Evening star., 1938-07-23
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
A reader can get the answer to am
question of fact by ,oriting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
J. Hdsktn, director, Washington, D. C.
Please fnclose stamp for reply.
@. What Is the name Of the famous
writer who disappeared in Mexico?-
G. F. H.
A. Ambrose Bierce, satirist, newspaper
man and poet, In 1918, at the age Of II,
| left for Mexico and was never seen
| again. Persistent runors were circu-
lated that he met his death at the hands
| Of Mexico revolutionists, but none Of
| them has been substantiated.
@. How much farm land In the West
| is under irrigation?-H. S. G.
A. There are nearly 100000 acres
| farmed under irrigation in the Western
States.
@. Who was the first surveyor In the
United States?-C. H. F.
A. The first official surveys of the
country were made by Peter Jefferson,
| father of Thomas Jefferson. He was
employed by Lord Fairfax to survey his
vast holding ceded under royal grant as
| far as the headwaters of the Rapidan,
Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers.
@. What is the source of the quotation:
Born with the gift of laughter and a
sense that the world is mad?"-T. L.K.
A. 1t is from "Scaramouche," by Rafael
| Sabatini.
@. What is the largest tire that has
ever been made?-J. F. D.
| A. 1t is one built by Firestone for a
! special LIE Tourneau earth-moving unit,
| which is 79 inches high and weighs
| 1904 pounds. The tire carries $4,000
| pounds and has 20-inch tread.
@. Are there any States which do not
| prescribe any definite legal education in
| order to pass the bar examination?-
w. L. j.
A. Arkansas. Georgia and Mississippi
require no definite period of legal train
| ing.
| @. Is the famous outlaw horse Mid
night still living?-J. H. G.
| A. This great bucking bronco died in
1886, and was buried with great honors
on the ranch Of his owners, Elliot and
McCarty, near Cheyenne, Wyo Five
Minutes to Midnight is the name Of the
successor Of the champion performer of
| the rodeo circuit. He is owned by the
same men, but is a lighter and different
| kind of horse. The best riders say
that the new champion gets harder to
ride every year.
| O. How many boys and girls are en-
rolled in Junior Achievement organiza-
| tions?-W. s. G..
| A. More than 10000 young people be-
long to the Junior Achievement move
| ment.
@. What is the greatest distance that
pollen has been carried?-H. r.
A. During tropical storm In 1888,
pollen from Ohio was carried almost to
the Gulf of Mexico.
| @. Please give the history Of the
"scythe tree" in New York State
M. G. G.
A. The tree that has scythe grow
| ing in it is near Waterloo, N. Y. It is a
Balm of Gilead tree and the legend is
that young farm hand, eager to join
the Civil War forces, hung his scythe on
fork of this tree saying he would find 1t
on his return. The tree has so envel-
oped the blade that little of it is visible.
@. What is the origin of the name
Nantucket?-E. j. w.
A. 1t is an Indian name meaning Far.
Away Island or Land Far Out at Sea.
@. Is it true that during the siege Of
Paris the starving people ate rats?-
L. G. H.
A. The sufferings of the Parisians dur
ing the siege were beyond belief Dogs,
cats and rats were eaten, and rats were
sold for as high as go cents apiece.
@. What is the greatest elevation in
Greenland?-M. A. G.
A. Along the east coast, in an ice-free
region, are many high mountains. The
Petermann Spite, near the shore of
Franz Josef Fjord, Is estimated at II 900
feet in height, and Is considered the
highest mountain in Greenland.
@. Who wrote the old hymn. "The
Ninety and Nine"?-K. H.
A. 1t is by Ira D. sankey and Eliza
beth c. Clephane
! @. What are some of the honors that
have been conferred on Queen Eliza
beth?-W. j.
A. On December II, 1886, the King
conferred on her the Order of the Gar
ter and in February. 1887, she was ap-
pointed Dame Grand Cross and Grand
Master of the Royal Victorian Order.
On July 7, during the royal visit to Edin-
burgh, her majestys installation as Lady
of the Order of the Thistle took place
in st. Giles Cathedral she being the
first woman to be admitted to that his
toric order She IS also honorary col.
onel of the London Scottish Regiment.
@. What is the name of the Baltimore
woman who has large collection Of
dolls?-W. S.
| A. Miss Elizabeth Hooper Of that city
has one Of the most notable collections
In the country, which has been displayed
at various exhibitions.
@. Are there any mountains In the
Sahara?-K. G. F.
A. Mountains rise to peak height
Of 1000 feet in the desert.
| WILT s. NJ ->.J