent that it
was used as model for a railroad up
Mount Rigi in Switzerland.
c. How is isinglass made?-C. F.
A. 1t is a gelatinous substance OBJ.
tanned by cleaning and drying the swim.
ming bladders Of the sturgeon and allied
fishes.
@. What was the first automobile to
cross the continent?-L. S. G.
A. On August 81, 1903, a Packard au-
tomobile, later called Old Pacific. COM
pleted 52-day trip from San Francisco
to New York.
@. What causes tides?-A L. r.
A. Tides are caused by the gravita-
tional attraction or pull of the sun and
moon upon the water and upon the earth
itself. The moon is the principal cause.
When the moon is directly over a given
place, 1t pulls up the water under it,
thus tending to heap up tidal wave At
the same time another heaping up of
water occurs on the opposite side of the
earth, producing a second tidal wave At
these points it will be high water. The
tides, therefore, may be looked upon as
two great waves sweeping around the
globe, their crests l80 degrees apart,
their troughs at varying distance. de-
pending upon the position of the moon.
@. Which stockyards handle the most
hogs?-W. C. r.
A. In June, 1893. 31S942 hogs were re-
ceived at the Chicago stockyards; 177,o32
at East st. Louis; 148,652 at Indian
apolis.
@. Was there a clockmaker named
Ephraim DoWnes?-M E. F.
A. Ephraim Downes was clockmaker
in Bristol, Conn. from 1911 to l843. He
began clockmaking in Waterbury in
himself. removing to Bristol. He retired
from business about 1843.
@. What was the date OF Andrew Mel
Ions death?-T. c.
A. Andrew W. Mellon died on August
26, 1887, at the age Of 80.
@, What is the purpose Of the Raskob
Foundation?-C. S.
A. The Bill Raskob Foundation, Inc.
was created by John J. Raskob and
Helena Springer Raskob in memory of
their son, William Frederick Raskob,
I'd The objects are the relief and
assistance of poor orphans and other
poor children. Such assistance shall be
extended for their maintenance, their
education. and to help them get started
in life and business. In addition. the IN
come and principal OF the foundation
may also be used for any general charit-
able purpose that may be approved by
two-thirds OF the members OF this
corporation.
@. Which is heavier-damp or dry
air?-H. s. w.
A. Damp air weighs less than dry air,
as the dampness is due to the vapor OF
water in the air and vapor of water is
lighter than most Of the other gases of
the atmosphere.
@. Where does most Of the asparagus
come from that supplies the American
market?-L. M. G.
A. About 80 per cent of all the can
ned asparagus used in the United States
comes from the Delta OF the Sacramento
and San Joaquin Rivers at Sacramento.
The fields begin just outside the city
limits of Sacramento and extend a dis
tance OF about 40 miles. There are
about 5000 men employed.
@. Do women endure factory work as
we'll as men do?-E. F.
A. Dr. Milton Henry Kronenbere.
speaking recently before the American
Association OF Industrial Physicians and
Surgeons, said that women are less re-
sistant to dust fumes and gases: more
susceptible to poisons, monotony and
fatigue
O. What percentage of the Russian
people are literate?-T. F. w.
A. According to government statistics,
90 per cent of the Soviet citizens are
literate.
@. What is the origin of the express
sion, "Hobsons choice"?-A. S.
A. The phrase owes It's origin to
Thomas Hobson, an old carrier and liv-
cry stable keeper. who piled between
Cambridge and London in the 18th cen
tury. When a man came to Hobsons
stable for horse. he found that he was
obliged to take the one nearest to the
stable door In this way the carrier
considered that he was serving each of
his clients impartially.
@. Do all mosquitoes bite human be-
ings?-M. S. j.
A. No. Male mosquitoes are usually
need blood to enable them TO develop
eggs.
@. Is the water hyacinth native to
Texas?-R. G.. w.
A. 1t is native to South America. 1t
seems to have become wild in Florida