Evening star., 1938-08-18
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

reader can get the 6nsUer to dnr
question OF feet hy uriting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
J. Hasktn, director, Washington. u. c.
Please incIcse stamp for reply.
@. In which of Barrie's plays does he
refer to death as an adventure?-C. e. M.
A. In the lagoon scene Of Peter Pan"
Peter says: ITO die will be an awfully
big adventure"
@. What is an animal called that Is
half lion and half tiger?-J. L.
A. A hybrid Of lion and tiger is known
as tiglon and Is very rare. There is
one in the Central Park Zoo, New York
City.
@. Is the prune a native fruit In the
United States?-E. w.
A. The first pruna trees were brought
from France by Louis Pellier in 1856 to
what Is now the Santa Clara Valley in
California. The French trees were first
grated on the wild plum root, and later
on cultivated plum trees. There are now
about 100000 descendants OF these
original trees In Santa Clara County
alone, and they produce more than 40
per cent of all the prunes grown in the
world.
@. How is Death Valley Scotty's home
kept cool?-W. G. H.
A. The house has thick concrete walls
which insulate 1t against the desert heat.
@. For whom is Painesville, Ohio,
named?-J. s. C.
A. The city was named after Gen.
Edward Paine of Connecticut, q Revo-
lutionary officer.
@. What causes paint to blister?-F.
S. w.
A. The cause of paint blistering is
often due to painting on damp wood or
timber that has not been properly sea
soned. Blisters may also be caused bv
the use OF too much Oil in paint exposed
to heat, or the application of one coat
upon another before the latter is prop
erly dry.
Q. How long have pigeons been used
to carry messages?-H. B.
A. The use of homing pigeons to carr
messages Is as old as Solomon and the
ancient Greeks, to whom the art of train
ing the birds probably came from the
Persians. The Greeks sent the names of
the winners Of the Olympic games to
their various cities by pigeons. The
Dutch government established a civil
ana military system of pigeons In Java
and Sumatra early in the 10Th century
pigeons were used during the siege of
Paris in 1901.
@. How many hospitals are church
supported?-I M.
A. OF the 6,128 registered and approved
hospitals in the United States, e75 are
supported by churches.
Q. Was Capt. Webb. the famous Eng
lish swimmer, drowned?-J. L,
A. Matthew Webb lost his life on july
"a, 1888. in an attempt to swim the rapids
and whirlpool at Niagara Falls.
Q. Did Frances Willard 60 to college?
H L.
A. She was a graduate of the North
western Female College at Evanston, III.
@. Who was Franklin's rival whose
death he predicted in Poor Richard S
Almanac"?-H. j. T.
A. Titan Leeds was the rival almanac
maker whose death was predicted by
Franklin in the first copy Of Poor
Richards Almanac" Mr.. Leeds re-
taliated in his American Almanac" of
1874 by saying: II have by the mercy of
God lived to write q diary for the wear
1874. and to publish the folly and ignor-
ance OF this presumptuous author"
@. Is the Waving Girl" of Savannah.
Ga, living? II so, how old Is she?-E.
G. r.
A. Miss Florence M. Martus. who has
greeted vessels in the port of Savannah
for Al years, recently celebrated her 10th
birthday.
@. Was Paul Whiteman's father a mu-
sician?-J. L.
A. Mr.. Whitemans father, Wilberforce
James Whiteman, conducts a voice cul-
ture studio in Denver For 40 years he
was director of music in the public
schools of that city and for 20 years
conducted choir of 165 voices at Trinity
Methodist Episcopal Church there. His
wife also was musician.
O. Have any banks failed or suspended
operation this year?-L. G. H.
A. According to the current Federal
Reserve Bulletin, "a bank suspensions
have occurred since January, 1888. OF
that number. one was national bank.
20 were insured non-member banks, and
five carried no insurance.
Q. What is the meaning Of the name
Uruguay? Paraguay?-T. H. W.
A. Both these South American Re-
publics take their names from rivers.
Uruguay means river of birds In the
Charrua language. and Paraguay river
Of parrots in Guarani.
@. Is there special name for a male
turkey?-C. w. M.
A. 1t is called a tom.
@. How many houses and communities
are under the direction of Father Divine !?
j. T.
A. 1t is said that his official roster lists