Evening star., 1938-11-11
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by torittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdsktn, director. Washington,
d. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. What famous Frenchman was
buried in a standing position?-L. T..
A. The former premier Of France,
Georges Clemenceau, said in his will:
Let me be carried in the silence Of
daybreak to my Vendeean forest and
there beside the coffin of my father let
mine be placed upright as his was.
Even In death wish to remain stand
ing AS far as possible his wishes were
carried out. The funeral cortege tray-
eled by vehicle the $50 miles from Paris
to Vendee. The cofin, however, was
placed horizontally as it was found that
there was solid rock formation which
prevented an upright position.
Q. Is there a white bison?-J. H. NJ.
A. The only specimen in captivity is
IN the National Geological Park at WASH
1ngton, D. G. The animal was born on
the National Bison Range near Molese,
Mont. a few years ago, and was pre-
sented as a gift to the Zoo by the United
States Biological Survey in December,
1887.
@. How does the number of w. P. A.
workers now compare with that of a
year ago?-W. j. K.
A. In October, 1887, there were 1872
9l0 workers on w. P. A. rolls, while in
October. 1898, the number had in
creased to 3,125,ss0.
O. Who was selected as the outstand-
ing Catholic woman of the year,
T. L. H.
A. At the convention of the National
Council Of Catholic Women at Biloxi,
Miss, Miss Mary Merrick of Washing
ton, D. c., was awarded the Theta Phi
Alpha Medal as the outstanding Cath
olic woman in the United States for
1885,
@. What is the cause of the disease
which has killed so many wild ducks in
Eastern Montana this fall?-R. S. G.
A. The Bureau Of Biological Survey
says that the disease is botulism, caused
by the botulinus germ. This germ grows
In an alkaline medium, and the semi
arid regions of the West favor it's devel-
opment. The ducks were poisoned by
eating infected materials along the
edges of alkaline lakes. Many thou
sands had to be buried to prevent thelr
becoming a menace to public health.
@. Had Stephen Foster ever seen the
Suwannee River when he wrote, "Old
Folks at Homes. j. w.
A. Sigmund Spaeth in the Etude says.
"'Old Folks at Home is itself an exam
pie of the unnatural geography that has
at times glorified Dixie. New Hampshire,
California. Michigan and other places
innumerable." Fosters original manu-
script shows the name of the Pedce
River, which obviously invited ridicule.
His brother suggested Yazoo, which was
even worse. Finally they took out a
map Of Florida, and a rowing finger
eventually stopped at the name Of
Suwannee. That's it," cried Steve,
that's 1t exactly; and so the Suwannee
River became immortal.
@. How were the crown jewels OF
Scotland preserved after the English
conquest?-T. E. F.
A. According to an account written
by Sir Walter Scott. 1919, the jewels in
1852 were preserved from the English
by the clever scheme of a Mrs. Granger
and Lady Ogilvie, wife of the governor
of the castle where they were then stored.
Mrs. Granger passed through the Eng
lish lines with an attendant carrying in
her lap the crown wrapped up in az
bundle of clothes. Her servant carried,
apparently. bundle of fax for her spin
ming, which actually contained the scep.
ter and the sword. The English per-
mitted the passage through the lines on
representation that the women were TO
visit a relative. For many years the
were removed to Edinburgh Castle in
1707.
@. What is the gypsy name Of Gypsy
Smith, the famous evangelist?-K. G. H.
A. His gypsy name is Romany
Petulengro.
@. Is it true that Russian children
are instructed in atheism In the
schools?-J. M. N.
A. Instruction in atheism is a part of
the curriculum in many schools and
will be obligatory in all schools in 1899.
Teachers will be trained in an institute
for instruction in atheism.
@. How does Idaho compare with
Maine in potato production?-R r. E.
A. In 1887 Maine produced 48,5O3, 900
bushels of potatoes, while production IN
Idaho last year amounted to 29,52o,0OO
bushels.
@. Who was Patience WORTH
r. w. F.
A. This is the name of the psychic
character discovered by Mrs. John H.
Curran of st. Louis in 1913 One eve
ming Mrs. Curran and woman friend
were sitting with ouija board between
them when suddenly the pointer began
moving rapidly from letter to letter
until the following introduction was
spelled out: Many moons ago I lived.
A0oin coy,oo Dof{onoa uortta s,.v