Evening star., 1938-01-28
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J, HASKIN.

A reader can get the ans,Der to snp
question OF fact by ,Dritino The Epenano
star Information Bureau, Frederic J,
Haskin. director. Washington, D. c.
Please tnclose stamp Jor yeply.
Q. How are airplanes launched from
airplane carriers?-B. r. F.
A. There are two methods of eata.
putting of ships-the gunpowder eata.
pult and the compressed air catapult,
These devices work in much the aams
way as does sling shot. The plane A
placed on a car which Is on a track
on the deck Of a ship. The releasing
OF compressed air or Of gunpovder at
the back Of the plane assists It to pick
up the necessary flying speed.
@. Does q girafYes neck have mora
bones than that Of any other aninal3
e. H.
A. In spite Of its extraordinary lsnsth.
the neck Of the giraffe contains only
the usual number of seven vertebrae a
in nearly all mammals.
Q. How many passports were issued
In 1937?-H. L.
"a A~uA hA6 Vic SolClludI year 1881 GQeIe
were 168,O16 passports and passport re-
newals issued in the United States
Q. What is a holding company7-w.
r. K
A. Where the State laws permit, It is
company organized for the purpose Of
investing its capital in the securities Of
other companies. While the invest
ments may not result in obtaining a
direct control over or controlling
interest in the companies, nevertheless
1t does result in obtaining for the hold
ing company q form of indirect control
and enables it to do indirectly what the
law might prohibit being done directly.
@. What novels were the best sellers
last year?-A. NJ
A. In their order they were Gone
With the Wind" Northwest Passage"
THE Citadel" And So-Victoris.
Drums Along the Mohawk" "The
Years" "Theater," "Of Mice and Men"
"The Rains Came and I'VE Are Not
Alone"
Q. How many Indian tribes were there
in this country when its was discovered?
IN. E. c..
A. 1t was estimated that there were
about $50 Indian tribes in this country
when it was first discovered by the white
race. but through warfare many Of them
have been exterminated and there are
now only about one-half OF that number.
O. Why is the Red Sea 20 called?
F. o.
A. 1t is because Of the red color I'm
parted to the surface water OF certain
portions Of the sea by millions of tiny
one-celled plants.
O. What is the real name Of Nancy
Randolph of the New York Daily News?
e. H.
A. The society editor is named Ines
Galloway Robb.
O. Who was Alexander Stephens,
whose letters have been given to the
Library Of Congress?-E. W.
A. He was Vice President Of the Con-
federacy and United States Repre-
sentative from Georgia both before and
after the Civil War. Bernard M. Baruch
made the gift Of some 1000 Stephens
letters to the Library.
@. What do the lines on the side of
Hudson's Bay blanket mean?-D N.
A. They indicate the price for which
the blanket was to be traded TO the
Indians in the early days. A blanket
with four lines was exchanged for four
beaver skins: one with three and
half lines brought three large skins anei
one small one.
Q. Have there ever been earthquakes
In the Connecticut Valley?-G. r. p.
A. A destructive earthquake occurred
at East Haddam, Conn.,, in 1901. In the
next few years several shocks were felt
in this vicinity. Shocks bordering or
destructive intensity were reported from
Hartford, Conn.,. on April IL, 1887; from
the south end of the Connecticut Valley
on August 9, 1910; from Hartford. Conn,
on November IA, 1925, and from New
port. N. H.. August 80, 1910 Since 1929
local shocks have been reported from
various parts Of the valley.