Evening star., 1938-12-20
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Husktn.


A reader can get the ansper to anu
question OF fact by torittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. H1Skin, director, Wnskinqton.
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. Can you tell me the estimated per-
centage OF the worlds population that
can neither read nor write?-N. B. S.
A. In survey made by the United
States Office Of Education it was found
that so per cent of the people of the
world are unable to read and write
This situation ranges all the way from
practically no illiteracy in Iceland and
Denmark, to 85.3 per cent in Brazil, 91.2
per cent in Egypt and 921 per cent in
India.
@. Why is the word Xmas so often
used in place of Christmas?-C. G.
A. The K in this case is the Greek
letter chi, and is the initial letter of
Christos, the Greek name for Christ.
Q. Are our national holidays estab-
A. Congress can only declare a ma
tional holiday for the District of Co.
lurnbia and our island possessions. Holi-
days which have become national are so
because the legislatures of the different
States have passed laws making them so.
Q. If an American seaman deserts an
l,,v
port, has he committed crime?-M. C.
A. BY provision of the Seamen's Act
OF 1915 desertion ceased to be a crime.
II seaman at the present time deserts
an American vessel he forfeits all wages
he may have earned and all effects left
on board the vessel.
@. Which is England's oldest colony?
j. F. S.
A. Newfoundland. discovered by John
Cabot on June "a, 1897.
@. Can an Indian become President of
the United States?-H C.
A. Full citizenship rights have been
bestowed on the American Indians
AAANAS 40 AiO ASSo4 1CotAAStlOll WlllCll WOulU
prevent an Indian, born in the United
States, from becoming President.
@. Please tell me the meaning of
Chin chin and its origin.-N. G.
A. Chin-chin is a term used in greet
ing or farewell derived from the Pekin-
ese ching ching" 1t corresponds to
the English thank you" or the French
"adieu'
@. What is the amount of damago
caused by moths each year?-H A.
| A. Damage by clothes moths last yea
was s22 1874 900. of which sl914,OoO was
| cost of insecticides for control
@. To whom should write concerning
a pension for Spanish-American War
veterans Widow?-J. R. B.
A. An application for a pension for
the widow of a Spanish-American Wa
veteran should be made to the Widows
and Dependents Claim Division, Vet
erans' Administration, Washington, D. c.
Q. Please give the number Of navai
vessels that are building in the Unite
| States. What types for the propose
Atlantic Souadron?-K. c.
! A. There are rs naval vessels nc
under construction. The Atlantic Squad
ron will consist of cruisers, destroye.
and two battleships, the New York anQ
the Texas.
@. For whom did Maurice Ravel COM
pose his famous "Bolero"?-G. P. c.
A. The "Bolero" was composed for tic
dancer Ida Rubinstein, who presented
it in Paris in 1928. 1t was written to
last about 10 minutes.
@. Who won the fight between Sharkey
and Schmeling?-F. w.
| A. SchmelinF won the 1880 boxing
bout from Sharkey on a foul in the
fourth round. In 1882 Schmeling lost
to Sharkey in the tenth round.
@. Can you give the weL-known say
ing about the pleasures of the table be-
ing the most innocent? Who is the au-
thor?-S. P. G.
A. Brillat-Savarin was the author Of
the epigra;n to which you refer. 1t read
as follows: THE pleasures of the table
are the most delightful and the most in
nocent that man can enjoy"
@. Please explain the different blood
| types?-J. B. D.
A. There are four main blood groups
In classifying the types of blood two
test serums are used. If the blood does
not clot with either serum the blood is
type I; if it clots with both it is type ";
if it clots with one but not with the other
it is type II or type III, depending on
which one is present when the clotting
takes place. The various types Of blood
do not indicate anything about health
All are normal.